Durban — A bronze statue of iconic South African businessman Raymond Ackerman was unveiled by world renowned artist Lungelo Gumede at Pick n Pay Hypermarket in Durban North on Saturday.
Gumede was approached by the public relations officer of Pick n Pay, Rowena Govender to create a statue of Ackerman. Govender had seen the various statues and sculptures created by Gumede over the years.
Gumede surprised Govender when he told her that he had completed it. It had taken Gumede two months to complete bronze and wax statues of Ackerman.
Gumede said over the years he had overcome all challenges with making sculptures and wax statues, to become a perfectionist. Previously, Gumede displayed statues of rugby icons and Nelson Mandela.
Govender said both the bronze and wax statues will be on display at their branch in Durban North.
Ackerman was born on March 10, 1931. He grew up to become one of South Africa’s most admired businessmen, and is widely respected for his passion for consumer rights and for fighting for what he believed was right. His father Gus co-founded the Ackermans chain after World War I.
Ackerman, with the support of his wife Wendy, honed his entrepreneurial abilities and purchased the Pick n Pay supermarket group, then consisting of just four stores in Cape Town, from Jack Goldin in 1967.
For over 40 years until he retired 10 years ago as chairperson, Ackerman grew the supermarket group into what the iconic brand has become today – consisting of more than 1 900 stores in seven African countries.
Ackerman attributes his success to his strong consumer sovereignty philosophy, and always putting the customer first. Pick n Pay remains a family-controlled business, with his son Gareth the current chairperson.
Ackerman’s reputation as a consumer champion accelerated in 1971 when he publicly backed a campaign against the government, and decreased food prices to ease the cost of living for his customers.
Late in the 1970s, he also fought to reduce fuel prices, a fight he continued throughout his career. Ackerman took a strong stand against apartheid, particularly against the cruelty of job reservation, eventually getting his way by promoting his staff on merit, despite considerable political pressure from the apartheid regime.
In 2014 he was awarded the Presidential Award of the Order of the Baobab; Silver, and has been awarded seven honorary doctorates from universities at home and abroad.
His passion for entrepreneurship also extends to the Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development, which he established in 2005 with UCT’s Graduate School of Business and the University of Johannesburg.
Daily News