Some of SA celebs paid tribute to the business icon and property developer Ntate Richard Maponya, confirmed dead in the early hours of Monday morning.

Richard’s family confirmed that the 99 years old died after a short illness.

The likes of Cassper Nyovest, Somizi, Oskido and a few others took to social media to pay the icon tribute.

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One day I’ll tell my grand kids that this man right here is face of black excellence when there was no hope that a black person and success can be in one sentence. I’m cartoony sad but happy to have lived in yo era and I know that ur at peace coz God blessed u with amazing 99 years of an amazing journey. Through u papa We Are……I am coz u are…..my first memory of the name maponya as a child was going to maponya super market in dube to do groceries. How it was a status to be seen carrying those plastic bags coming out of a taxi. The pride on the faces of black ppl coming from a black owned super market.not having to go to town. Way back before there was woolies there was you papa….REST PAPA REST #riprichardmaponya

A post shared by Somizi (@somizi) on Jan 6, 2020 at 12:49am PST

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George Bernard Shaw said: The reasonable man wants to adapt to the world but the unreasonable man wants the world to adapt to him. Therefore all progress is reliant upon the unreasonable man. #RIPNtateMaponya #Visionary #DefiantOne

A post shared by KabeloMabalane (@kabelomabalane) on Jan 6, 2020 at 12:43am PST

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Richard Maponya was The Don, a father figure of black business who inspired me about the importance of ownership in a time when black excellence was a crime. : #RIPRichardMaponya ?

A post shared by oskidoibelieve (@oskidoibelieve) on Jan 6, 2020 at 12:35am PST

Shocking news to wake up to. What a big loss. Rest in peace Dr Richard Maponya. Thank you for the inspiration. Condolences to the friends, colleagues and family pic.twitter.com/VG38J4tTlw

— #DJSbu (@djsbu) January 6, 2020

Pioneer, legend , phenomenon and black excellence. Thank you for leading and inspriing. Never met you but i was touched and influenced. A great life lived. Robala ka kgotso. #RIPRichardMaponya pic.twitter.com/wzJv1uc6uN

— R.M Phoolo (@casspernyovest) January 6, 2020

Tags: Richard Maponya