Richard Edward Foxton Biography: Age, Wife, Net Worth, Death, Career, Height, Partner

Richard Edward Foxton, known to colleagues and friends as Dick or affectionately “Mr Foxton“, was a veteran public relations strategist born in India in 1942, raised in Kenya and based in Johannesburg from the early 1970s.

He operated mostly out of boardrooms and executive lunches rather than press rooms, representing chief executives in carefully arranged off‑the‑record media encounters.

His quiet yet high‑profile partnership with South African Public Protector Professor Thulisile “Thuli” Madonsela brought him wider public visibility, though his influence was felt mostly behind the scenes in business and media circles.

Profile

• Full name: Richard Edward Foxton
• Nickname: Dick; Mr Foxton; Foxy
• Date of birth: 1942
• Age: Deceased
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: India
• Nationality: South African (Indian‑born, Kenyan‑raised professional in South Africa)
• Profession: Public relations executive; communications consultant; founder of Foxton Communicating
• Height: 6 ft (approximately 183 cm)
• Weight: 80 kg
• Parents: N/A
• Siblings: N/A
• Spouse: Professor Thulisile Nomkhosi “Thuli” Madonsela (life partner; engaged in late July 2018)
• Children: N/A
• Relationship status: Engaged/life partner until his death in 2025
• Religion: Christian
• Net worth: $5 million

Early Life and education

Richard Edward Foxton is now, posthumously 83 years old and was born in India in 1942, then raised in Kenya where he spent his school years.

He boarded at St. Mary’s School in Nairobi and later at the Prince of Wales School, completing secondary education in the late 1950s while known among fellow boarders as a young man of considerable curiosity and wit.

Relatives and early life records remain undisclosed; details of his tertiary qualifications are not available.

Personal Life

Dick Foxton’s personal life became a topic of public note in July 2018 when it was announced that he was engaged to Thuli Madonsela, with whom he shared a steadfast partnership until his death in June 2025.

The couple did not have children together; Madonsela had two adult children Mbusowabantu Fidel and Wenzile Una from a previous relationship.

Career

Dick Foxton began his communications career managing Newsweek’s African operations during the early years of independence movements—a role he held for nearly a decade before relocating to South Africa in 1971.

In Johannesburg, he joined Group Editors, a PR house staffed by seasoned newsroom veterans, where he advised blue‑chip leaders and became known for his discretion and cultivated media access.

In 1981, he launched his own firm, Foxton Communicating, pioneering a model in which CEOs and board chairmen met directors of major media outlets directly over private lunches, rather than through formal press releases or middle‑management channels.

This approach quickly made him a strategic concierge for corporate communications, especially during times of change or crisis.

Net worth

Richard Edward Foxton’s net worth at the time of his passing is estimated to be at least $5 million.

Death

Richard Edward Foxton passed away peacefully in his sleep on 25 June 2025, aged 82.

His passing was announced by the Thuli Madonsela Foundation, which noted his devotion to family, faith and ethical communications.

A memorial service was held at Rosebank Catholic Church, followed by a celebration at Bryanston Country Club.

Social Media

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