Johannesburg - Renowned businessman Richard Maponya, who died on Monday aged 99 after a short illness, was a shining beacon of light for black business during apartheid, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry said.
A family confirmed the death of Maponya, who defied the restrictions of decades-long white apartheid rule to build a business empire, culminating in the opening of the Maponya mall in the sprawling Soweto township in 2007 which boasts more than 200 stores and a cinema complex. In a statement, SACCI said Maponya was not only an activist, but a visionary and innovative leader in business and South African society in general.
"His achievements are incomparable, given the huge obstacles he had to overcome and endure in building his business dynasty," the chamber said. "There can never be enough words to pay tribute to this legend, who against the most difficult challenges and odds, rose to be a shining beacon of light for black business in the apartheid days and continued to make a massive contribution to the broader business community in post-apartheid South Africa."
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