Black Like Me: Defeating The System

He stood before the crowd wearing a suit and tie, reminiscing about a time when the cost of what he wore was worth more than his mother’s yearly wages. Talking about the circumstances of his childhood, one hoped that his story was the exception to the rule. However, it was the reality for many people who lived in South Africa back then and continues to be a reality for many today. The man everyone had come to see was Herman Mashaba, a black entrepreneur telling the inspirational story of his life at a TedTalk. “(I was) brought up by a mother, who was really rather unfortunate because her husband died when I was two.”

Fatherless, he grew up in dire circumstances and was raised by his sisters. His mother had to provide for her five children by working as a domestic worker in the city. She had no choice but to leave her children to look after themselves, while she admirably provided them with what she could. To make matters worse, Mashaba was born into a country, in which the white government had imposed a system called Apartheid. The literal translation means ‘apartness’, which necessitated that the white minority population would have access to the best education, facilities and jobs among other things; while the black population was being exploited. Mashaba was a disadvantaged citizen from the moment he took his first breath in a place called Hammanskraal, not too far from the administrative capital of South Africa, Pretoria.

Without parental guidance, he grew up to become a young man who drank and gambled most of the time. He did this because he swore to himself that he would never become a gardener. A fate that many black South Africans had to bear, as being their main income stream. While gambling tends to make people lose more money than they make, it exposed Mr. Mashaba to the world of finance.

Choosing not to become a gardener, Mashaba set out to make something of himself with all the cards stacked up against him. The worst and most demanding part of it all was the fact that he would have to defeat a system, which was imposed to make him fail. He remarked, “How do you go into business in South Africa, when the legislation says that as a black man you can’t go into business? I decided to buy a car and become a salesman.”

His first experiences within the business world led him to a few dead-end jobs. The racism that he had avidly avoided became a harsh reality. He had to carry a pass with him at all times, which meant routine checks by the police. This made traveling to various business contacts of his rather difficult. After all, moving about is integral when one is a salesman.

However, despite various setbacks, he ultimately found his place within society by selling hair products for a company by the name of SuperKurl. While he earned commission he became increasingly interested in the workings of the company he operated in. Thoughts about starting his own business often entered his mind. But he had no capital to invest, no affluent connections and no education to fall back on.

Ten years before the first democratic elections of South Africa in 1994 and with the Apartheid system still being enforced, Herman Mashaba made the unlikeliest of connections. While he worked for SuperKurl as a sales representative, he met a white Afrikaner by the name of Johan Kriel. As previously mentioned, SuperKurl dealt predominantly with hair products and his improbable Afrikaans speaking partner Mr. Kriel, developed a perm lotion that could be produced significantly quicker.

“In 1984, blacks and whites rarely had any kind of social interaction, and it was certainly unheard of for a black man to approach a white man to join him in business”, remembers Mashaba in his book ‘Black Like You’. An unheard of alliance was the start of the brand called ‘Black Like Me’, which became a household name in South Africa. The company opened on Valentine’s Day in 1985 and became an immediate success, catering for the black majority.

The inspiration behind the creation of the brand came from the beautiful African women in South Africa. “Black women in South Africa, wanted to be permed, and I said Herman, go and perm them and make money.” He proudly added, “I feel so great every time I see our beautiful women in our country and continent … I’ve actually been instrumental in making our nation so beautiful.”

It was not all smooth sailing from there on, when in November 1993 Mashaba’s factory burnt to the ground. He lost everything and with the help of his wife Connie, had to rebuild again. Luckily he had a loyal customer base, whom he could reply on when production resumed. The setback was merely a bump in the road and his company would continue to enjoy healthy profit margins.

Born with nothing, Mashaba now owns Lephatsi Investments, worth R1 billion ($65 million) and is more affluent than the majority of his countrymen. Despite his humble beginnings, he built a company, wrote an autobiography and is currently attempting to change a country which continues to face socio-economic hardship through political means. He became the mayor of the wealthiest city in South Africa, Johannesburg, for a short period. And is currently looking to create more positive change by establishing his own political party.

His entrepreneurial journey reminds Africans from all backgrounds that no matter where they come from, perseverance and determination can bring about change. South Africa has made numerous strides in the right direction, however growth will only be achieved through people with an entrepreneurial will like Herman Mashaba.

The odds and system were stacked against him; but Herman Mashaba broke through outdated ideals to give so many of his fellow citizens a chance. Remember his name, because there is definitely more to come from this incredible man.

Ngiyabonga (thank you), Mr. Mashaba for inspiring a nation in need of inspiring.

Sincerely, a fellow South African.