Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa November 2019 | Page 66

INSPIRATION
SA’s first black property valuer
receives Honourary Doctorate
SIDIMA MFEKU
“My investments reflect
my optimism, because I
am a great believer in the
future of South Africa”
A
cross the globe, the property sector is one broad and
diverse field that anyone can penetrate through, find
their passion and make the most out of. That is how
entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist and honorary
doctorate receiver Dr Keith Bothongo claimed his lifetime
achievement award from the South African Institute of Black
Professionals in 2018. Dr Bothongo is chairman at the Bo-
thongo Group, which boasts a multi-billion Rand property
portfolio, owns the famous Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve
and the Bothongo Wonder Cave in the Cradle of Human-
kind. But his success started with humble beginnings.
“When I first arrived in the town in 1995, I was completely
broke. I became involved in the valuation of land in the North-
West Province before moving to Johannesburg in 1998, where
I became responsible for valuing all City of Johannesburg
properties in the Soweto region,” he said. From this, the doctor
grew to become the intelligent renowned business man he is,
with many titles to his name. As a result, his reputation gained
him an honorary doctorate awarded to him by the University of
North West in October 2019.
After purchasing his first building in Braamfontein, Dr
Bothongo soon became a landlord to several ministries. Two
of the Bothongo group buildings are in the process of being
named after former struggle icons Winnie and Nelson Mandela.
Embodying the values of building an equally educated
nation, Dr Bothongo is an ardent supporter of higher education
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine
and holds six degrees under his belt meanwhile working
towards a doctorate in Business Administration in Zurich,
Switzerland. Following the full establishment of Dr Bothongo’s
businesses and his status as a businessman, the doctor started
playing a role in community-building, driving pro education
participation initiatives.
Dr Bothongo and his wife, Olga Bothongo founded the Keith
Bothongo Foundation. Which has funded tertiary education
for over 70 promising South African students of all races, on
a 100% bursary and a monthly stipend for living costs. Six
of those recipients attended the North West University. On
the day of his doctoral bestowing, Dr Bothongo announced
that his Foundation will be offering a further 10 full bursaries
to students to study at NWUniversity during the next two
academic years of 2020 and 2021, in the fields of Agriculture,
Veterinary Science, and Zoology.
“My investments reflect my optimism, because I am
a great believer in the future of South Africa,” says Dr
Bothongo. The optimistic and determined business
enthusiast is hopeful about the future of the South African
business sector, provided that certain growth stalling
factors are redressed: “We are concerned about the levels
of brazen crime and rampant corruption. “Bribery has now
become the order of the day. Civil servants now want to be
paid a bribe to do their jobs. We need to fight this scourge.
Corruption has become the cancer of our nation.”