Ruperts’ generosity sets example for all

I HAD a wonderful start to my day on Saturday, which I would like to share with your readers.

The starter was an article on how the Ruperts opened their hearts and wallets to 70 families in Aberdeen – Gaynor Rupert’s home town.

On November 16, 70 residents of the Karoo town of Aberdeen walked into a hall to attend a presentation by the Free Market Foundation.

They walked in as tenants and out as homeowners, with full freehold title made possible by the generosity of businessman Johann Rupert and his wife Gaynor, who are significant sponsors of the foundation’s Khaya Lam (my home) land reform project.

The title deeds were not the end of the story. The Ruperts have also founded and funded the SA College of Tourism in Graaff-Reinet, from which 92 hospitality students from disadvantaged backgrounds graduated on that day. Those graduates will go on to forge careers in the industry, supported by the college. On December 3 in Stellenbosch, Johann and Gaynor Rupert will present more than 326 title deeds that they have sponsored to “new” homeowners.

South Africa has a number of large and wealthy corporates that could take a leaf out of the Ruperts’ book. Incidentally, the next time Malema refers to the “Stellenbosch Mafia”, the press must put him back in his box and nail the lid down. NIGEL MACDONALD

Rondebosch