About Us

Roots of the Ishwar and Laila Mangaroo Foundation Trust

The late Ishwarlall Mangaroo (2 August 1947- 8 November 2016) was born in a humble household in Inanda to Jaipal and Bachani Mangaroo. His father, Jaipal Mangaroo, was an industrious person who was never afraid of hard work and progressed from being a man of the soil to being a pioneer in the transport industry. 

He started the operation initially with a horse drawn cart and progressed rapidly through to trucks and finally to the bus passenger industry. Ishwar, as he was known, joined the family business and started off at the very bottom and worked his way through the ranks. 

He eventually ventured on his own in the bus passenger transport industry in the early seventies. Laila was born to Harrilal and Jaikumari Mocktar on the 23 January 1953 in Tugela, a smallholding on the outskirts of Winterton, northern KwaZulu Natal. 

She schooled at St Xaviers Primary School, Verulam. Thereafter, the Mocktar family relocated to Merebank where she matriculated at Merebank High school. She furthered her education at Anchorlite college.

She was employed as an administrator for a plumbing company owned by the late Norman Elliott (owner of the famous football club at that time Durban City). She met Ishwarlall Mangaroo, whilst travelling as a passenger to work. They married in July 1976 and blessed with four children, Ugesh, Pranesh, Prashna and Vidhor. 

Together they continued to work and build their business from from a two bus operation to what we know today as the Metro Group of Companies. Ishwar was the Chief Executive Officer of the Metro Group of Companies. The Group comprises of a range of companies, diversified in passenger transport, fuel retail, property and the foundation trust. 

Laila, having spent four decades by Ishwar’s side as his understudy, carried forward the mantle of the business upon his passing. She has been supported by her children whom are actively involved in the business. Laila remains the calm hand that guides the ship along the sometimes, choppy waters. Besides the business, Laila leads a full life, revolving around her family, especially her grandchildren. 

These philanthropists supported various religious, sporting, welfare and cultural bodies. Both Ishwar and Laila Mangaroo shared a common vision in uplifting the underprivileged and needy. Their earlier contributions include the Ghat project of the Divine Life Society, where the disposal of the bodily remains after cremations is now a dignified ceremony, the Divine Life Society, the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Food for Life, KZN Blind and Deaf Society, Verulam Day Care Centre, Aryan Benevolent Home, Chatsworth Hospice and a host of other organisations. Prior to his demise both Ishwar and Laila Mangaroo decided that there was need to maintain the legacy that they had started with their upliftment projects and have it formalized into a structured body. 

As a legacy and in keeping with their wishes the Ishwar and Laila Mangaroo Foundation Trust was formed to aid deserving organisations in terms of the trust deed, with the main principles focused on.

Their main principles focused on
1. Welfare and Humanitarian Activities
2. Education and Development
3. Healthcare
4. Religious Bodies and Organisations who’s aims are consistent with the above objectives

Their philosophy is aptly reflected in the title of the family book, Defy Destiny, Leave a Legacy.