Board and office bearers

Minerals Council Office Bearers

• 
  President: Nolitha Fakude

  President: Nolitha Fakude

  BA (Hons) Psychology, University of Fort Hare; Senior Executive Programme, Harvard Business School

  Nolitha Fakude is the Chair of Anglo American’s Management Board in South Africa as well as the Group Director responsible for South Africa on Anglo American plc’s Group Management Committee. Nolitha previously served as a Non- Executive Director of the Board of Anglo American plc from 2017 to 2019.

  She has held senior executive positions in various industries and sectors, including retail, financial services, mining and oil and gas. She serves as a member of the Council of Elders and is a respected authority on transformation and empowerment in South Africa and as a Non-Executive Director of the JSE, Discovery Bank Holdings and International Woman’s Forum South Africa. She is a Patron of Guild Cottage home for girls.

  Nolitha is an author of a book titled, “Boardroom Dancing – Transformation stories from a Corporate Activist, “published in 2019.

  Nolitha is a member of the Board of the Minerals Council and was elected as the first Woman President of the Council in 2021 (the first in 131 years) and has played this role with distinction.

• 
  Vice President: Dr Nombasa Tsengwa

  Vice President: Dr Nombasa Tsengwa

  PhD (Agronomy), University of Maryland, College Park, US; Executive Development Programme (EDP) (Insead, France)

  Dr Nombasa Tsengwa’s 20-year career in mining started when she joined the then Kumba Resources as the General Manager Safety Health and Environment. At the inception of Exxaro Resources in 2006 when Kumba unbundled its coal assets to merge them with Eyesizwe Coal, she was appointed as Executive General Manager Safety and Sustainable Development and worked her way through the ranks to being appointed CEO designate in March 2021. Nombasa took up the CEO role on 1 August 2022.

  In 2017, Nombasa was awarded the Standard Bank Businesswoman of the Year Award, followed by being the Winner of the “Africa ‘s Most Influential Woman in Business and Government - Mining Industry Category” at the Pan African Awards in 2018.

  Nombasa will be a valuable addition to the Minerals Council’s Office Bearers, bringing a wealth of experience to the role.

• 
  Vice President: Paul Dunne

  Vice President: Paul Dunne

  BSc (Hons), MBA

  Paul Dunne joined Northam in March 2014 as Chief Executive Officer. He is a non–executive director of Zambezi Platinum (RF) Limited and the International Platinum Group Metals Association (IPA). He was formerly an executive director at Impala Platinum Holdings Limited, responsible for all mining, concentrating and smelting operations at the Group’s Rustenburg and Marula mines.

  Paul was elected as an Office Bearer of the Minerals Council in 2021 and is a champion of the Minerals Council Women in Mining initiatives. During his tenure he has made an invaluable contribution.

• 
  Vice President: Themba Mkhwanazi

  Vice President: Themba Mkhwanazi

  B Eng (Hons) Chemical Engineering

  Themba Mkhwanazi is the Regional Director, Africa & Australia at Anglo American and is a member of the Group Management Committee (GMC). He previously served as CEO of Bulk Commodities, starting that role in 2021. Prior to that, he was CEO of Kumba Iron Ore from 2016 to 2021, and CEO for Anglo American’s Thermal Coal business in South Africa, having joined the Group in 2014. He has extensive experience in the resources industry, including 20 years in South Africa, the UK as well as in the USA and Australia. Themba is also a non-executive director of Anglo American Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore.

  Themba was a Managing Director of Huntsman Tioxide in South Africa until 2007 when he was appointed COO of Richards Bay Minerals, a joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton.

  In 2011, Themba was seconded to Rio Tinto’s Australian coal business, before taking up the role of Regional General Manager for the Americas in 2012.

  Themba was elected as a Minerals Council Office Bearer in 2022, playing an invaluable role in guiding the Minerals Council.

• 
  Vice President: Peter Steenkamp

  Vice President: Peter Steenkamp

  B Eng (Mining); Mine Managers Certificate Metal Mines; Mine Managers Certificate Fiery Mines, CPIR, MDP, BLDP.

  Peter Steenkamp has been Chief Executive Officer of Harmony since January 2016. A highly experienced mining engineer by profession, Peter has some 42 years’ experience in the industry. Prior to his role as Harmony CEO, Peter was Senior Vice President: Mining of Sasol Mining and held executive positions at Harmony, from 2003 to 2007, African Rainbow Minerals and Pamodzi Gold. He is a member and past president of the Association of Mine Managers South Africa and a member of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

  Peter was elected as a Minerals Council Office Bearer in 2021 and has been a valuable member of the team.

