Well-known businessman, Lizwi ‘Slow Poison’ Maphumulo celebrated his 55th birthday last Saturday, and his wife Dudu also announced the launch of the Lizwi Maphumulo Foundation as a surprise to her husband at their Mtwalume home.
The foundation’s R1 million fund will go towards various community development initiatives in Umzumbe and the greater South Coast.
The fund is made up of a portion of profits from the mogul’s multi-million-rand business portfolio comprising of transport services, petroleum, mining, construction and civils, retail and several other business ventures.
According to Dudu their family has watched Lizwi doing good over the years without the proper channels in place, so they decided to set up a foundation.
The spokesperson for the foundation, Silindile Maphumulo said a certain percentage from his businesses will go to the foundation.
Projects that Lizwi has contributed to from his own pocket are the construction and installation of an electricity transformer. On an annual basis, he donates registration fees to youth wishing to pursue higher education studies as well as to poor families wanting to put children through school. He pays for their uniform, food and in some instances transportation.
His extensive business portfolio employs more than 1000 people from the local community of Mtwalume and surrounding areas.
He has built several churches, houses for the poor, community halls as well as recreational facilities. He is currently busy with two housing projects for two families that he has identified as being in desperate need.
Through his civil and construction company, he has constructed roads, walkways and bridges for communities on the greater South Coast.
Together with his family, Maphumulo runs a burial scheme to assist poor families.
In future, all projects will be done under the auspices of the foundation.
Lizwi is described as a humble and generous person. “He might be a tough person or boss but when he is home, his grandchildren are his weakness,” said Dudu.
She also said that he is known by many names but now people will get to know who he really is.
“It is also about time that people interpret his name differently, now people will get to hear the stories from us and not from what they have been told.”
The celebration was attended by a number of people, including one of the Gcaba brothers, Mandla.
Gcaba donated cows which will be sold and the money raised will be added to the foundation’s account.
Friends, family, neighbours, business associates from the province also attended and people enjoyed the festivities.
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