Roux shabangu biography of rory

Prega Govender traces the background of the businessman who hit the headlines with a R500-million rental deal involving the SA Police Service

Controversial billionaire Roux Shabangu has spoken exclusively to us about his political connections and how he went from being a mealie meal salesman to one of the country's youngest property moguls.

The 36-year-old, who has been hogging the headlines over a R500-million government rental deal, says it all started the day he changed his name.

His father, Johannes "JB" Shabangu, told his children they would inherit property when he died - with the exception of the son called Ngwane.

Instead, the boy was asked to change his name to Roux, which he did while he was in matric.

And Johannes, who didn't explain why he wanted the change, told his son it would make him millions one day.

Today, Shabangu jnr owns a string of shopping malls worth billions of rands.

Yet it is the furore following hi