Meet Mary Slack: The ‘Oppenheimer’ backing the DA to win

According to the Electoral Commission of South Africa, Mary Slack, 79, is the second largest individual backer of the Democratic Alliance ahead of the 29 May general elections. 

The SAPeople website published details of the reclusive gambling-tech billionaire Martin Moshal who’s betting big on a regime change.

But what of Mary Slack who’s donated R15 million to the opposition party?

WHO IS MARY SLACK EXACTLY?

Mary Slack is an heir to the De Beers diamond fortune and sister of Nicky Oppenheimer – the third-richest person in Africa, reputed to be worth $8.3 billion (R157 billion).

According to CNBC Africa, as of November 2023, Nicky Oppenheimer is only $1.4 billion behind Johann Rupert ($9.7 billion) on the list of richest on the continent.

DA LEADS THE FUNDING RACE

She is granddaughter of Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, founder of the Anglo-American Corporation of South Africa, as well as daughter of Harry Oppenheimer.

Mary Slack doesn’t shy away from her wealth and achievements.

She’s worked for the family’s trust on and off for more than four decades.

In fact, the DA’s minted backer is recognised as South Africa’s wealthiest woman.

Here are some of her achievements:

• Educated at Heathfield, England, she also studied at Sorbonne University in Paris.
• 40-years ago she started as secretary at the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust. Since 2018 she’s been chairperson.
• Mary Slack co-founded Wiphold, the first female-lead company on the JSE.
• She founded Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) in 1997, and served as its first chair.
• Mary Slack has been trustee of the Johannesburg Art Gallery, Palaeontological Scientific Trust, and Contemporary African Music & Arts Archive.

LOVER OF HORSES

According to a Billionaires Africa report from 2023, Slack is renowned in South Africa for her love of horses, horse racing and thoroughbred breeding.

She owns the Wilgerbosdrift stud farm, which is home to the world’s finest South African thoroughbred bloodlines.