ABOUT US
MICHAEL CHARTON
KATHRYN PONTING
PURPOSE
MAKING THE ACCUMULATED WISDOM OF OUR PAST ACCESSIBLE
Our belief is that history (when freed from political incentive) carries untapped powers of guidance, healing, and nation building.
True empathy is forged through the discovery of human connections.
MICHAEL CHARTON
As an accounting student at Stellenbosch, Michael began to recognise the gravitas and tragedy of the South African story. A realisation which stirred a deep urge to better understand the forces which defined our nation's path.
Accordingly, having qualified as a chartered accountant in 2004, he made the unorthodox decision to study history. A pursuit which would open his eyes to the complexities of the South African story, but also to the realisation that many South Africans were struggling to piece it all together, or to make any meaningful sense of it.
Armed with that insight, Michael began to ponder means to make South African history more accessible. By 2015, these ideas were sufficiently precise, prompting Michael to exit his corporate financial career and found Inherit South Africa (Pty) Ltd.
INHERIT SOUTH AFRICA
Michael's context is central to understanding the content and structure of his stories. For his role is not that of formal historian. Instead, his energy is invested in transforming existing human knowledge and accumulated wisdom into fresh, accessible formats.
At the forefront of these formats is the craft of storytelling. An age-old human art-form using characters and relationships in order to tease out meaningful human truths and insights. Indeed the name INHERIT SOUTH AFRICA is a reference to a belief that the past (if treated with respect) is a gift from our ancestors, offering the wisdom necessary to live a fulfilled life.
Our long-term dream is to developing a central repository of beautifully crafted human stories. Our belief is that providing South Africans with access to these stories would help drive a renewed consensus in our past: a necessary ingredient for a thriving nation.
KATHRYN PONTING
Sitting in one of Michael's very earliest audiences was Kathryn Ponting. Recognising potential, Kathryn offered her experience in hospitality and eventing to organise a public show in order to market Michael's work.
That event would prove to be a pivotal moment for INHERIT SOUTH AFRICA and Kathryn joined permanently.
Kathryn is meticulous, with a thorough understanding of what works best for Michael's stories. But above all, she has helped shape the belief that INHERIT SOUTH AFRICA should mirror the human values that we aspire to: warm, understated, and authentic.