Name: Sakumzi Justice Macozoma Born: 12 May 1957 Nationality: South African Alma mater: University of South Africa, Boston University (USA) Occupation: Non-Executive Chairman of Safika Holdings Net worth: R565-million
Saki Macozoma A f o r m e r p o l i t i c a l p r i s o n e r a n d a p a r t h e i d s t r u g g l e h e ro , S a k i M a c o z o m a i s t h e p e r f e c t e x a m p l e o f w h a t a s t ro n g work ethic and go od attitude can accomplish: He is now one of the best-known business people in South Africa.
EARLY LIFE After attending schools in the Transkei and Port Elizabeth, Macozoma studied political science, economics, and journalism at the University of South Africa and Boston University in the USA. He returned in the mid-1970s to begin his political career as an organiser for the South African Students Movement. This career path was cut short in 1976 when he was arrested for leading a student protest march and was sentenced to be imprisoned on Robben Island for no less than five years. During his incarceration, Macozoma became acquainted with the father of South Africa as we know it today, the late Nelson Mandela. Madiba mentored the young Macozoma and encouraged him to take highly principled views on moral issues. This led him to becoming highly active on the Detainees Support Committee upon his release in 1982 and his role in the formation of the United Democratic Front. HOW HE MADE HIS MONEY In 1994, Macozoma was appointed as a member of parliament and was elected Chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio on communications. However, his political career was again cut
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short as he resigned his post in 1996 to take up the role as the first black Managing Director of state transport infrastructure body Transnet. In 1998 he was appointed to the board of Standard Bank, South Africa’s largest financial institution and has subsequently become Deputy Chairman. In addition, he is currently the Chairman of Liberty Holdings, Stanlib, Tshipi Ê Ntle Manganese Mining, Ntsimbintle Mining, the Council on Higher Education, the Kwazulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the University Council of the University of the Witwatersrand. In 2012, along with Mandela, Macozoma was given a Calabash Award from the University of South Africa, the highest honour the tertiary institution offers. He was also the first recipient of the Robben Island Alumnes Award, to honour those who served time imprisoned on Robben Island for fighting against the oppressive state system of the apartheid regime. He is the Deputy Chairman of Volkwagen SA and is a member of the Board of Governors of Rhodes University. If anyone in South Africa can complain about not having enough hours in a day, it is without doubt Saki Macozoma.