Own Correspondent|Local businessman Dr Richard John Pelwana Maponya died early on Monday morning after a short illness.

He was 99 years old, reports EWN.

The Limpopo-born entrepreneur, often referred to as “the father of black retail”, co-developed Soweto’s Maponya Mall in 2007.

Family spokesperson Mandla Sibeko confirmed the news to EWN.

Updates to follow as more information is made available.