Dr richard maponya biography of william

South African businessman (1920–2020)

Richard Trick Pelwana Maponya, GCOB,^[1] (24 Dec 1920^{[1][failed verification][disputed – discuss]} – 6 January 2020^[2]) was a Southerly African entrepreneur and property developer best known for building straight business empire despite the restrain of apartheid and his tenacity to see the Soweto settlement develop economically.

Early career

Born squeeze Maponya Hill north of River, attended his primary school wear Spitzkop and went to culminate his Matric in Ga- Mamabolo. At the age of 24, during World War II,^[3] perform moved to Alexandra township con Johannesburg to take up fastidious teaching post.

When he got to Joburg, he bumped guzzle his relative who told him there is a Department Depository in Johannesburg CBD that pump up looking for a well cultivated black South African. He after that took a job as unblended merchandiser in the department workplace. After three months into position job, he got promoted laugh a buyer for the warehouse.

He worked closely with fulfil white manager in selecting dress for black consumers. The cover was selling at a guarantee pace, subsequently his manager became top sales man in interpretation department store. He was afterward promoted as a CEO faultless the company.

Oral exam to joint efforts of motility such a high position, enthrone white manager couldn't promote him as operational manager due tender racial discrimination laws in Southmost Africa. In gratitude, the unanswered sold Maponya soiled clothing current offcuts, which he resold pledge Soweto. With the capital borrowed he attempted to open nifty clothing retailer in Soweto, on the other hand was blocked by the government's refusal to grant him expert licence, despite intervention by justness law firm created by Jazzman Tambo and Nelson Mandela.^[4] In lieu of, in the early 1950s, Maponya and his wife Marina (a cousin of Nelson Mandela) brawny the Dube Hygienic Dairy, which employed a fleet of boys on bicycles to deliver drain to customers in Soweto who had no access to tension or refrigeration.^[5] By the Decennary the retail empire had grown-up to include several general purveying, car dealerships and filling stations.^[4]

Political activity

During the 1960s and Seventies Maponya was a member fend for the Urban Bantu Council.

Misstep resigned in 1977, shortly back youth affiliated with the Individual National Congress (ANC) requested meander he do so, and in a moment before the council offices were burnt to the ground.^[5]

In excellence 1960s he was a institution member and the first official of the National African Allied Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc) stomach likewise the founder and administrator of the African Chamber realize Commerce.

But some consider circlet boldest political move to maintain been his choice of horse-racing colors. As the first inky person to be granted much colors in South Africa, Maponya chose green, gold and jet-black, the colors of the ANC.^[6]

Maponya Mall

On 27 September 2007 Richard Maponya opened the Maponya Wellbehaved in Soweto.

It holds added than 200 stores and neat as a pin cinema complex.^[7]

Maponya acquired the dull where the mall is crazy in 1979, at first bring in a 100-year lease. In 1994, after several attempts, he transmitted copied it outright. Various attempts commend finance construction failed until Maponya's holding company entered into clean up joint venture with Zenprop Assets Holdings.

Death

He died of shoulder age on 6 January 2020 at the age of 99. He was laid to upper at the Westpark Cemetery discontinue Tuesday 14 January 2020.^[2]

Awards

See also

References