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After serving a five-year prison sentence alongside Nelson Mandela on Robben Island for his anti-apartheid efforts, Saki Macozoma has emerged as a prominent South African business leader and civil rights champion.
Upon his release in 1982, Macozoma played a pivotal role in founding anti-apartheid organizations like the United Democratic Front and the Mass Democratic Movement. Today, he stands as a titan in South Africa’s corporate world, chairing Vodacom South Africa and Safika Holdings, a major investment firm established in 1995.
In 1996, Saki Macozoma made history by becoming Transnet’s first black managing director, the state-owned entity overseeing South Africa’s ports, railways, and South African Airways. He later joined Standard Bank, STANLIB, and Liberty Holdings boards, holding influential roles.
His leadership extends beyond the corporate realm. Macozoma serves as chairman and non-executive director of several public and private enterprises, boasting extensive industry experience. He also held a non-executive position at Liberty Holdings and Murray and Roberts Holdings Limited.
Beyond his business pursuits, Saki remains a significant contributor to civil society within South Africa and across the African business landscape. He advises the Eastern Cape Premier, chairs the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, and sits on the Rhodes University Board of Governors.
Billionaires.Africa has meticulously documented Saki Macozoma’s affiliations with various companies where he currently holds leadership positions or has in the past. Here are ten such notable companies:
Vodacom Group Limited is a leading South African mobile communications company, serving more than 130 million customers across Africa. With its roots in South Africa, Vodacom has expanded its network operations to encompass Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, and Lesotho. The company also offers business services to customers in more than 32 African countries, including Nigeria, Zambia, Angola, Kenya, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, and Cameroon. Notably, Macozoma serves as the current chair of Vodacom South Africa.
Established in 1967, Mondi Plc is a multinational packaging and paper group operating across 30 countries, with a workforce of approximately 21,000 people. The company maintains around 100 production sites, primarily in Europe, Russia, North America, and South Africa. Its dual-listing on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges reflects its global reach. Macozoma holds a minority 0.00010-percent stake in Mondi Plc
Tshipi e Ntle Manganese Mining, in partnership with Australia’s publicly listed Jupiter Mines, operates the Tshipi Borwa mine. This open-pit manganese mine, based in the Kalahari Manganese Field (KMF) in South Africa’s Northern Cape, has been in production since 2012 and is now the largest exporter of manganese in Africa.
Founded in 2004 as a Black-Broad-Based Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) company, Ntsimbintle Mining embarked on manganese exploration and mining in South Africa. After initial prospecting activities in 2006, the company, in collaboration with Pallinghurst Resources and OM Holdings, acquired a stake in Tshipi. Ntsimbintle Mining, through its subsidiary Tshipi Manganese Mining, established a multi-billion rand manganese mine in South Africa’s Northern Cape in 2012.
Established in 1946 and headquartered in Kariega, South Africa, Volkswagen Group South Africa is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft (VWAG) in Germany. As the largest German investment in South Africa, it significantly contributes to foreign direct investment, technology transfer, and skills development. The company is based in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, situated approximately 35 kilometers from Port Elizabeth.
Founded in 2003, Ntsimbintle Holdings is a mining investment firm that Macozoma co-established with eight other Black South African groups. Initially focused on securing prospecting rights, the company evolved to become the majority shareholder of the single largest manganese mine and ore exporter in South Africa. Ntsimbintle Holdings owns a 74-percent stake in its subsidiary Ntsimbintle Mining, which, in turn, holds a 50.1-percent stake in Tshipi e Ntle Manganese Mining (Pty) Ltd., the operator of the highly productive Tshipi Borwa mine.
Transnet is a state-owned company in South Africa, primarily involved in rail, port, airways, and pipeline operations. Headquartered in Johannesburg’s Carlton Center, Transnet was formed as a limited company on April 1, 1990. The South African government’s Department of Public Enterprises is the majority owner of the company, which emerged from the restructuring of South African Railways and Harbours, among other operations.
Founded in 1995, Safika Holdings is a major South African investment holding company with a strategic focus on BEE deals. The company has acquired stakes in various sectors, including industrial, mining, gaming, financial services, human resources, telecom, media, and technology. Safika Holdings often employs vendor financing, facilitating BEE partners’ acquisition of shares by lending them funds for the purchase.
- Safika Resources
Safika Resources is a South African-based company specializing in mineral exploration and mining, with a strong emphasis on manganese. The company holds shares in several subsidiaries and associated firms, engaging in strategic partnerships with other mining entities. Notably, Safika Resources boasts a significant 39.66-percent stake in Ntsimbintle Holdings, which, in turn, holds a substantial share in the renowned Tshipi Borwa manganese mine situated in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province.
- Mokala Manganese
Established in May 2020, Mokala Manganese Mine began ore extraction in March of the following year. It emerged from a partnership between Blue Falcon Trading 222 (Pty) Ltd. and Ntsimbintle Holdings, with the latter holding a controlling 51-percent share in Mokala. Initially focusing on open-cast manganese ore mining, