Nthato Motlana

Dr. Nthato Harrison Motlana (16 Feb 1925 – 1 December 2008) was a prominent South African businessman, physician and anti-apartheid activist.

Life under Apartheid

He was tried alongside Nelson Mandela by the Apartheid regime during the Defiance Campaign of 1951–52, and played a prominent role during the Soweto uprising as one of the members of the Soweto Committee of Ten. [1] Motlana was a founding member of the Black Community Programme, a group whose goal was to economically empower black South Africans, and he founded Phaphama Africa Commercial Enterprises, Lesedi Clinic (the first black owned, private up-market hospital in the country), and Sizwe Medical Aid (the first black owned medical aid scheme in South Africa). [2]

“ Motlana: The Sharpeville Massacre chillingly portrayed the readiness of the state to use violence to counter and crush opposition, a willingness that has been seen time and time again since then. ”
— From Discussions of the Inaugural Programme of the Africa Leadership Forum, Ota, Nigeria, 24 October to 1 November 1988 [3]

Life after Apartheid

Following apartheid, Motlana took a lead role in the formation of the New African Investments Limited, or NAIL, which purchased many previously white run corporations at below market value. These included South Africa's largest newspaper The Sowetan. [4] Due to his huge success in business Motalana earned the nickname "Father of Black Economic Empowerment." [5]

Motlana served on the boards of Putco, Rand Water Board, Adcock Ingram Group and Sasol, amongst other civic and academic institutions. [6]

Death

He died on 1 December 2008 in a private hospital in Johannesburg.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Mandela mourns Nthato Motlana Southafrica.info
  2. ↑ Coetzee, C & Pienaar, H. (1999) "Nthato Harrison Motlana" from They Shaped our Century: The Most Influential South Africans of the Twentieth Century. Published by Human and Rousseau - p.364-368 http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/nthato-harrison-motlana
  3. ↑ , African Leadership Forum, Ota, Nigeria, 24 October to 1 November 1988
  4. ↑ "South African Media in Transition" by, Colin Sparks, Journal of African Media Studies, vol. 2, number 2, 2009 pg. 201
  5. ↑ The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9665, Page 716, 28 February 2009, Nthato Harrison Motlana
  6. 1 2 "Motlana: the passing of a great man" by, Ndaba Dlamini, Joburg.org
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