A century of service
“This is where my roots are. This country comes first.”A century after his humble beginnings as a general dealer in Windhoek, these words by the late Harold Pupkewitz still resonate in his legacy of investment in and service to Namibia and its people.
The Pupkewitz story began in 1902 when his father Max, fled Lithuania due to political instability and anti-Semitism and first settled in South Africa. Namibia, however, became and remained his home where he first started a workshop for carriages in Okahandja and in 1925 opened a general dealership on the corner of Tal Street and Rehobother Road in Windhoek with his wife Anna.
The years that followed were marked by unwavering drive and perseverance through the Great Depression, the decision to move into building materials after the end of the Second World War and to enter the automotive industry in 1954.
Max’s sons Harold, Julius and Morris joined the business, with Harold heading up purchasing and administration after graduating in 1937. He would lead the company for 74 years and a century after starting as a store on a corner in the capital, the Pupkewitz Group today comprises six companies with over 70 locations across the country. It employs over 2 000 Namibians and contributes around 3.5% to Namibia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In the words of late Harold Pupkewitz: "There is no greater asset than the people of our nation," referring to their well-being and advancement, which is not only the foundation of the group and the foundation on which its ethos and work are based, but is also emphasised in Article 95 of the Namibian Constitution. Click here for more: q.my.na/YSBO. -