Maponya was ‘a national asset’
HE TOOK centre stage for 99 years to create wealth for himself and his family and uplift each community he laid his roots in.
These were the words used to describe late businessman Dr Richard Maponya during a memorial service at his former home in Winterveldt yesterday.
Maponya died last week after a short illness, and communities and various dignitaries have continued to share their encounters and lessons learned from the business pioneer.
Family representative Andy Maponya said the late businessman had the heart of a parent and was a father to many people, including himself.
He said the one thing that stuck with him about Maponya was that he was able to help people whenever they needed him, but would not go around boasting about it afterwards.
“We saw him as a national asset and we hope that he has duplicated himself, as a good leader produces leaders who will surpass him.”
Long-time friend and business associate Dr Sam Motsuenyane said he was heartbroken at losing a friend he’d known for 65 years.
He said he had not anticipated his friend’s passing, as he had been talking and laughing with him until recently.
Motsuenyane said he and Maponya had, since 1940 when Winterveldt was established, tried to approach the Land Bank and different government departments in order to bring development to the community, but to no avail.
“It’s disappointing to see malls cropping up near places where black people live, yet they are led to believe that they have no money.
“If you have no money why do they keep building malls in front of you? It’s because we are consumers and not producers.”
He urged the community to use Maponya’s memory and hard work ethic to band together and finally start talking about how black people could be part of developing their own communities.
Maponya’s contribution to business and society won him many awards and accolades over the years, including honorary doctoral degrees from the Tshwane University of Technology, Durban University of Technology, the University of Johannesburg and the Mangosuthu University of Technology.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a special official funeral, category 2, for Maponya.
The Presidency defines a category 2 funeral as one which “entails elements of police ceremonial honours in line with the Presidency’s state, official and provincial funeral policy for distinguished persons specifically designated by the President of the Republic of South Africa”.