Board Members

• 
  Phillip Tobias, African Rainbow Minerals (CEO)
• 
  Nolitha Fakude, Anglo American (Chairperson)
• 
  Themba Mkhwanazi, Anglo American (CEO of Bulk Commodities)
• 
  Craig Miller, Anglo American Platinum (CEO)
• 
  Charles Walters, Assore (CEO)
• 
  Barend Petersen, De Beers Consolidated Mines (Executive Chair)
• 
  Moses Madondo, De Beers Consolidated Mines (Managing Director)
• 
  Niël Pretorius, DRDGOLD (CEO)
• 
  Nombasa Tsengwa, Exxaro (CEO)
• 
  Kgabi Masia, Exxaro (Managing Director Minerals)
• 
  Japie Fullard, Glencore South Africa (CEO)
• 
  Murray Houston, Glencore Coal South Africa (CEO)
• 
  Martin Preece, Gold Fields (Interim CEO)
• 
  Peter Steenkamp, Harmony ( CEO)
• 
  Nico Muller, Impala Platinum (CEO)
• 
  Mpumi Zikalala, Kumba Iron Ore (CEO)
• 
  Mandy Malebe, Lethabo Exploration (CEO)
• 
  Zanele Matlala, Merafe Resources (CEO)
• 
  Mzila Mthenjane, Minerals Council South Africa (CEO)
• 
  Paul Dunne, Northam Platinum (CEO)
• 
  Errol Smart, Orion Minerals (for Junior and Emerging Mines) – (CEO)
• 
  Guangmin-Wei, Palabora Mining Company (Executive Director and CEO)
• 
  Jaison Rajan, Petra Diamonds
  (Chief Operating Officer)
• 
  Werner Duvenhage, Richards Bay Minerals (Managing Director)
• 
  Mariana Lamont, (for associations) Clay Brick Association (Executive Director)
• 
  Mike Teke, Seriti Resources (CEO)
• 
  Richard Stewart, Sibanye-Stillwater (Chief Regional Officer: Southern Africa)
• 
  Lerato Legong, Sibanye-Stillwater (Executive Vice President: Legal and Compliance)
• 
  Noel Pillay , South32 Africa (Chief Operating Officer)
• 
  July Ndlovu, Thungela (CEO)
• 
  Pushpender Singla, Vedanta Zinc International (VZI) (Executive director and CFO)

Minerals council executives

• 
  Chief Executive Officer: Mzila Mthenjane

  Chief Executive Officer: Mzila Mthenjane

  BSc

  Mzila joined the Minerals Council in August 2023. He has over 30 years’ experience in business, which has been attained in the mining and financial services sectors. He has held various board positions as non-executive director in various entities including Pamodzi Gold Limited, Fraser Alexander, and Merafe Resources.

• 
  Senior Executive: Environment, Health and Legacies: Nikisi Lesufi

  Senior Executive: Health and Environment: Nikisi Lesufi

  BSc (Hons); MSc

  Nikisi Lesufi joined the Minerals Council (formerly Chamber) in 2002 as an environmental adviser. He was promoted to his current position in 2008.

  He previously lectured at University of the North (now University of Limpopo) and also served the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) in various capacities such as Deputy Director: Water Quality, Director: Water Resources Management and head of the regional office of DWAF in the Free State.

• 
  Senior Executive: Finance and Administration: Harry Groenewald

  Senior Executive: Finance and Administration: Harry Groenewald

  BCom; MBL

  Harry Groenewald’s career in the mining industry started in 1985 when he joined Rand Mines. Prior to joining the Minerals Council (formerly Chamber), Harry was involved with copper and cobalt projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with ENRC, a Kazakhstan-based mineral resources company.

• 
  Senior Executive: Modernisation and Safety: Sietse van der Woude

  Senior Executive: Modernisation and Safety: Sietse Van Der Woude

  MSc; MBL

  Sietse Van Der Woude joined the Minerals Council (formerly Chamber) in 2004 as safety, health, environment and quality manager following his departure from Xstrata. Prior to this, he led the implementation of a regulatory framework for radiation safety in the mining industry at the National Nuclear Regulator.

• 
  Senior Executive: Public Affairs and Transformation: Tebello Chabana

  Senior Executive: Public Affairs and Transformation: Tebello Chabana

  BA (Law), LLB

  Tebello Chabana joined the Minerals Council (formerly Chamber) in July 2016 following his departure from Anglo American SA. He began his legal career at Deneys Reitz Attorneys, then joined Anglo American SA as a Legal Advisor and served in a range of positions, ending as Head of Public Affairs SA. Tebello also spent time at Kumba Iron Ore as Executive Head of Public Affairs.