Native Merchants – The Building Of The Black Business Class In South Africa is Class 2 ALI Media Fellow, Phakamisa Ndzamela’s debut title. The book explores underwritten stories of black entrepreneurs during the 17th to early 20th centuries, giving insight into a time when black people built successful enterprises on their own account and not as labourers. The book is available from online retailers and all major bookstores.
Dr Percy Mahlati is the Executive Director of the Selizwe Leadership Academy and the African Institute of Health. He is a Fellow of the fifth class of the Africa Leadership Initiative – South Africa and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Dr Mahlati has recently published Learning to Care and Serve: Personal Narratives and Reflections, with great reviews.
Review of Dr Percy Mahlathi’s Book.
Learning to Care and Serve: Personal Narratives and Reflections
Firstly, I must congratulate Dr Mahlathi on this highly informative and history rich memoir. It was indeed my privilege and pleasure to read this personal reflection. The conversational writing style he has used, made me feel more like a companion on his journey as he is able to bring to life the story in a most pleasing way. While being a personal memoir, he has been able to impart knowledge about what it takes to build organizational structures from the ground up and has, although probably not intentionally, highlighted just how out of touch with the common man our current body politic actually is. – Ms Amanda Derby-Gcabashe (Activist and former senior Executive at SABS)
Dear Dr Mahlathi – I have just finished reading your book and it has been an epic journey for me with lots of parallels to my own life, not surprising because we were occupying the same space and time and were exposed to the same persons at times such as our former Principal Mr Ngambu. We were both public servants, albeit at different stages in different fields but shared the political environment that shaped and impacted our lives. I stand in awe of you, how you have structured your book and packed everything in it but still made it interesting to read. I have really enjoyed it. As for Umthombo Wethemba Initiative, I think its potential is still unexplored, and especially if you think of what impact it would make if all of us from our different former schools were to take it up in earnest. Well done, Brother! – Dr Wallace Mgoqi (Author and former Manager of the City of Cape Town)
