Full Name: Nthato Harrison Motlana 
Date of Birth: 16 February 1925 
Date of Death: 30 November 2008 
Place of Birth: Marapyane, Pretoria, South Africa 
Professions: Physician, Anti-Apartheid Activist, Businessman 
Notable Roles: Soweto Committee of Ten Chair, Mandela Family Physician, Founder of NAIL, Trustee of Nelson Mandela Foundation

Early Life and Education

Born in Marapyane, near Pretoria, on 16 February 1925, Dr. Nthato Motlana was raised in a modest environment. He attended Kilnerton High School in Pretoria and later earned a B.Sc. from the University of Fort Hare. Despite apartheid-era restrictions, he pursued medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand, graduating in 1952.

Medical Career and Community Service

In 1954, Dr. Motlana established the first private medical practice in Soweto, serving the underserved black community for over four decades. During the 1976 Soweto Uprising, he provided medical care and refuge to injured students, often at great personal risk.

Political Activism

Dr. Motlana’s political involvement began at Fort Hare, where he joined the African National Congress Youth League and became its secretary. He was a co-defendant with Nelson Mandela in the 1952 Defiance Campaign Trial. As vice-chair of the Black Parents’ Association and chair of the Soweto Committee of Ten, he played a significant role during the 1976 student protests. His activism led to multiple detentions without trial.

Football Involvement – Premier United Legacy

In the early 1970s, Dr. Motlana played a pivotal role in the rescue and revival of **Benoni United FC**, which would later become **Premier United**. Alongside Dr. Mafu Dotwana, Dr. Pika Nene, and Samuel Mashego, he helped finance and lead the acquisition of the financially troubled **Nigel United Buccaneers**, ensuring the survival of a Black-owned football club during the apartheid era.

This act was more than sports ownership — it was part of Dr. Motlana’s broader mission of **Black economic and cultural empowerment** through football, media, healthcare, and education.

Business Leadership and Economic Empowerment

Recognizing the link between economic and political freedom, Dr. Motlana became a pioneer in black economic empowerment. He founded several enterprises, including:
– **Sizwe Medical Aid**: The first black-owned medical aid scheme in South Africa 
– **Lesedi Clinic**: The country’s first black-owned private hospital 
– **New African Investments Limited (NAIL)**: A conglomerate that acquired major corporations, including *The Sowetan* newspaper

His efforts earned him the title “Father of Black Economic Empowerment.”

Philanthropy and Legacy

Dr. Motlana was a founding trustee and long-serving chairman of Medical Education for South African Blacks (MESAB), which supported the education of approximately 10,000 black health professionals. He also served on the boards of various organizations, including the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Personal Life

Dr. Motlana married Sally Maunye in 1953, with whom he had four children. He later married Zanele, and together they had two more children. He passed away on 30 November 2008 in Johannesburg after a battle with prostate cancer.

Summary Profile

Name: Dr. Nthato Harrison Motlana 
Born: 16 February 1925 – Marapyane, Pretoria, South Africa 
Died: 30 November 2008 – Johannesburg, South Africa 
Professions: Physician, Anti-Apartheid Activist, Businessman 
Key Roles:
– Chair, Soweto Committee of Ten 
– Vice-Chair, Black Parents’ Association 
– Founder, NAIL 
– Trustee, Nelson Mandela Foundation 
– Co-owner/Revival Partner – Benoni United FC (later Premier United)