BRENNA MATENDERE
SPEAKERS at a church memorial service for the late Zimbabwean-born South African corporate czar Sifiso Dabengwa have showered their departed colleague with eulogies, describing him as a business visionary, an exceptional and transformational leader.
Dabengwa, who was buried at Fourways Memorial Park in Johannesburg, South Africa, yesterday, was former telecoms giant MTN group chief executive and ex-Eskom board chair.
He worked at Eskom and MTN for many years, and also ran his own businesses, while he was a shareholder in several others, making him a multi-millionaire.
The moving memorial was at Rosebank Catholic Church on Friday and prayers at his Sandhurst home in Sandton.
Dabengwa sat on many corporate boards.
His colleagues said he was ethical and competent.
MTN, which he helped to establish, is now the biggest telecoms company in Africa.
It also had operations in Iran.
Dabengwa played a key role in establishing and expanding it across the continent where it now has a wide footprint.
Those who spoke at the memorial include Bongani Biyela, RBT Resources chief executive; Fani Titi, Investec chief executive, a businessman who founded Kagiso Media Ltd and who has been the head of 10 different companies; former president Jacob Zuma’s energy adviser Silas Zimu; award-winning author and executive coach Yvonne Busisiwe Kgame; former South African Tourism acting chief executive and High Point Advisory founding partner Themba Khumalo; Irene Charnley, a South African entrepreneur; Nigerian business executive Michael Ajukwu, Megapro Holdings group chief executive George Rautenbach and MTN Group chief executive Ralph Mupita, a Zimbabwean, among others.
Mupita says Dabengwa was a pathfinder and trailblazer.
He said, like many other business executives, he also got advice from him, the last time being only two weeks ago when Dabengwa was bedridden. Famous television presenter Lerato Mbele was director of ceremonies.
Dabengwa’s brother Jabu and sister Nomsa, who got deeply emotional, also spoke.
His 94-year-old mother Pedia Mahlangu also attended the funeral from Bulawayo.
His father was the late Silas Dabengwa Ndlovu.
In an emotion-charged ceremony, in which his Jewish lawyer and friend broke down, most speakers said Dabengwa — whose full names were Raymond Sifiso Ndlovu Dabengwa — did a lot for South African and the continent’s economic development, especially in the telecoms and electricity sectors.
The Dabengwas are Ndlovus.
His story is the stuff of legend, full of impactful achievements and a transcendental legacy.
Dabengwa’s colleagues say he inspired a generation, while helping many in their careers and corporate world journeys to achieve great things in life as they also tried to follow in his footsteps.
In the process, Dabengwa, who was born and bred in Zimbabwe before going to South Africa in the 1970s, left an indelible mark on the corporate landscape of South Africa and the continent, especially in the telecoms field.
The speakers say he also made a huge contribution in the South African electricity generation and distribution sector, helping to extend services and connect millions of the poor under presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki.
Sifiso Dabengwa was brother to the late former Zimbabwean liberation struggle figure and intelligence supremo Dumiso Dabengwa.
The speakers, who included family members, relatives, former colleagues and professionals, also said Dabengwa had a unique blend of strategic thinking, brilliance, emotional intelligence, and collaborative spirit, inspiring many and transforming organisations, leaving a lasting legacy.
Yet in all that, speaker after speaker said he remained humble and accessible.
Former colleagues said Dabengwa, who was married to Naspers South Africa chief executive Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, had a clear and compelling vision, as well as a work ethic which energised and motivated organisations he led and their teams.
They said he combined passion for his job, innovation and drive for growth and excellence to propel MTN to great heights.
Besides, he had talent for building and empowering high-performing teams, as well as commitment to foster a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and trust, his colleagues said.
