He was also a supporter of expanded civil rights for Black Africans, and recognised, very early on, the need for them to play a leading role in South Africa's political future.

[2] From a very young age he served as his father’s private secretary, helping to manage his family's diverse political and business interests, and did not join his brothers in studying in Cambridge.

[5] Molteno was the elected chairman of the South Africa Conciliation Committee, when it was founded in Cape Town in early 1900 to oppose the Boer War.

Like his younger brother and fellow parliamentarian James Molteno, he was a supporter of John X. Merriman's party, and for the extension, across southern Africa, of equal political rights for Black Africans.

In spite of his different race, his understanding of the Thembu language and culture supplemented his forceful and charismatic leadership style and went some way towards making him acceptable to this black constituency.

Having early on recognised and declared the leading role that Black Africans needed to play in the South Africa's future, Molteno worked for much of his life attempting to lay the foundation for such a transition.

[7] He was a particularly close friend and political ally of the controversial activist John Tengo Jabavu, whom he had previously attempted to persuade to stand for election to the Cape Parliament.