Remembering
Dr Thandi Ndlovu
Our beloved and highly respected colleague Dr Thandi Ndlovu was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident on 24 August 2019.
Dr Ndlovu served as an independent non-executive director on our board for almost 19 years and was a valued member of our Social and Ethics Committee, as well as the Nomination Committee. She was a confidante, an adviser and a mentor to our whole board, and we benefited tremendously from her guidance, support and understanding of our business DNA and everything we stand for.
Dr Ndlovu’s influence on the business extended well beyond the board. She contributed to the broader business and her passion for the business and its people together with her support and guidance meant an enormous amount to all staff and management.
During the darkest days of apartheid, Dr Ndlovu committed herself to the liberation struggle and served as a commander in the African National Congress’ military wing, uMkhonto weSizwe. She maintained her support for the movement for democratic change throughout.
She was a medical doctor who in her early years provided medical care to tens of thousands of disadvantaged people by establishing a clinic in Orange Farm outside Johannesburg. Here she worked as the only medical doctor in the community.
Dr Thandi, as she was affectionately known, was the founder, CEO and chairperson of the Motheo Construction Group of Companies, one of South Africa’s first and leading black female-owned construction companies. She was the recipient of numerous awards over the years including the 2017 Woman of Substance Award from The African Women Chartered Accountants Association and the 2013 Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Businesswomen’s Association of SA (BWASA); contributing greatly to the construction of quality rural housing and the upgrading of informal settlements across South Africa.
Dr Thandi believed in leading by example and was determined to use her knowledge, stature and business acumen to champion change and opportunity for women in South Africa. She had a sharp intellect, a warm heart, a vibrant spirit, and always made time to share her knowledge and wisdom. She was a truly impactful and selfless leader, an inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her story and life are full of wonderful lessons that followed these truths:
1
Let each person feel better off from having interacted with you each and every time.
2
Show equal respect to all even when you disagree, irrespective of differences.
3
Never move ahead without taking the hand of someone else along your journey.
4
Fill your business with skilled people so that you can use your success to uplift the less fortunate.
5
Fight gender-based violence in all its forms.
6
Use your personal moral compass to guide all your decisions in life and in business.
She was an amazing woman who over the past seven years climbed Mount Kilimanjaro on two occasions, Everest Base Camp, Mount Kenya and Annapurna Base Camp, all for charity. At a board meeting in August shortly before she died, Dr Thandi proudly told our board members that she was in training for her next climbing adventure, which was planned for September in Peru for her charity, The Thandi Ndlovu Children’s Foundation.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to her loved ones. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
Rest in peace, our mentor, dear friend and colleague.
Hilton Saven
Chairman
Michael Mark
Chief Executive Officer