After Grey, I worked in Bloemfontein at the SAR as a messenger before doing my military service at the armored division in Bloemfontein. I then set off to Cape Town University which was quite a place in the hippie years. After six years, a group of us spent another year writing a book on housing. In 1976 I got married and started working in Greece on urban planning projects in the Middle East and Africa. I spent most of my time in Libya, where I was arrested four times.
After five years in Greece, we had had lots of experience, one baby girl and about R5 000 in savings, so we set off for Australia, where I was unemployed for three months and used to diligently queue for the dole. Eventually I did get a job in urban planning and our economic fortunes started to improve.
In 1988, after another child, I founded a planning consultancy, Manidis Roberts. When we sold the business in 2012, it had more than 100 employees. After 2012, I had a portfolio career which included being a director on several boards, providing business advice and mentoring. In June 2021, I completed my last two board positions and am now enjoying full retirement.
My marriage ended in 2006 and I have been with a new partner since 2007. I have two grandsons and one granddaughter. I still play tennis twice a week and am a major sport fan, particularly soccer.