South Africa -
Black Millionaires
7 mins 16 secs
Marion Mayer-Hohdahl
In South Africa half the 30 million blacks live under the poverty line. In the townships 80 percent of the people are unemployed. Despite these depressing statistics some black South Africans have succeeded in making a fortune and creating work. There are even some millionaires and not just Rand millionaires. Richard Maponya is the richest black in the country. He acquired his fortune during the apartheid era. The younger generation are having it easier than him. Some of them leave the townships and take up residence in the white areas of the cities. Something the poor don't like to see.
This is only one of the race horses of a rich man. Not so long ago he was the third biggest racing stable owner in South Africa. And that was during the apartheid era when blacks were oppressed.
Richard Maponya showed them all:
Richard Maponya, first black racing stable owner: It was not an easy thing to get racing colours. It took me five years. When I first applied, it was like I'm really dreaming. Because I was really cracking into a reserved type of game. It was a closed club, and at the time there was no black who ever attempted that. We were not recognized as human beings. A white person in a country would have a dog come into his house and he would have a dog as a pet. And he would love a dog better than a black person.
Eleven years ago he moved into this villa, even though the area was reserved for whites only. it was against the law. Every day he waited for the police to come. But they didn't. As a black businessman he was already too influential. Richard Maponya made his money through selling fabric and clothing. Later he got involved in the dairy and food business. Today he owns chains including service stations, garages and rental firms.
Richard Maponya: We were pressed down also. I believe that things being equal I could have been the richest person. But I had a lot of problems in my life. I was denied a lot of opportunities.
Just like these people. Half of the 30 million blacks in South Africa live under the poverty line. Those who can manage to get out of the black township of Soweto do so as fast as possible.
But Richard Maponya thinks Soweto is a good place to invest in. At the cost of half a million Rand he's built hotels, businesses and a Casino here.
Richard Maponya: Soweto is one of the largest cities in our country. 5.5 million people live in Soweto, and they deserve facilities just as good as the facilities you find in Sandton and all other white suburbs.
Sam Tsima thinks like Richard Maponya. He arrived in Johannesburg from the north of the country with nothing. Today he's the manager of the biggest bank in South Africa. He's been with the Black Management Forum - a black business organization, for ten years.
He's fighting for rights for blacks and is trying to help them.
Sam Tsima: Bank manager
There's still a lot of poverty. There's a lot of unemployment - the economy isn't going too well. A lot of foreign companies don't want to make direct investments. They want to see who's coming after Mandela and what the politics will be. There are so many problems. Hopefully we'll make it. I'm optimistic.
Sam Tsima is on his way up. His self-discipline helps. He was the best pupil in his class. In 1988 Sam got a scholarship to study in Germany. The 34-year old left behind the Apartheid regime and for the first time lived together with whites.
Sam Tsima:The host family was very open. Right from the start they told my why they were in this program. Since 1970 they've been a host family. They were so open with me that right from the start I felt at home. But I learnt something interesting. It's not a matter of skin colour but a matter of people.
leave free ..."wir lernen Deutsch....
He's sacrificing his leisure time for the new South Africa. Free of charge he teaches youngsters from Soweto. Twice a week he gives German lessons. Many of his pupils are unemployed and bitter.
German school pupil: They kind of get selfish. They get wrapped up in their riches and their money and live in the suburbs and forget about everybody. All they’re interested in is their self development. No one would ever do this for free.
None of the rich black South Africans had rich parents. They are all self-made. And they enjoy their new found wealth.
When Yvonne Chaka-Chaka doesn't need her limousines for herself, she hires them out. She's got four chauffeurs working for her.
Yvonne Chaka-Chaka, singer and business woman. When people say, “Oh, it’s lucky to be like Felicia Mabuza, Yvonne or Richard Maponya or somebody.” We all work very hard.
Mandla is the youngest of her four sons. As a child Yvonne sang in church and about 10 years ago she was discovered. Today she has her own band, a production company and she markets her own shows for television.
But the singer never forgets her origins. Her mother Sophie still lives in the black township of Soweto. Here, Yvonne visits the school. There was no money for her studies. But then came her success as a singer. Today no one in her family has to think about making pocket money.
Yvonne Chaka-Chaka: I came from a poor family. My mother was a domestic servant. My father died when I was 11. My mother always said me, “If you’ve got 5 cents, share it with other people, because you don’t know what might happen to you or to them.” When I have anything, I always share it with other people. Because I think it’s the only way that we can make ourselves better.
For blacks it's a long journey. Forty-eight years of Apartheid have left many living in poverty. But with iron self-discipline, luck and business sense some have jumped over the hurdles. Giving others hope.
