Edwin Sodi is a South African entrepreneur who is known as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Blackhead Consulting.
Edwin Sodi is one of the many South African millionaires who need no form of introduction as not only has his wealth put him in the spotlight, his name has also not escaped the news following corruption allegations slammed against him. Tracing back to his birth details and the things that have come to influence his life, the millionaire has had a very interesting journey to the riches he enjoys today.
Everything about him from his biography to his fortune, and even family life, where he came from, and business dealings, have all continued to attract unending attention from South Africans.
Summary of Edwin Sodi’s Biography
- Full name: Edwin Sodi
- Gender: Male
- Place of Birth: Pelana in Bolobedu, Limpopo
- Ethnicity: African
- Nationality: South African
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Cristianity
- Marital Status: Divorced
- Edwin Sodi’s Ex-Wife: Nthateng Lerata
- Profession: Businessman
- Edwin Sodi’s Height in Inches: 5’9″
- Edwin Sodi’s Height in Centimetres: 175
- Edwin Sodi’s Weight: 75
- Edwin Sodi’s Net worth: $60 million
- Famous for: Being the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Blackhead Consulting
Edwin Sodi Was Born And Raised In Limpopo
There are many reports suggesting that the millionaire was born in Gauteng. Contrary to that, it was in the village of Pelana in Bolobedu, Limpopo that he was birthed. His date of birth is still a topic of contention, even though there are those that believe he could be in his mid to late forties.
Sodi’s educational qualifications have not been discussed in the public domain, as well as his early life and many other things about him.
Edwin Sodi has not cut ties with his place of birth after he met fortune as he always returns home to help many people and contribute to the development of the place. Because of this, when reports came that the flamboyant businessman was allegedly involved in a corruption case, members of the village did not believe the claims as they know him as someone who was down to earth and always willing to help.
According to the people in his hometown, he always asked about the well-being of everyone in the village and didn’t look down on them even after he became very rich. It was because of this that when he was fingered in the corruption case, it sent a shock wave across the community.
Sodi’s Father Was A Pastor
The controversial businessman was raised in a very disciplined home with a father who was a pastor in the Lutheran church before the older Sodi died. Information about his father and the relationship the two had are still not known, but growing up in the Lutheran church is believed by members of his village to have contributed to making him humble.
There is, however, no information about who his mother is. Reports suggest she is still in Pelana and remains solidly behind her son. She insisted that all that was reported about her son in relation to the corruption cases brought against him were all false and aimed at tarnishing his image. She had stopped watching the news or reading newspapers because of the false and misleading reports against her son.
Just as with most other things about him, there is no much information available as regards his siblings and other family members. As a result of this, the level of their achievements and the successes they have recorded is not known.
He Has Not Been Successful In Starting A Stable Family
While his business ventures have recorded so much success, judging by the numbers and everything in-between, the attempts made by Mr. Sodi at starting a family have not been very successful. He has been linked to a number of women in the past and even walked down the aisle once with Nthateng Lerata.
The couple got married in 2012. Unfortunately, the union was not to last long and by 2015, they were already parting ways. The marriage came crashing with so much dust as the businessman accused his estranged wife who was a TV presenter of stealing R1 million from him. He alleged that he left the money in the safe in his house when he traveled overseas only to return and discover that it was gone, together with his Panerai, Rolex, and Audemars Piguet watches. Sodi claimed that his former wife stole from him in order to buy herself a Bentley which he returned and found in the driveway of their home.
Following the end of his marriage, Edwin Sodi got into another relationship with Disebo Makatsa. What drew the attention of the public to this romance was the fact that before the two started dating, Makatsa was engaged to Dj Sbu and the two were set to get married. Fans believed that it was Sodi who caused the breakup between DJ Sbu and his former fiancee, although Disebo insisted there was no truth to the claims.
This relationship did not last long before it also failed as the businessman dumped Disebo for a much younger Kefilwe Mabote in 2019. The couple was together until 2020 when they both went their separate ways.
Edwin Sodi Had An Interesting Rise To Prominence As A Businessman
With a father who was a pastor and not a businessman, there is no uncertainty about the fact that it was not his father that influenced Edwin Sodi to cut a path in the business world. He started what has now become his biggest business thus far in 2004 when he launched his company, Blackhead Consulting (Pty) Ltd. The consulting company is into the provision of services in the engineering and project management environment.
Edwin Sodi came to the limelight after he was accused of using his company to get a contract that was laden with corruption. The business got a R7 million contract which was said to later jump to half a billion rand, and then a billion rand. This was after the company was said to have enlisted other service providers in a contract that they were supposed to count the number of houses to be involved in an eradication project in Free State in 2014. The service providers sent invoices to Blackhead which then sent statements to the government, pushing up the contract from R7 million to as high as a billion rand.
The fallout of the deal led to the arrest of the businessman, as well as 6 others that were involved; Olly Mlamleli, Nthimotse Mokhesi, Mahlomola John Matlakala, Sello Sydney Radebe, Abel Kgotso Manyike, and Thabane Zulu.
Edwin Sodi and all others whose names were mentioned in the deal also lost many of their properties including cars and houses that were seized by the Hawks. The items seized include more than 25 cars, houses, and many more items.
Apart from Blackhead, Edwin Sodi has also been involved in a few other businesses, including Base Property Holdings (Pty) Ltd and a farm in Ruimsig, Pretoria, which is valued at over R6 million. He is also a doctor in more than 40 other companies.
