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Meyer Kahn, former SAB boss and head of the SA Police Service in the late 1990s, has died, shortly before his 83rd birthday.
Kahn worked at the beer brewer for 46 years, joining SAB in 1966 after getting a law degree and an MBA from the University of Pretoria.
He became managing director of SAB in 1983, and executive chairperson in 1990.
In 1997, former president Nelson Mandela asked him to head the South African Police Service, and he left the position in 1999 after his two-year contract expired.
Kahn returned to SABMiller, where he remained chairperson until his retirement in 2012.
He was also co-founder of AfroCentric, a black-owned company that provides services and products to the healthcare sector, in 2006. Kahn served on the AfroCentric board, as well as more than 15 others over the years, including PG Group and Capital Wealth Advisors.
He served on the Netcare board for 17 years, retiring in 2018.
He was still a board member of payment device provider Capital Appreciation at the time of his death.
In a statement on Friday, the company called him "an extraordinary and distinguished corporate leader, with an impeccable record of sound judgement, always faithfully directed by the most noble of principles".
"Since Meyer's retirement from active employment, Meyer continued his patriotic commitment by supporting and sponsoring several BEE enterprises and other community initiatives, once again revealing his fundamental goodness and morality," the company added.
It’s with great sadness that I have just learnt of the passing of Meyer Kahn. He was 82. He was giant of a man and one of the greats of SA business. His presentations as head of SA Breweries were always filled with fun and humour. He will be sadly missed.
— David Shapiro (@davidshapiro61) June 2, 2022
I just heard about the passing of Meyer Kahn today. Such sad sad news. A giant of SA industry. And apart from that, a bloody good bloke. We will never see his like again.
— Chris Gilmour??????????????????????Slava Ukraini! (@Comrade_Skhokho) June 2, 2022
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