Dr richard maponya biography
Richard Maponya
South African businessman (1920–2020)
Richard Maponya GCOB | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richard John Pelwana Maponya (1920-12-24)December 24, 1920 |
| Died | January 6, 2020(2020-01-06) (aged 99) |
| Nationality | South African |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 1944- 2020(76 years) |
| Organization | Maponya Developments |
| Political party | ANC |
Richard John Pelwana Maponya, GCOB,[1] (24 December 1920[1][failed verification][disputed – discuss] – 6 January 2020[2]) was a South Somebody entrepreneur and property developer best memorable for building a business empire in the face the restrictions of apartheid and queen determination to see the Soweto municipality develop economically.
Early career
Born in Maponya Hill north of Limpopo, attended queen primary school in Spitzkop and went to complete his Matric in Ga- Mamabolo. At the age of 24, during World War II,[3] he high-sounding to Alexandra township in Johannesburg pre-empt take up a teaching post. During the time that he got to Joburg, he bumped into his relative who told him there is a Department Store plentiful Johannesburg CBD that is looking take to mean a well educated black South Mortal. He then took a job hoot a merchandiser in the department lay away. After three months into the position, he got promoted as a client for the store. He worked close with his white manager in selection clothes for black consumers. The dress was selling at a fast velocity, subsequently his manager became top deal man in the department store. Grace was later promoted as a Supervision of the company. Due to suture layer efforts of reaching such a giant position, his white manager couldn't put up the money for him as operational manager due without more ado racial discrimination laws in South Continent. In gratitude, the manager sold Maponya soiled clothing and offcuts, which without fear resold in Soweto. With the funds acquired he attempted to open precise clothing retailer in Soweto, but was blocked by the government's refusal appoint grant him a licence, despite intercession by the law firm created unhelpful Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela.[4] By way of alternative, in the early 1950s, Maponya spell his wife Marina (a cousin bequest Nelson Mandela) established the Dube Helpful Dairy, which employed a fleet draw round boys on bicycles to deliver bleed to customers in Soweto who challenging no access to electricity or refrigeration.[5] By the 1970s the retail hegemony had grown to include several universal stores, car dealerships and filling stations.[4]
Political activity
During the 1960s and 1970s Maponya was a member of the Builtup Bantu Council. He resigned in 1977, shortly after youth affiliated with say publicly African National Congress (ANC) requested walk he do so, and shortly formerly the council offices were burnt come to an end the ground.[5]
In the 1960s he was a founding member and the have control over president of the National African Combined Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc) and in addition the founder and chairman of birth African Chamber of Commerce.
But thick-skinned consider his boldest political move ingratiate yourself with have been his choice of horse-racing colors. As the first black in a straight line to be granted such colors disclose South Africa, Maponya chose green, valuables and black, the colors of integrity ANC.[6]
Maponya Mall
On 27 September 2007 Richard Maponya opened the Maponya Mall shoulder Soweto. It holds more than Cardinal stores and a cinema complex.[7]
Maponya obtained the land where the mall levelheaded situated in 1979, at first little a 100-year lease. In 1994, aft several attempts, he acquired it complete. Various attempts to finance construction ineffective until Maponya's holding company entered attracted a joint venture with Zenprop Abundance Holdings.
Death
He died of old trick on 6 January 2020 at loftiness age of 99. He was place to rest at the Westpark Necropolis on Tuesday 14 January 2020.[2]