Arnold Zulman: The industrialist who transformed lives through education and philanthropy
Arnold Zulman and his wife Rosemary.
Image: Supplied
OBITUARY, Arnold N. Zulman, December 17, 1932 – June 1, 2025
With the passing of Arnold Zulman, the world has lost an industrialist, philanthropist, and impactful community leader. He lived an expansive life from Durban, to London, to his ultimate resting place, Charlotte, North Carolina. He died there, at peace and at home, on June 1st, 2025.
Zulman was a remarkable man who lived an extraordinary life for most of his 92 years. An only child, he was born to shtetl Jews in Durban, South Africa, and he never forgot their humble beginnings in Lithuania. His childhood was overshadowed by World War II and colored by antisemitism at his colonial-era schools. He found refuge in sports, where he excelled in school track events and in the first rugby team at DHS.
After his family, one of the most significant commitments of Zulman’s life was Beacon Sweets & Chocolates. HIs father, Hymie Zulman, bought the business in 1931 when it had 4 employees. He developed and expanded the company, then handed it off to Zulman, who built it further into a thriving, manufacturing juggernaut in South Africa, with some 3,500 employees, local market dominance and exports to dozens of countries.
Production and sales were important, of course, but Zulman’s greater impact was in his treatment of employees. Years before apartheid was dismantled, Zulman removed racial barriers at Beacon. The company provided comprehensive medical care and social services on site for all employees; in addition, there were widely used annual savings programs and a limited housing program.
In 1982, years before the law required equal pay for equal work, Beacon moved to equalize women’s wages. In the rarefied air of the titans of confectionery manufacturing internationally, Zulman enjoyed respect and admiration.
Zulman believed education is the key to success of the individual, of societies and of economies. Nelson Mandela, a friend and breakfast buddy of Zulman, aptly said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
In 1991, Zulman built the Umlazi Comtech, at the time a visionary boarding school academy for disadvantaged Zulu high school kids. Harking back to his own schooldays, expansive playing fields were an integral part of the Comtech campus. This model proved so effective that the local government used it as a blueprint in multiple other locations. In recent years, Zulman spearheaded a project to build boarding schools in remote areas of KZN and spurred the development of the Ubuntu learning system, furthering his mission of providing more widespread, equitable access to education.
Politics captivated Zulman. A man of vision and integrity, he played a vital and often behind-the-scenes role in helping bring peace among political adversaries. For well over 50 years, Zulman was a close and trusted friend of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi. In a personal letter to Zulman in 2007, Prince Buthelezi wrote: “I have known you to be such an honest and great compatriot who did much to succour the wounds endured when South Africa was lost in the doldrums of apartheid.”
That tribute speaks volumes about the man Zulman was — a bridge-builder, a peace-seeker, a patriot. His efforts during South Africa's transition to democracy were essential in building understanding and reconciliation. Zulman treasured a book inscription from Madiba, recognizing and applauding his role in facilitating peace before South Africa’s first free election in 1994.
Zulman regarded philanthropy as a particular moral responsibility. He was a generous benefactor, supporting countless organizations and charitable causes across the community and country. His philanthropy was quiet yet impactful, done from the heart and never for recognition. In 1998, he was honored with the prestigious Premier Rotary Club Award — a fitting acknowledgment of a life devoted to service.
Culture enriched Zulman’s life as an adult. He enthusiastically learned about wines and enjoyed fine dining. He learned to love opera, ballet, and the symphony, zealously attending performances in Europe and America, until covid’s constraints snuffed out those opportunities.
Zulman was proud to be a Jew. His strong moral values were rooted in his Jewish upbringing. He was a pillar of Durban’s Jewish community. More than a religious connection to Judaism, his was one of community, commitment to Israel, and a panoply of Jewish causes.
Zulman’s ultimate inspiration flowed from his muse, Rosemary, his beloved wife. From the evening when he asked her to dance at a wedding, they were devoted to each other for the ensuing 70 years. When she died in October last year, his zest for life paled and he died of a broken heart. He will be sorely missed in the lives of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, his extended family, and the many friends and admirers whose lives he touched.