Herbert Theledi – A Standard-Bearer for Rural Communities

Today, Sandton is part of the Johannesburg Metropole and the wealthiest district in South Africa. Sandton has become the principal financial district of South Africa and is home to many corporates, as well as the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), which is the largest stock market in Africa.

Sandton is also home to the head office of Nthwese Developments, a black-owned property development and management company, of which Herbert Theledi is the managing director.

However, even though having a head office in the principal financial district of South Africa and managing a company with a portfolio to the value of more than R2.5 billion, Herbert Theledi hasn’t renounced the roots and world of his younger years, the rural communities.

Herbert has been passionate about the development of rural communities since an early stage in his life – a true and ardent standard-bearer for the uplifting of rural communities.

Herbert Theledi was born and bred in rural communities in the Lowveld, and thus fully aware of the challenges and problems dominating and threatening rural communities in the country.

He was born in Sabie, but his family was subjugated to a forced removal under the then draconic Group Areas Act. As a consequence of the forced removal, the young Herbert spent the better part of his early years in Bushbuckridge. He matriculated at Thembeka Secondary School in Kanyamazane.

As managing director of Nthwese Developments, Herbert expressed some of his thoughts about property developments in townships and rural areas in an article, “#BizTrends2019: Rural and township retail property trends”, in BizTrends 2019, issued by bizcommunity.com. The article was dated 7 January 2019. Here are some excerpts from Herbert Theledi’s article: 

• Referring to an occasion after the first SA Investment Summit in October 2018, when President Cyril Ramaphosa accompanied representatives of foreign and local businesses to show the achievements of Soweto and its successful businesses, Theledi commented: “The tour with foreign and some local businesses should be seen as more than just showcasing Soweto, but rather a showcase of the potential that townships and rural areas hold in creating platforms for new entrepreneurs from individuals who have always been on the margins while producing goods and services close to where the majority of South Africans live.”

Herbert Theledi is undoubtedly convinced about the potential of townships and rural areas as breeding grounds for potential entrepreneurs.

• He observed that townships and rural areas have changed from “dumping grounds” to “growing beacons of hope and pockets of success.”
• Herbert stated that the vast majority of young unemployed South Africans live in townships and rural areas. Therefore, it is reasonable and logical that “economic opportunities be where the potential human talent resides and where services are most critically needed.”
• He also mentioned the fact that the development of the retail property is “increasing opportunities and creating skills for the many artisans, interns and learnerships for youth and providing long-term job opportunities for thousands of others.” This is the trend all over South Africa, he said, and thus by implication, in the rural communities too.
• According to Herbert Theledi, it is more common these days to find “middle-class” retail shops “in retail properties in the townships and rural areas.”
• He is aware of the consequences of the development of retail property on “the traditional shop on the corner.” However, he argued that these developments could also be good for small businesses because they are compelled to make improvements, which will eventually benefit themselves as well as their communities.
• Herbert reiterated that he is positive about the future of property development in the townships and rural areas.

Herbert Theledi’s fervour and enthusiasm for the upliftment of rural communities is also evident with the opening of new shopping centres in rural areas.

Taking Herbert’s comments at the opening of the Thulamahashe Mall in Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga as an example, his passion for the advancement of the rural areas is crystal clear.

Thulamahashe Mall is a R240 million project by Nthwese Developments in partnership with Twin City. At the opening of the mall on 25 October 2018, Herbert Theledi reiterated his mission for rural communities, saying, inter alia:

• “The partnership between Nthwese Developments and Twin City Development is expected to create an economic upswing in the rural community,” Theledi predicted.
• “During the course of the development, the partners factored in bulk infrastructure, such as sewer, electricity and roads, and have upgraded some of this infrastructure for the benefit of the community,” he explained.
• He also remarked that the project was a “very inclusive process” to ensure “as much community participation as possible” and added that the development “brings relief in terms of job creation and sustainability.”

The mayor of Bushbuckridge Local Municipality echoed Theledi’s words, saying: “The implementation of this development will help in improving the lives of many people in Bushbuckridge and will also help in creating job opportunities.”

The mayor was positive that the Thulamahashe Mall development would continue to “stir economic growth” in the Bushbuckridge municipality and invited other investors to help the municipality “in building a better community” for the people.

Herbert Theledi was certainly satisfied and grateful that the Thulamahashe Mall project had succeeded in creating more opportunities for businesses and the development had helped to reduce unemployment in the rural community.

Herbert Theledi’s mission as a standard-bearer for rural communities is encapsulated in the following words, spoken by him at the opening of the Bambanani Shopping Centre in Diepsloot: “For a company committed to community development, Bambanani Shopping Centre epitomises Nthwese’s mission of long-term job creation and empowerment of disadvantaged communities.”

In the past, when the opportunity presented itself and he had time at his disposal, Herbert also served the rural community of Bushbuckridge as a member of the Bushbuckridge Chamber of Commerce.

Follow Herbert Theledi’s journey on Linkedin