Keith Bothongo is a South African born property billionaire. He’s the founder and chairman of the Bothongo Group — a diversified property, business services, and leisure holding.
The Bothongo Group owns the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve near Joburg, and part of Canadian biotechnology, InnuScience, amongst many other brands.
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10 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know About Dr Keith Bothongo
01. Avoided Bantu Education
Born in Soweto, Dr Bothongo avoided the apartheid Bantu education system apartheid South Africa by escaping to Botswana with his parents at the age of 7.
02. Represented Botswana In Boxing
At the age of 11, Dr Bothongo joined Bafenyi boxing club in Gaborone, and represented Botswana in boxing tournaments in the SADC region.
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03. He’s Extremely Educated
After completing high school in Gaborone, he went on enroll for a Diploma in Statistics at the University of Botswana, and graduated in 1989.
Dr Bothongo went on to acquire these qualifications below:
04. Relocated Back To SA In 1994
After South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994, Dr Bothongo alongside his family returned back to his birthplace, where he established a real estate company which specialized in property valuations.
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05. Got Married Twice
Dr Bothongo married his first wife, Etheldreda Molale in 1988, and the couple got divorced in 2005. In 2009, he tied the knot again to a businesswoman, Olga Bothongo.
Dr Bothongo has 9 children in total, and currently lives with his family in the UK.
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06. Learned About Real Estate In The US
After graduating from the University of Botswana in 1989, he traveled to the US to further his studies at the University of St Thomas in Minnesota, where he graduated with two Masters degrees.
Fascinated by the real estate industry, Dr Bothongo remained in Minnesota, and signed up to study Real Estate & Insurance.
When he returned to Botswana in 1993, he ventured into real estate and insurance, and did exceptionally well.
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07. He’s The Founder & Chairman of The Bothongo Group
After returning to South Africa in 1994, he established the Bothongo Group, a commercial & residential property development company which owns and operates a number of innovative subsidiaries in various divisions, and also having footprint in a number of countries around the world.
Bothongo Group’s businesses provide solutions and services within the agricultural, leisure, information technology, hospitality, construction & aviation industries.
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08. Shut Down State Buildings Over Rent Dispute
In March 2022, the Bothongo Group shut down several of its buildings in Pretoria that the state rented because the state owed R50 million in rent for January, February and March.
09. Currently Lives In The UK
While visiting the UK in December 2021, rapper Cassper Nyovest tweeted a picture of him and Dr Bothongo having dinner at his house in the UK
10. Gives Back To The Community
In 2011, Dr Bothongo launched the Keith Bothongo Foundation to help students who excel academically, but don’t have the financial means to further their education in the challenging, tertiary education environment.
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The foundation aims to uplift disadvantaged youth and equip them to ‘make today matter’, thereby making a difference in South Africa.
The foundation also assists schools and educational institutions in their specific needs, as well as donating to various projects in the community through initiatives that will see the potential of young South Africans be reached.
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