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Gold and diamond magnate Harry Oppenheimer dies |
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August 21, 2000
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Harry Oppenheimer, a South African mining magnate who led the world's largest diamond and gold mining companies for a quarter century, has died. He was 91. Oppenheimer was admitted to the intensive care unit Friday at a Johannesburg hospital with abdominal pains and a severe headache, Clifford Elphick, a spokesman for the Oppenheimer family, told the South African Press Association. Doctors were still running tests when he died Saturday night. The exact cause of death was unclear. Oppenheimer's father, Ernest, founded the Anglo American Corp., a mining company in 1917. In 1929, he also became chairman of diamond giant De Beers. Harry Oppenheimer became heavily immersed, both in his father's businesses and in South African politics. He was elected an opposition member of Parliament in 1948, while he was already managing director of Anglo American. After his father died in 1957, Harry Oppenheimer resigned his parliamentary seat and took command of both businesses. He retired as chairman of Anglo American in 1982 and as chairman of De Beers in 1984. "South Africa has lost one of her greatest sons," Anglo American said in a statement. "Not only has he left an indelible imprint on her business and politics but also on the lives of the many people from all walks of life whom he helped." |