At the age of 24 years, richard started his career as a teacher. Chichi maponya tlou and the broader maponya family on behalf of myself, di tlou the makgobas and the anglican family, our deepest condolences to you all on the death of dr richard maponya, a pioneering south african entrepreneur and patriot. It has been reported that richard maponya, aged 99, died in hospital in the early hours of this morning. This article takes a look behind the scenes at the life and times of business titan, father of township entrepreneurship dr richard john pelwana maponya who turned his dreams into reality. In it, he says that across africa, the spirit of entrepreneurship is very much alive. We will make update this post once we have new details available on this. Dr richard maponya celebrate his 95th birthday at the soweto home of the old in johannesburg in this july, 31 2015 file photo. In the wake of richard maponyas passing and celebrating his incredible life, there is a depth of inspiration that can be found in his 99year journey. The founder and first president of the national federated chamber of commerce nafcoc, maponya is also a trustee of the urban foundation and the sa foundation. What can we learn from the late dr richard maponya. They wrote their own rule book because they were not allowed to be on the. Richard maponya was a south african business man, entrepreneur and property developer who built his business empire despite the odds of apartheid and made a name for himself in business in africa. Maponya maintained, in his 2014 foreword to the book a legacy of.
Dr richard maponya institute for skills and entrepreneurship development, johannesburg, south africa. It is with great sadness that the maponya family informs of the passing of dr richard in the early hours of monday 6 january, following a battle with a short illness. This is able to afford him a lifestyle that he wants. Fmf cofounder, leon louws telling tribute to maponya. From humble beginnings as a milk merchant, he rose to lofty heights through sheer hard work and determination to become a retail king, banker, horseracing mogul, property. These were the words of renowned businessman, dr richard maponya who addressed students at the regenesys business school in sandton. A message from fmf luminary dr richard maponya for the youth and aspiring entrepreneurs of south africa. Richard maponya born december 24, 1920 was a south african business magnate and icon for entrepreneurs. This article takes a look behind the scenes at the life and times of business titan, father of township entrepreneurship dr richard john pelwana maponya who. The author with dr richard maponya in march 20 the families of dr b vilakazi academicpoet, as well as the family of dr a b xuma, together with the mabuze family were forcefully resettled in dube from sophiatown in the period from 1955 and were accommodated in more upmarket homes of the 30 year lease scheme removals started in 1955 and not. South african business pioneer dr richard maponya died in the early hours of monday after a short illness.
Dr richard maponya touched the lives of countless south africans and now the country will give the businessman the sendoff he deserves. Richard maponya being interviewed by the star at his home in hyde park. It holds more than 200 stores and a cinema complex. Dr richard maponya passed away on monday at the age of 99. He was in conversation with broadcast star tim modise at a function at the free market foundation fmf on wednesday.
Dr maponyas life is a testament to resilience, determination and the power of vision. Local celebs such as cassper nyovest, oskido, somizi, feliciamabuzasuttle, romeo khumalo join the scores of south africans paying tribute to the late dr richard maponya. Dr richard maponya deserves a state funeral, he was an inspiration, and true legend. As south africans, there is indeed a lot that we should learn from his ethos. Meet, among others, kagiso mmusi, the motswana transport millionaire. Dr richard maponya is a highly regarded and leading entrepreneur and property developer, best known for having built a highly successful business empire despite the restrictions of apartheid, and being a force of economic change in disadvantaged communities.
On 6 january 2020, south africans learned of the passing of dr richard maponya, a legendary business icon and activist. The south african police has been branded a laughing stock after one of its guards got confused and faced the wrong way at dr richard maponyas funeral at the west park cemetery, johannesburg. Trailblazing soweto businessman richard maponya laid to. Dr richard maponya celebrate his 95th birthday at the soweto home of. The fact that youve invited me here to come and share my thoughts is a privilege and an. Ziphozonke lushaba local celebs such as cassper nyovest, oskido, somizi, feliciamabuzasuttle, romeo khumalo join the scores of south africans.
Maponya studied teaching, but worked as an administration clerk instead after he qualified. Richard maponya and shemagh realtimemaponya mallsummerhill africas greatest entrepreneurs. The entrepreneur, who built the iconic maponya mall in soweto, spoke of the importance of persevering, even in the face of adversity. In 1994, after several attempts, he acquired it outright. On 27 september 2007 richard maponya opened the maponya mall in soweto. President cyril ramaphosa described maponya as a man of extraordinary. He may have started small and dealt in small businesses, but today, maponya, through his companies and different ventures is among the wealthiest personalities in south africa his company is said to be worth r400 million. Business icon richard maponya passes away he stayed on the parcel of land maponya mall for 20 years looking for money until he got help and then he built the biggest retail space in.
Richard maponya biography profile sa entrepreneurs. Maponya turned 99 on christmas eve near the end of a long and fruitful life that saw him dine with the queen, laugh with bill clinton and chauffer his old friend nelson mandela. Richard john pelwana maponya, gcob, was a south african entrepreneur and property. Johannesburg entrepreneurship, said dr richard maponya, is what makes life really tick. He was the one who built the famous maponya mall in pimville, south africa. At the age of 24, he took a job as a stock taker at a clothing manufacturer whilst he was a teacher at the same time. And given the legacy and deep impact, this will indeed continue for years to come. Contacts dr richard maponya institute for skills and.
On behalf of myself, di tlou the makgobas and the anglican family, our deepest condolences to you all on the death of dr richard maponya, a pioneering south african entrepreneur and patriot. Maponya maintained, in his 2014 foreword to the book a legacy of perseverance by kwandiwe kondlo, that there remained a need for a commercial bank owned and managed by black south africans with an. On the 6 january 2020, richard john pelwana maponya died at the age of 99 years. Four more southern african business success stories complete this book, two from south africa itself.
Richard maponya leaves a lasting legacy how south africa. Archbishop thabo makgoba sent the following message to the family of dr maponya today. Richard maponya, one of south africas richest businessmen. Join facebook to connect with richard maponya and others you may know. A new book on remarkable achievement has just been released, and interestingly, richard branson wrote the foreword. Maponya acquired the land where the mall is situated in 1979, at first as a 100year lease. He was a south african entrepreneur and property developer best known for building a business. This was the sentiment of mr adriano campolina, the chief executive of actionaid international, on thursday, 19 november 2015. Dr richard maponya was an economic warrior for black. The day before christmas, 90 years ago, one of south africas richest businessmen, richard maponya, was born in limpopo province.
Family, business, education, soweto and a sense of community were just some of the things closest to business tycoon and trailblazer dr richard maponyas heart. Richard maponya was born at thlabine, a small village near lenyenye about 20km west of tzaneen in what we now know as limpopo previously part of the transvaal. Richard maponya is one that fascinates and inspires many south africans. His journey began in the dusty streets of lenyenye, a township in the limpopo province of northern south africa, where he was born. We are looking out for more details and circumstances surrounding the death. By leon louw what can we learn from a man who was born before nylon, tv, jet engines, faxes, cordless phones, fm radio, microwaves, tape recorders, automatic gears and electric typewriters, let alone computers. Lecture and the yearly dr richard maponya soweto conference. For 96 years, richard maponya has been battering down barriers of prejudice and proving that a black man can do anything. Richard maponya in the early hours of the 6th of january 2020, after a short illness. Richard john maponya was born in lenyenye in the northern transvaal now limpopo province. Dr richard maponya university of johannesburg soweto annual conference on entrepreneurship april, 2016 dr richard maponya institute annual national entrepreneurship road show april 22, 2016 professor thandwa mthembu to deliver the.
Gallo images oupa bopape fifty years ago, the very idea that a black person could build and own a shopping mall in a black township, where young black men and. Dr maponya s life is a testament to resilience, determination and the power of vision. The institute is inspired by the brazilian national service for industrial apprenticeship, senai institute, whose mission is to promote vocational and technological education, the innovation and transfer of industrial technologies, contributing to increase the competitiveness of brazilian industry. Property development is done for our own account and for third parties. South african police guard gets horribly confused at. The life and wisdom of richard maponya forbes africa.
I swore to never work for a white man again richard. Richard maponya annual entrepreneurship lecture at the university of johannesburg auckland park, johannesburg november 2017. Maponya faced a lot of obstacles while trying to make way in business but he eventually succeeded in making a fortune from property, horse racing, retail, cars and liquor. Richard maponya the doyen of black business in south africa passed away in the early hours of january 6, after a short illness. The cause of death is linked to health related issues. Maponya was awarded the 6th fmf luminary award in recognition of his outstanding.
Dr richard maponya, 99, was the doyen of black business who established a reputation as a defiant entrepreneur who took on the might of apartheid bureaucracy and won. Condolences to the friends, colleagues and family pic. Maponya developments are property developers and project managers specialising in commercial and light industrial developments maponya developments was formed in 1997 and brings together a number of experienced and established property developers. Richard maponya, who passed away at the age of 99, lived a life of dignity and wisdom and defied stifling apartheid laws to build a business empire. Richard maponya carved himself a chapter in the history of south african business. South african businessman dr richard maponya passed away on. It is with sadness that the maponya family informs you of the passingon of dr. Dr richard maponya institute for skills and entrepreneurship development. Richard maponya, the lion of the north daily maverick. Richard maponya age, wife, net worth, biography, family. Click the link to download the lecture dr maponya lecture by mr vusi thembekwayo. Moky makura is a freelance writer and tv producer based. Richard maponya taught us to be captains of our destiny.
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