Richard Maponya
Encyclopedia
Richard John Pelwana Maponya, GCOB
, (born in Limpopo
on December 24, 1926) is a South Africa
n entrepreneur and property developer best known for building a business empire despite the restrictions of apartheid and his determination to see the Soweto
township develop economically
.
and Nelson Mandela
.
Instead, in the early 1950s, Maponya and his wife Marina (a cousin of Nelson Mandela) established the Dube Hygenic Dairy, which employed a fleet of boys on bicycles to deliver milk to customers in Soweto who had no access to electricity or refrigeration. By the 1970s the retail empire had grown to include several general stores, car dealerships and filling stations.
(ANC) requested that he do so, and shortly before the council offices were burnt to the ground.
In the 1960s he was a founding member and the first president of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce
(Nafcoc) and likewise the founder and chairman of the African Chamber of Commerce.
But some consider his boldest political move to have been his choice of horse-racing colors. As the first black person to be granted such colors in South Africa, Maponya chose green, gold and black, the colors of the ANC.
in Soweto. One of the largest shopping centers in the country, and one of few in black townships, it holds more than 200 stores and a cinema complex..
Maponya acquired the land where the mall is situated in 1979, at first as a 100 year lease. In 1994, after several attempts, he acquired it outright. Various attempts to finance construction failed until Maponya's holding company entered into a joint venture with Zenprop Property Holdings.
Order of the Baobab
The Order of the Baobab is a South African honour. It was instituted on 6 December 2002, and is granted by the president of South Africa for service to South Africa in the following fields: business and the economy, science, medicine and technological innovation, and community service...
, (born in Limpopo
Limpopo
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. The capital is Polokwane, formerly named Pietersburg. The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994, and initially named Northern Transvaal...
on December 24, 1926) is a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n entrepreneur and property developer best known for building a business empire despite the restrictions of apartheid and his determination to see the Soweto
Soweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
township develop economically
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
.
Early career
At the age of 24, Maponya, then a teacher, took a job as a stock taker at a clothing maker and subsequently won a promotion for both himself and his white manager. In gratitude, the manager sold Maponya soiled clothing and offcuts, which he resold in Soweto. With the capital acquired he attempted to open a clothing retailer in Soweto, but was blocked by the government's refusal to grant him a licence – despite the intervention by the law firm created by Oliver TamboOliver Tambo
Oliver Reginald Tambo was a South African anti-apartheid politician and a central figure in the African National Congress .-Biography:Oliver Tambo was born in Bizana in eastern Pondoland in what is now Eastern Cape...
and Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
.
Instead, in the early 1950s, Maponya and his wife Marina (a cousin of Nelson Mandela) established the Dube Hygenic Dairy, which employed a fleet of boys on bicycles to deliver milk to customers in Soweto who had no access to electricity or refrigeration. By the 1970s the retail empire had grown to include several general stores, car dealerships and filling stations.
Political activity
During the 1960s and 1970s Maponya was a member of the Urban Bantu Council. He resigned in 1977, shortly after youth affiliated with the African National CongressAfrican National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
(ANC) requested that he do so, and shortly before the council offices were burnt to the ground.
In the 1960s he was a founding member and the first president of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce
National African Federated Chamber of Commerce
The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce is a South African member body formed in 1964, which focused on the upliftment of black business people during Apartheid. It claims a membership of several hundred thousand and controls substantial investment funds....
(Nafcoc) and likewise the founder and chairman of the African Chamber of Commerce.
But some consider his boldest political move to have been his choice of horse-racing colors. As the first black person to be granted such colors in South Africa, Maponya chose green, gold and black, the colors of the ANC.
Maponya Mall
On 27 September 2007 Nelson Mandela opened the Maponya MallMaponya Mall
Maponya Mall is a shopping centre in Soweto, South Africa. The 65,000 square-metre development cost R650m to build and officially opened in September 2007. The mall is owned by South African entrepreneur and property developer, Richard Maponya under The Maponya group in partnership with Investec...
in Soweto. One of the largest shopping centers in the country, and one of few in black townships, it holds more than 200 stores and a cinema complex..
Maponya acquired the land where the mall is situated in 1979, at first as a 100 year lease. In 1994, after several attempts, he acquired it outright. Various attempts to finance construction failed until Maponya's holding company entered into a joint venture with Zenprop Property Holdings.