The Memorial Service for Raymond Ackerman will be live streamed on Monday 11 September, as tributes for the icon of modern retail continues to pour in.

The Pick n Pay Founder died this week at the age of 92.

ALSO READ: Tributes to retail pioneer Raymond Ackerman

Ackerman founded Pick n Pay in 1967 along with wife Wendy after buying four stores in Cape Town, and grew it into a massive retail empire spanning several African countries.

Tributes continue to pour in.

The FW de Klerk Foundation says Ackerman’s contribution to South Africa’s economy and job creation over the past five decades is unparalleled and cannot be over emphasised.

The statement reads:

In his lifetime, Mr Ackerman built and grew the Pick ‘n Pay Retail Group to one of the most well-known brands in South Africa, bringing affordable quality goods to consumers in South Africa, as well as to other African countries such as Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Nigeria.

In addition to his outstanding career as an entrepreneur and business leader, Mr Ackerman was a true and proud South African, caring deeply for the country and its people. He was an outspoken supporter of South Africa’s democratic transition and regarded the establishment of a constitutional democracy and a free market economy as vital prerequisites for a better future for all South Africans.

On a personal note, Mr Ackerman was outspoken, yet reflective – he took the time to listen, and kept his ears to the ground. His philanthropic and charitable work bears testimony of a man with integrity, a strong moral compass and empathy for his fellow man.

He was a true friend to FW and Elita de Klerk, who appreciated and valued his advice and support over the years.

Raymond Ackerman was indeed a great South African and will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ackerman family at this difficult time.

The Free Market Foundation says Ackerman was one of the few in business to stand up to the state during the apartheid era, and did not let politics silence him.

In 2014, Ackerman received the Order of the Baobab in Silver.

The Presidency wrote at the time that Ackerman ‘was one of the first retailers to fight on behalf of the South African consumers against the apartheid state’s monopoly on basic goods’.

He was one of the first executives to promote black South Africans to senior positions and to acknowledge black trade unions. This was at the period when such unions were banned from operating in this country. He also abolished race classification on the company’s human resources payroll. He always appointed the right person to the position regardless of skin colour.

The Memorial Service for Raymond Ackerman will be live-streamed on Monday 11 September at 11am.

Click HERE to join.