LIMPOPO – The passing of local prominent businessman, Dr Taposa George Komana (68), is a significant loss for the Hoedspruit community.

Komana was not only known for his entrepreneurial spirit but also for his contributions to the local economy and community development.

Tau, as he was known, was laid to rest on Thursday, February 6 at Taposa Artchar in Bismarck village, Ga Sekororo. The many mourners at his funeral highlighted the profound influence he had on the lives of those around him.

From 1975 to 1977, he worked for a construction company, Davy Contractors based in Gauteng as a foreman. In 1978, during the apartheid years, he resigned from his work and started Taola Construction, named after his grandmother.

His work included the construction of government buildings, clinics, hospitals, schools and many more.

In 1988, he bought an already existing business in Makgaung village in The Oaks and named it Mamoroko Supermarket, after his great grandfather. He transformed it into a supermarket, a butchery and later a bakery was opened on the premises.

He opened another supermarket in Madeira village called Sello Supermarket which is named after his father and is still operational.

In 1997 Tau opened his first bakery in Metz village, named after his grandfather, Taposa, and soon had five more branches in The Oaks, Acornhoek, Rita, Ga-Mothapo and Mokolo. Taposa Enterprise employed around 300 permanent employees.

In 2004, he opened a fuel station, named Taposa Service Station, currently Taps Fuel, in Ga-Sekororo. He also opened an atchar factory, Taposa Atchar, supplying supermarkets and other entrepreneurs.

In 1992 he bought his first farm in the Trichardtsdal area and later acquired another farm in the Bismarck area.

He assisted learners who could not afford to pay their school fees. In 2014, young people from Maruleng approached him for assistance to establish a local radio station which he helped realised under difficult circumstances.

Tau was a religious man who was guided by the Holy Spirit throughout his life.

Komana leaves behind his wife, Virginia Matlala Sethume, 14 children and 32 grandchildren from previous marriages, two brothers and six sisters.

He had more than 15 businesses across Maruleng and two farms.