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| Douw Steyn: South African businessman and Steyn City founder dies | |
| (6 days later) | |
| Tributes are pouring in for insurance magnate and philanthropist Douw Steyn | Tributes are pouring in for insurance magnate and philanthropist Douw Steyn |
| South African billionaire and businessman Douw Steyn, who founded the BGL Insurance Group and was a good friend of late South African statesman Nelson Mandela, has died aged 72. | South African billionaire and businessman Douw Steyn, who founded the BGL Insurance Group and was a good friend of late South African statesman Nelson Mandela, has died aged 72. |
| Steyn, known for his global success in the insurance industry, died on Tuesday following a long period of poor health. | Steyn, known for his global success in the insurance industry, died on Tuesday following a long period of poor health. |
| He was regarded in South Africa as a "visionary" and an "exceptional entrepreneur". | He was regarded in South Africa as a "visionary" and an "exceptional entrepreneur". |
| Steyn first befriend Mandela shortly after the former president was released from his decades-long imprisonment on Robben Island. | Steyn first befriend Mandela shortly after the former president was released from his decades-long imprisonment on Robben Island. |
| Steyn's death was confirmed by Steyn City Properties, the company behind the eponymous luxury golf estate he founded and developed. | Steyn's death was confirmed by Steyn City Properties, the company behind the eponymous luxury golf estate he founded and developed. |
| The sprawling residential lifestyle estate is located in the northern part of Johannesburg and was designed to "create a self-sustaining community", according to South African online news website Daily Maverick. | The sprawling residential lifestyle estate is located in the northern part of Johannesburg and was designed to "create a self-sustaining community", according to South African online news website Daily Maverick. |
| "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of the visionary behind Steyn City," the company said in a statement. | "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of the visionary behind Steyn City," the company said in a statement. |
| It added that Steyn would be "remembered as an exceptional entrepreneur who built a global business of immense scale across seven countries". | It added that Steyn would be "remembered as an exceptional entrepreneur who built a global business of immense scale across seven countries". |
| How young South Africans view Nelson Mandela's legacy | How young South Africans view Nelson Mandela's legacy |
| The Nelson Mandela Foundation described the Steyn as a "larger than life character" and "someone Madiba [Mandela] regarded as a friend". | The Nelson Mandela Foundation described the Steyn as a "larger than life character" and "someone Madiba [Mandela] regarded as a friend". |
| After his release from prison in 1990, Mandela spent six months at Steyn's former home in the affluent Johannesburg suburb, Saxonwold, where he edited his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom. | After his release from prison in 1990, Mandela spent six months at Steyn's former home in the affluent Johannesburg suburb, Saxonwold, where he edited his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom. |
| "He [Steyn] supported Madiba in numerous ways over many years. During 1992 Madiba lived in [Steyn's] home as he navigated his way through a very painful separation from Winnie Madikizela-Mandela." | "He [Steyn] supported Madiba in numerous ways over many years. During 1992 Madiba lived in [Steyn's] home as he navigated his way through a very painful separation from Winnie Madikizela-Mandela." |
| South Africa's first democratically elected president also turned to Steyn "when he needed spaces for retreat or support for his projects", according to the foundation. | South Africa's first democratically elected president also turned to Steyn "when he needed spaces for retreat or support for his projects", according to the foundation. |
| Mandela spent 27 years in prison for campaigning to end white-minority rule. | Mandela spent 27 years in prison for campaigning to end white-minority rule. |
| Eighteen of those years were spent on Robben Island, an island off Cape Town. | Eighteen of those years were spent on Robben Island, an island off Cape Town. |
| Steyn began his entrepreneurial journey in 1975 when he founded Steyn's Insurance Brokers, according to another local news website BusinessLIVE. | Steyn began his entrepreneurial journey in 1975 when he founded Steyn's Insurance Brokers, according to another local news website BusinessLIVE. |
| This would pave the way for the establishment of one of the country's leading insurance groups, Auto & General, and later BGL Insurance in the UK in the 1990s. BGL is the parent company of popular price comparison website Compare The Market. | This would pave the way for the establishment of one of the country's leading insurance groups, Auto & General, and later BGL Insurance in the UK in the 1990s. BGL is the parent company of popular price comparison website Compare The Market. |
| Auto & General was later incorporated into the Telesure Investment Holdings group, which offers a variety of financial service products in countries such as Australia, Turkey and the UK. | Auto & General was later incorporated into the Telesure Investment Holdings group, which offers a variety of financial service products in countries such as Australia, Turkey and the UK. |
| Outside his business ventures, Steyn was known for his philanthropy. His family trust donated large sums to South Africa's Covid-19 relief efforts, with a considerable amount going towards supporting small businesses and providing food security for families affected by lockdown. | Outside his business ventures, Steyn was known for his philanthropy. His family trust donated large sums to South Africa's Covid-19 relief efforts, with a considerable amount going towards supporting small businesses and providing food security for families affected by lockdown. |
| The Steyn Foundation, established through Steyn City Properties, also supports impoverished townships. | The Steyn Foundation, established through Steyn City Properties, also supports impoverished townships. |
| He leaves behind his wife and three children. | He leaves behind his wife and three children. |
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