Maropeng mourns the loss of an inspiring leader

Peter began his career at Maropeng in 2006, having been with the organization since it was first established. Through his sheer hard work, ambition and determination he ascended to various other positions within the organization, this gave him a deep insight into Maropeng from every possible angle. This unique journey culminated in his appointment as Acting Managing Director in 2022.

Karabo Mphalo (Sales representative) says : “A true Leader, fighter and believer is a profound definition of who you were. Even where you are, you will continue to shine.”

There are people in this world who I believe are born with an incredibly rare gift, the ability to make people feel seen and valued, even in the briefest exchange. That was something Peter could do effortlessly, and it was this deep humility and profound empathy that has left us devastated in the wake of his untimely passing.

Catherine (Boat ride operator) says “Peter was a good person, he would always make jokes. He had respect for the old and the young, he used to call me mama and I used to call him “Doors key”. I’ll remember him by these words : exactly, ke tla go tshasa and ke tla dealar le situation. He was a good listener and a problem solver, may his soul continue to rest in peace.”

There was not a single staff member whose name he didn’t know, who he hadn’t shared a moment and a memory with. He was our ‘go to guy’, the man we could trust had the answers, and in those few instances when he didn’t have the answer, he always had a listening ear. Peter was hope in human form, he was eternally optimistic, he believed in the power of people and fulfilled his purpose of empowering people. He was passionate about community and giving back, he had a vision to change the world through compassion, and in our world, he achieved that. He made us believe in the possibilities of tomorrow and encouraged us to appreciate the many gifts received today.

Anna Magobolo (Boat ride operator) says : “I’ll remember Mr Mhanaza with a friendly face, smile and respect. He used to visit the boat ride area to check everything, so he called us Mama. He liked using the words : exactly, I’ll deal with the situation and tshasa. We called him “Doors key”. He had a listening ear. Most of the time we were talking about the power of Prayer. His WhatsApp stories were mostly prayer videos and his family.”

To me, he was not only my colleague but a mentor and he changed the way I view the world. He made Maropeng a home for me, he taught me how to lead with empathy and kindness. He symbolized everything good about humanity, he represented what we can be when we choose to be kind, when we choose to be love.

He was a comforter, a safe space, a support system, a pillar of strength, he was silly and fun and made the best jokes, he had a smile that lit up a room. He was the best boss (even though he would tell me not to call him that), he valued every perspective, and his gentle but firm approach of leadership is something I hope to be able to emulate one day. He was also one of the most incredibly stubborn people I have ever encountered, he was uncompromising when he felt strongly about something- and I loved that most about him because it reminded me that being brave is a choice we make, and that even when we’re scared, we owe it to ourselves to try.

Refilwe Moseamedi (Marketing) says : “I would describe Peter as someone who was selfless, always looking out for others. He had a big heart and he was always willing to help everyone so he would check on everyone to ensure that they’re okay. He would randomly make jokes to lighten the mood, he loved his family very much and he was a proud Christian so he would speak about his faith in a way that would be inspiring and make me hopeful about the future.”

Peter was a devoted family man, he loved his wife and children deeply and we extend our deepest condolences to the Mhanaza family. Maropeng will not be the same without him, but he lives on in the memories we shared with him and the lessons he taught us. The rains this past week in Gauteng remind us that even the heavens weep for the loss of a great man, but, eventually, the sun will shine again.