Durban - Well-known businessman Roshan Morar’s death has been described as an immeasurable loss to the business community and the residents of Pietermaritzburg at large.
Morar was the founder of Morar Incorporated, an accounting firm that has its head offices in Pietermaritzburg and has grown to eight offices around the country, with 200 employees. He founded the company in 1995.
His death came after he took ill two months ago. Last year he had undergone a serious operation.
His funeral service yesterday was attended by a number of business people and prominent government officials, including the former director-general of South Africa, Cassius Lubisi. Former premier Sbu Ndebele, who did not attend, sent his condolences through Lubisi.
Delivering his remarks, Lubisi said it was still hard to believe that Morar was no more. “A large baobab tree has fallen, but when baobab trees fall, they give rise to other baobab trees, they do not fall in vain.
“It is hard to speak of Morar in the past tense. When you (Morar) told me that you were going to undergo a serious operation, I never imagined it would lead to this, and when you were in hospital sounding seriously ill, I never imagined that it would lead to this,” said Lubisi.
He described Morar as a man who was full of life, filled with ambition and driven to succeed.
Lubisi said it was important that the work Morar had started not be allowed to fail, saying the company he founded should grow to every corner of the country.
His friends, employees and family members said the Morar family had lost a leader and a pillar of strength. They described him as a titan among men who always put his family first.
His son, Jasveer, spoke of his relationship with his father, describing things that in the past which seemed insignificant that he will now miss. He spoke of the importance of talking to him on the phone, saying it has now dawned on him that he will not be able to do that any more.
Melanie Veness, chief executive of the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business, said Morar’s death was a big loss for the business community.
“We were saddened to hear of the passing of Morar, who was one of the founding members of the PCB 20 years ago. He played an important role when the three independent chambers undertook unity talks.”
She said the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business was established on August 1, 2002, as a result of the unification of the Midlands Black Business Chamber, the Pietermaritzburg Sakekamer and the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Commerce and Industries, all of which disbanded to form the new body.
“He was an astute businessman who grew his formidable business out of Pietermaritzburg, empowering a number of people along the way. He will be missed by many. Our sincere condolences go out to his family and close friends at this very sad time,” she said.
Friends and relatives who spoke credited Morar for contributing to various charities in Pietermaritzburg and beyond.
“He had a special place in his heart for children and the elderly. Many of our children here today are (sad), he was the kind of person who would speak to children and when he asked how they were it was not superficial, he genuinely wanted to know,” said the speaker.
The Midlands Hindu Society described him as a giant in the community who often supported community organisations without wanting recognition. They credited him with helping them to modernise their accounting practices to comply with the legislation.
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