Giving sound business and life advice at the Faculty of Management Sciences graduation ceremony, at the Durban University of Technology, Fred Crookes Sports Centre, was business mogul Richard Maponya. He was accompanied by his good friend, Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who Maponya asked the entire gathering to observe a moment of silence for his recent loss.
Speaking to graduates at the ceremony, Maponya explained how he had successfully built a business empire despite the restrictions of Apartheid. He reiterated to the students about how the late Nelson Mandela and others had sacrificed themselves, their jobs and their lives for the freedom of South Africa. “His contribution was small, he wasn’t locked up. But he was undermining the regime, exposing it – making a statement that when given a chance, a black man could indeed become as successful as a white man,” he said.
Maponya also encouraged students to always keep their heads up and focus on their prospective jobs, saying in business there are good days and days that are equally as bad. “However, lions must not concern themselves with the opinions of sheep. I started business over 60 years ago and when I started, it was the most difficult time of my life. I started as a man selling clothing – I knew how to select clothes because I was trained by an English gentleman who got me employed just before I took my teaching post. My clothes were selling fast like hot cakes and as a result of that, this gentleman was promoted to become the CEO of the company,” said Maponya. He explained how the English gentleman’s promotion led to his very own business beginnings, where the company gave him reject clothes to make money of his own. He gave his customers credit and in return his customers not only paid him in full but they also gave him referrals. Just like that, Maponya’s name grew popular in Soweto, where he grew up.
Tying in with the recent widespread of xenophobic attacks in the country, Maponya used his time at the podium to express his views, urging students to condemn it. “A terrible thing has happened that has shaken peace loving South Africans – known to be very warm and welcoming people. But when this xenophobia came about, it shook all of us because we know that it has damaged the image of this country as we all belong to the world family. We all must stand together and condemn xenophobia with the strongest words. We have work to do to repair the damage that is done by xenophobia,” he said.
Maponya also expressed how happy he was to see so many young people graduating, a rare occurrence in his day. “What we are witnessing here, because of the system under which we were governed, during those days of Apartheid, we were foreigners in our own country. It didn’t matter where you came from or which area you lived – we were all foreigners. But now things have changed we now are the true citizens of this country since 1994. I want to congratulate all these young people who are graduating. We are looking upon you as shinning stars of our country that are going to help us to build this country to become the best countries in the world,” he said.
When asked about the possibility of retirement in previous interviews, the 95-year-old business mogul said: “I cannot retire. Retire and do what? I believe that for as long as I am alive and healthy, I must do whatever I can to benefit my community. I will work until they sing hamba kahle (go well). I will die with my boots on,” he said.
– Thobele Nzama
