A salute to a wonderful businessman

CAPE Town businessman Wonder Hleza has been buried after his body was found on Du Toit’s Kloof Pass about a week after he went missing.

The circumstances of his death are still a mystery. He was found with his motorbike, and the police are still investigating.

Wonder Hleza was a friend of mine and a client. Approximately 20 years ago he approached me as a labour lawyer on behalf of a group of labourers who had problems with their employer.

Wonder being their colleague and representative asked me to intervene to secure fair labour practice for his fellow workers. After one consultation it became extremely obvious that Wonder was not only a born leader, but also extremely astute. He was able to internalise the structure of the Labour Relations Act and was instrumental in approaching the forthcoming litigation with a clear purpose in mind.

The negotiations, at the behest of Wonder Hleza, were successful. I had an interesting discussion with him thereafter and said that he should consider doing one or two courses in industrial relations and human resources as he was clearly gifted as a natural-born leader.

A few years thereafter I was again approached by Wonder, who had now become a director in a labour broking company. His meteoric rise in the world of business was fantastic. Due to his background Wonder was able to fully engage with his workers and fully comprehend their hardships.

In subsequent litigation on behalf of Wonder he was able to teach me to understand the hardships that individuals have to endure on a daily basis.

Often as a lawyer, one takes instructions from the employer and does not take into account the problems that employees encounter. Wonder brought this nuanced approach to my attention and certainly brought a completely new understanding to me in cases of this nature. I salute Wonder Hleza in his humanistic approach to his staff and probably all those around him. I wanted to send this message to his five children, who meant the world to him.

I know his family and friends will miss him, and I know the good work that he did on this Earth will always be remembered.

As testament to the man, he had hundreds of fellow bikers arrive at his funeral to pay their respects.

Highlands Estate