Print mogul Lambert Retief has died

Cape Town - One of Cape Town's greatest entrepreneurs, print mogul Lambert Retief, has died.

He lost his short battle against brain cancer in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Retief (64), who hailed from Paarl, built up Paarl Media from a small rural enterprise to the JSE-listed company Novus Holdings.

Until his death, Retief was chairperson and non-executive director of Novus Holdings.

Novus on Thursday paid tribute to Retief "for his inspirational leadership, integrity and his invaluable contribution to the company and society".

Fred Robertson assumed the role of interim chairperson following Retief's medical leave of absence since July 2016, and will continue to fulfill this role until such time as a permanent appointment has been made, Novus said in a statement.

Retief also served as a director on the boards of Media24, Naspers (stepped down in 2013), Quantum Foods, Zeder Investments (until 2014) and Pioneer Foods.

Media24 CEO Esmaré Weideman described Retief as "a great entrepreneur and an astute businessman, but also a man with a big heart and a big laugh".

"Lambert truly cared for his people and he loved life. He will always have a special place in Media24 history and in our hearts. We salute a legend, knowing that his legacy will live on,” she told Fin24.

Pioneer Foods CEO Phil Roux said Retief served Pioneer's board in an exemplary fashion.

"Lambert was measured and considered. He had a wonderful sense of humour notwithstanding his reserved demeanour.

"He assisted me greatly in a mentoring capacity while on our board. One of his finest qualities that I experienced, was that he never stood in judgement of another human being. He relied on fact-based opinion when necessary.”

Naspers CEO Bob van Dijk said "besides being a great man, Lambert was an inspired leader and perceptive entrepreneur, who grew a small print operation, Paarl Media, into a listed company and leader in its field".

"He made an invaluable contribution to our business and the print industry in South Africa and he will be sorely missed.”

Retief grew up in Nantes Street and matriculated at Paarl Gimnasium. He obtained the qualifications BCom and BCom (Hons) from Stellenbosch University. He then qualified as a CA(SA) and completed the Owner President Management (OPM) programme at Harvard Business School. 

He also won the Naspers Order of Tafelberg in 2007. 

After qualifying as a chartered accountant, he started working at the family business Paarl Print in 1978. His brother Nicol managed the printing press, while Retief became the head of the Paarl Post community newspaper.

Paarl Media Group, where he became chief executive officer and later the non-executive chair, has flourished under his reign. After selling Paarl Post to Media24, the Retief enterprise focused mainly on the printing industry.

Retief held various executive positions in the printing industry, including the positions of president of the Print Industry Federation of Southern Africa and chairperson of the Provincial Press Union.

Retief is survived by his wife Carol and three children, Tina, Nic and Esmé, his brother Nicol, sister Anida and son-in-law Matthew le Cordeur.

A memorial service to celebrate Retief's life will be held at Anura Vineyards, off Simondium Road, Klapmuts (near Paarl), on Friday February 3 at 16:00.

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