Political prisoner, president, and now, his crowning achievement - tape cutter at a mall opening.Former President Nelson Mandela opened the largest shopping center in Soweto, evidence of a business boom in South Africa's most famous township.
"With this action, we declare this mall open," said a beaming Mandela after cutting a large gold ribbon. Mandela hasn't beamed like that since his divorce. His involvement is also due to his long time association with entrepreneur Richard Maponya, dubbed the "father of black retail". Yes, Maponya has a dope ass handle.
"Today, I deliver to you my dream of 28 years," Maponya said as people poured into the mall, eager to take advantage of the many opening day sales, and to help him recoup the $86 million he put into the new mall.
The event parallels the hype and success of the great Crate and Barrel opening of '97 by Gorbachev at the Mall Of The Americas, and the Golda Meir "40 K-Marts in 40 Days" trip (which was said to be one of the inspirations for The Cannonball Run).
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