Retha Fitchat
Local businessman, Frank Mann, probably best remembered as the face of De Deur Flea Market, sadly passed away in Vereeniging on November 11 aged 71.
Frank was the youngest of four children, and the third of his generation to live in the Vaal Triangle.
His grandfather arrived in South Africa from the UK in 1890. Early childhood saw Frank assist with the family’s productive fruit and poultry smallholding.
Frank started school at the young age of 5 in 1950 at what is now the De Deur Primary School, and completed his high schooling at General Smuts High School.
After school, he tried his hand at many things, but never settled in any. He drifted into the printing industry, then the railways where he managed to stay for three years, eventually becoming a steward on the Blue Train for a year. He even tried his hand as a private investigator.
Frank was definitely an entrepreneur, and if anyone could get a business up and running, it was him. His personal motto “If you don’t do it, it won’t get done” drove him to be the founder of a number of small businesses, and he was also a keen property investor. His greatest success was forming an auctioneering business with his partner Gilbert Martin back in 1974, and over the years it transformed into De Deur Flea Market, a business that is still thriving today. Tokyo Sexwale once visited the market and couldn’t believe how many people generated their only income from their trading at the De Deur Flea Market. It is hard to think that one man’s dream has brought several thousand people together, and gives over a thousand people work. Frank retired in 2013, and spent his last years playing bowls, travelling around with his caravan, visiting his family in Australia and even sharing his love of poker with others. He is survived by his sister Sylvia, brother Jimmy, his five children Clint, Terry, Tracy, Debbie, Wesley and nine grandchildren. Family was everything to Frank, and despite distance, he maintained a close relationship with all of them over the years.
Frank’s legacy lives on, and he is fondly remembered by so many. (See tribute on www.frankmann.themanns.com.au)
Photos: Activity at De Deur Flea Market that was formed by Mr Frank Mann and his partner Mr Gilbert Martin in 1974. After 40 years the market is still thriving.
