A living Limpopo legend, who dropped out of school in Std 4, took everyone by surprise when he financed the erection of three large statues in his honour. He has now become the toast of the province as everyone looks at him with an admiring eye.

This is the amazing story of a prominent businessman, Samuel Baloyi (81) of Xigalo Village, near Malamulele. “It is better to honour myself when I am still alive, because I don’t know what will happen when I die. I have witnessed many legends living and dying, but they are easily forgotten because nothing has been done for their honour. I want everybody to see me and remember my contribution to the economic development of my country, even when I’m dead. I want to crush the idea that statues are made only after one’s death. It all rests upon one’s shoulders to build yourself an eternal legacy, even after death,” says Baloyi who has a statue at Malamulele Town, and two at Xigalo village – at his home and at his business premises.

He said the idea of erecting his own statues unfolded when he visited Germany in the eighties. He has also travelled to USA, France and UK on business trips.

“I realized that the Germans make their statues when they are still alive and I liked the idea. It took a long time before I could find an artist who would do a good job for me. The first statue was made on 24 December, 2004, at Cheapside, my first business establishment in Xigalo village. People thought I was about to die when the statue was erected, but nothing happened; as you can see, I’m still alive today,” says Baloyi who has a string of businesses in Xigalo and Malamulele Town.

Baloyi has further financed the erection of four statues in honour of his late parents, wife and child at Xigalo graveyard.

Called ‘Mr. Cheapside’ by his admirers, Baloyi could not reveal the amount he used in the erection of the seven statues. “It has cost me a fortune, but I cannot divulge the amount, to protect my artist,” said Baloyi, who has 18 children from five wives.

The third-born in a family of seven kids, Baloyi worked on farms in 1940s before venturing into business. He started by selling soft goods like trousers and jackets until he established a General Dealer in Diepkloof in 1942. He started his Cheapside empire at Xigalo in 1962.

Baloyi advises the young generation to take education seriously before venturing fully into the business world.

“I dropped out of school very early, but I was lucky to survive in the business world. Education is the only foundation from which prosperity starts…” he concluded.