Elisha Makapela

19th century South African entrepreneur who built a cross-continental trading network

Elisha Makapela (1834-1898) was a Basotho trader and entrepreneur who created one of southern Africa's most extensive pre-colonial trade networks during the 1860s-1880s. Originating from present-day Lesotho, he established a supply chain connecting the diamond fields of Kimberley to the Indian Ocean ports, using a fleet of 200 ox-wagons and a workforce of 500 employees at his peak.

Makapela's business acumen allowed him to operate successfully across multiple colonial territories, negotiating with British authorities while maintaining ties to traditional chiefs. His introduction of standardized pricing systems and credit arrangements revolutionized regional trade practices. By 1875, his company Makapela & Sons accounted for 15% of all goods transported between South Africa and India.

Despite losing much of his wealth during the Anglo-Boer Wars, he reinvested in infrastructure projects including the Free State Railway. His legacy is preserved in the South African History Online archives, where scholars note his unique ability to operate across cultural and political boundaries. Modern economists credit him with laying the groundwork for later African entrepreneurs like Ernest Oppenheimer.