The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) mourns the passing away of the icon of black business, ntate Richard Maponya. He was a doyen of business, an epitome of black excellence and a symbol of triumph and resilience over adversity. Dr Richard Maponya was the tower that rose tall and defied the odds of black economic exclusion even in post-Apartheid South Africa.
The DSBD looked forward to working with him as he offered counsel in our quest to develop entrepreneurship and SMMEs in South Africa.
In the recent past, when the rebuilding of the economy firmly focused on the role of the township economy, his presence amongst us inspired our confidence on the task of positioning township and rural entrepreneurship at the centre of job creation. Despite his advanced age, we made plans that included him and sought space to consult with him and other doyens of black business as we appreciated their continued contribution in building black businesses and entrepreneurship in general.
To his family, we appreciate your generosity in sharing him with the people of Soweto and South Africa. Through that generosity, your loss is equally ours and we share in your grief. Now that his soul has departed and his duties on earth were fulfilled with aplomb, we are left poorer by his passing but wealthier from the legacy he built for this country. It is this legacy that we must collectively uphold and build on. As the DSBD family, we commit to do our part to honour and celebrate his outstanding contribution and legacy.
We celebrate a life well lived and may his soul rest in power.
Enquiries:
Priscilla Monama - Media Liaison Officer and Spokesperson
Cell: 066 285 0488
Email: NMonama@dsbd.gov.za