Black Millionaires
7 mins 16 secs
Marion Mayer-Hohdahl
In South Africa half the 30 million blacks live under the poverty line. In the townships 80 percent of the people are unemployed. Despite these depressing statistics some black South Africans have succeeded in making a fortune and creating work. There are even some millionaires and not just Rand millionaires. Richard Maponya is the richest black in the country. He acquired his fortune during the apartheid era. The younger generation are having it easier than him. Some of them leave the townships and take up residence in the white areas of the cities. Something the poor don't like to see.
This is only one of the race horses of a rich man. Not so long ago he was the third biggest racing stable owner in South Africa. And that was during the apartheid era when blacks were oppressed.
Richard Maponya showed them all:
Richard Maponya, first black racing stable owner: It was not an easy thing to get racing colours. It took me five years. When I first applied, it was like I'm really dreaming. Because I was really cracking into a reserved type of game. It was a closed club, and at the time there was no black who ever attempted that. We were not recognized as human beings. A white person in a country would have a dog come into his house and he would have a dog as a pet. And he would love a dog better than a black person.
Eleven years ago he moved into this villa, even though the area was reserved for whites only. it was against the law. Every day he waited for the police to come. But they didn't. As a black businessman he was already too influential. Richard Maponya made his money through selling fabric and clothing. Later he got involved in the dairy and food business. Today he owns chains including service stations, garages and rental firms.
Richard Maponya: We were pressed down also. I believe that things being equal I could have been the richest person. But I had a lot of problems in my life. I was denied a lot of opportunities.
Just like these people. Half of the 30 million blacks in South Africa live under the poverty line. Those who can manage to get out of the black township of Soweto do so as fast as possible.
But Richard Maponya thinks Soweto is a good place to invest in. At the cost of half a million Rand he's built hotels, businesses and a Casino here.
Richard Maponya: Soweto is one of the largest cities in our country. 5.5 million people live in Soweto, and they deserve facilities just as good as the facilities you find in Sandton and all other white suburbs.
Sam Tsima thinks like Richard Maponya. He arrived in Johannesburg from the north of the country with nothing. Today he's the manager of the biggest bank in South Africa. He's been with the Black Management Forum - a black business organization, for ten years.
He's fighting for rights for blacks and is trying to help them.
Sam Tsima: Bank manager
There's still a lot of poverty. There's a lot of unemployment - the economy isn't going too well. A lot of foreign companies don't want to make direct investments. They want to see who's coming after Mandela and what the politics will be. There are so many problems. Hopefully we'll make it. I'm optimistic.
Sam Tsima is on his way up. His self-discipline helps. He was the best pupil in his class. In 1988 Sam got a scholarship to study in Germany. The 34-year old left behind the Apartheid regime and for the first time lived together with whites.
Sam Tsima:The host family was very open. Right from the start they told my why they were in this program. Since 1970 they've been a host family. They were so open with me that right from the start I felt at home. But I learnt something interesting. It's not a matter of skin colour but a matter of people.
leave free ..."wir lernen Deutsch....
He's sacrificing his leisure time for the new South Africa. Free of charge he teaches youngsters from Soweto. Twice a week he gives German lessons. Many of his pupils are unemployed and bitter.
German school pupil: They kind of get selfish. They get wrapped up in their riches and their money and live in the suburbs and forget about everybody. All they’re interested in is their self development. No one would ever do this for free.
None of the rich black South Africans had rich parents. They are all self-made. And they enjoy their new found wealth.
When Yvonne Chaka-Chaka doesn't need her limousines for herself, she hires them out. She's got four chauffeurs working for her.
Yvonne Chaka-Chaka, singer and business woman. When people say, “Oh, it’s lucky to be like Felicia Mabuza, Yvonne or Richard Maponya or somebody.” We all work very hard.
Mandla is the youngest of her four sons. As a child Yvonne sang in church and about 10 years ago she was discovered. Today she has her own band, a production company and she markets her own shows for television.
But the singer never forgets her origins. Her mother Sophie still lives in the black township of Soweto. Here, Yvonne visits the school. There was no money for her studies. But then came her success as a singer. Today no one in her family has to think about making pocket money.
Yvonne Chaka-Chaka: I came from a poor family. My mother was a domestic servant. My father died when I was 11. My mother always said me, “If you’ve got 5 cents, share it with other people, because you don’t know what might happen to you or to them.” When I have anything, I always share it with other people. Because I think it’s the only way that we can make ourselves better.
For blacks it's a long journey. Forty-eight years of Apartheid have left many living in poverty. But with iron self-discipline, luck and business sense some have jumped over the hurdles. Giving others hope.