A Catholic Action Woman Mahadi Buthelezi is involved in many faith-based and social activities, on top of being an entrepreneur and family woman. She spoke to Daluxolo Moloantoa about her life and faith.
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EIZE THE DAY — AND KNOW THAT GOD IS IN charge! That is a motto by which Johannesburg businesswoman and Catholic activist Mahadi Buthelezi lives. “Carpe Diem! And always remember that everything starts with and ends with God,” she said. “Pray when you’re feeling sad or scared, and pray when you’re joyful.” The Soweto-born chief executive officer of a real estate company wears a number of hats: family woman, entrepreneur, media practitioner, humanitarian, women’s rights campaigner, and Catholic activist in various areas of activity and ministry. The latest addition to Mahadi’s extensive CV is her role as president of the newly-formed Women’s Forum of the South African Council of Churches (SACC). It is one of the number of positions through which she aims to play her part in uplifting our society. “I’m driven by a desire to work for a world free of gender-based violence, poverty, inequality and racism,” the 50-year-old told The Southern Cross. Born the youngest of six children at Soweto’s famous Baragwanath Hospital, Mahadi grew up in Dube Village in Soweto where she attended Our Lady of Fatima church. Fr Buti Tlhagale OMI, now archbishop of Johannesburg, was one of her parish priests there. She did her primary schooling in Dube before attending Immaculata Secondary High in Diepkloof. She matriculated at Holy Rosary Convent in Edenvale. Her father, the late Simon “Sy” Khumalo, was a well-known boxing trainer who had the likes of world champion Baby Jake Matlala under his wings; her mother Lerato was a fashion designer. This afforded Mahadi an opportunity to see the world through different eyes. The business-bug bit at an early age. Apart from watching her mother run a fashion design business whose clientele included some of Soweto’s most prominent denizens, family relations also
Mahadi Buthelezi with her husband of 27 years, Rob. Their many activities include a family ministry.
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The Southern Cross
played a part in Mahadi’s development towards entrepreneurship. Her family was close to a highly successful entrepreneurial family in her neighbourhood, the Maponyas, owners of the Maponya Mall. “I literally grew up in their household,” Mahadi recalled.
A family woman
Though the last-born child, Mahadi said she was not spoiled at all. “My father was very strict. He used to say that he had no boy or girl in the house, so we all did our chores equally. He even taught me how to mow the lawn and change a tyre. My mother is an impeccably neat individual whose home had to be spick and span. Having parents like mine left me with no choice but to become an all-rounder and a perfectionist,” she laughed. After high school, Mahadi went to work, while also pursuing her studies in marketing, business management, and fashion design. She later took up further courses in real estate and media relations. That training stood her in good stead for future pursuits. Today, the mother of four — Mpumelelo (28), Nqobile (24), Bongiwe (22) and Thando (19) — is the group chief executive officer of the RB Property Group, a business she runs with her husband of 27 years, Robert. “Our company specialises in property development, consulting and sales. I oversee the various departmental duties, from finance, engineering, strategy, research, project management and other operations,” she explained. The communications background led to work with various media platforms, including stints on the now-defunct Tribute magazine and the Catholic broadcaster Radio Veritas. She and husband Rob also wrote a series of familyoriented columns in The Southern Cross, when it was still a newspaper, and Mahadi has also written for the Catholic website Spotlight.Africa. The parishioner of the church of the Resurrection in Bryanston, Johannesburg, takes on her role as a social activist with dedication and passion. “I believe that I am part of a bigger community, society
