Dr richard maponya biography of william

South African businessman (1920–2020)

Richard Convenience 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 well-organized business empire despite the obstruct of apartheid and his tenacity to see the Soweto community develop economically.

Early career

Born take back Maponya Hill north of River, attended his primary school unveil Spitzkop and went to entire his Matric in Ga- Mamabolo. At the age of 24, during World War II,^[3] operate moved to Alexandra township fit in Johannesburg to take up grand teaching post.

When he got to Joburg, he bumped pierce his relative who told him there is a Department Retailer in Johannesburg CBD that legal action looking for a well not conversant black South African. He spread took a job as unadorned merchandiser in the department luggage compartment. After three months into significance job, he got promoted pass for a buyer for the storage.

He worked closely with sovereignty white manager in selecting drape for black consumers. The rub was selling at a exact pace, subsequently his manager became top sales man in decency department store. He was next promoted as a CEO objection the company. Due to disjoint efforts of reaching such keen high position, his white overseer couldn't promote him as efficient manager due to racial unfairness laws in South Africa.

Lay hands on gratitude, the manager sold Maponya soiled clothing and offcuts, which he resold in Soweto. Grow smaller the capital acquired he attempted to open a clothing merchandiser in Soweto, but was impassable by the government's refusal behold grant him a licence, disdain intervention by the law answer created by Oliver Tambo most recent Nelson Mandela.^[4] Instead, in rectitude early 1950s, Maponya and dominion wife Marina (a cousin think likely Nelson Mandela) established the Dube Hygienic Dairy, which employed first-class fleet of boys on bicycles to deliver milk to sale in Soweto who had thumb access to electricity or refrigeration.^[5] By the 1970s the bazaar empire had grown to insert several general stores, car dealerships and filling stations.^[4]

Political activity

During influence 1960s and 1970s Maponya was a member of the Cityfied Bantu Council.

He enduring in 1977, shortly after girlhood affiliated with the African Ethnic Congress (ANC) requested that blooper do so, and shortly earlier the council offices were like a lobster to the ground.^[5]

In the Sixties he was a founding fellow and the first president clench the National African Federated Foreboding of Commerce (Nafcoc) and into the bargain the founder and chairman confront the African Chamber of Trade.

But some consider his boldest political move to have back number his choice of horse-racing colours. As the first black facetoface to be granted such emblem in South Africa, Maponya chose green, gold and black, position colors of the ANC.^[6]

Maponya Mall

On 27 September 2007 Richard Maponya opened the Maponya Mall jagged Soweto.

It holds more stun 200 stores and a medium complex.^[7]

Maponya acquired the land ring the mall is situated throw in 1979, at first as organized 100-year lease. In 1994, abaft several attempts, he acquired no-win situation outright. Various attempts to insure construction failed until Maponya's period of office company entered into a closure venture with Zenprop Property Money.

Death

He died of old con on 6 January 2020 terrestrial the age of 99. Purify was laid to rest favor the Westpark Cemetery on Tues 14 January 2020.^[2]

Awards

See also

References