He was tried alongside Nelson Mandela by the Apartheid regime during the Defiance Campaign of 1951 – 52 , and played a prominent role during the Soweto uprising as one of the members of the Soweto Committee of Ten . Motlana was a founding member of the Black Community Programme , a group whose goal was to economically empower black South Africans , and he founded Phaphama Africa Commercial Enterprises , Lesedi Clinic ( the first black owned , private up-market hospital in the country ) , and Sizwe Medical Aid ( the first black owned medical aid scheme in South Africa ) . Following apartheid , Motlana took a lead role in the formation of the New African Investments Limited , or NAIL , which purchased many previously white run corporations at below market value . These included South Africa 's largest newspaper '' The Sowetan '' . Due to his huge success in business Motalana earned the nickname " Father of Black Economic Empowerment . " Motlana served on the boards of Putco , Rand Water Board , Adcock Ingram Group and Sasol , amongst other civic and academic institutions . He died on 1 December 2008 in a private hospital in Johannesburg
Soweto uprising
Soweto uprising
Nthato Motlana