Times Of Swaziland: HOW MATATA BOSS DIED

HOW MATATA BOSS DIED
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BY MDUDUZI MAGAGULA on 11/05/2014 08:03:00


BIG BEND – Hans Helmut Hermann Steffen (HHHS) the owner of the Matata Group of
companies died in front of his children, Hans (Nkilongo Member of Parliament)
and Lizette last Friday.
This was revealed by Pastor HS Nkambule during the memorial service of Steffen
Senior, yesterday, where Steffen was described as a very kind man who loved his
family.
However, Nkambule did not explain how exactly this happened.
He said HHH Steffen, as he was popularly known, refused treatment by
supernatural powers from foreign pastors as he battled a long backbone illness
that confined him to a wheel chair.
Steffen died at the age of 75. He is survived by his two children.
His memorial service was held in the gardens of the Steffens family compound in
Matata and was presided by Reverend Stefaan de Jager, Pastor Nkambule and Pastor
Kaiser Fakudze of the Metropolitan Church.
The media was banned from the service.
“I once visited him during his long illness. He told me that someone had
invited him to attend a miracle service in Durban to receive healing. However,
he declined the offer and said he was going to be healed by prayers of Swazi
pastors who included Pastor Fakudze, among others,” said Pastor Nkambule
during the service.
Pastor Fakudze said in yet another instance, Steffen Senior told him that there
were people who advised him to fly to Nigeria and meet Pastor TB Joshua for a
special healing. Again, he rejected the suggestion. Fakudze said HHH Steffen was
a kind man who loved and shared his life with the Matata community. “He
touched a lot of families in many ways.
A lot of homes were built through his efforts of giving employment to community
members in his vast businesses,” he said.   Wendy de Beer, a friend to the
Steffens, said the deceased left behind a legacy of the great life he lived. She
said he was a blessing to everyone who knew him or worked with him in his
lifetime, which he lived to improve people’s lives. She said he was an honest
man who valued loyalty and respected everyone irrespective of their standing in
society.
De Beer also said Steffen senior loved his employees. “In one instance, he was
admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital. He phoned me and asked if the
lawn around the employees’ quarters had been cut to control mosquitoes,” she
said.
She also said Steffen was extremely unselfish and was a bold leader who was
humble and never let his ego get to him. Robert Burns said Steffen was a shrewd
businessman. “He was my friend and who loved the truth. He lived an honest
life and empowered everyone who was around him,” he said. Bhekimpi Ndwandwe,
Properties Manager for the Matata Group of companies said Steffen was like a
father to him. “I was his child. He and my father Luke Ndwandwe were like
brothers. We worked together for many years for the business to be
successful,” he said.
He said he would miss him a lot and life would be difficult without him. “I
reported to him every day even when he was semi retired in business. I updated
him with all that was happening in the business as it developed to the empire it
is today. Now that he is no more I feel sad and empty,” he said.
The Matata Group has 21 businesses, made of seven Spar stores, Nisela Safaris
and farms among others. As the service proceeded in the Steffens’ residence in
Matata, the Matata Spar stores and other businesses countrywide were closed for
four hours as the brand mourned the death of Steffens senior. Customers waited
outside Matata stores, which trade under the brand Matata Spar while over 500
employees of the company, friends and relatives to the demised Steffen, crammed
the latter’s home nearby for the memorial service. At the end of the three
hour-service, a small aircraft flew above the Steffens’ homes, just before his
casket was taken to a hearse which was driven out of the Steffens’ residence.
The family declined to disclose any funeral details.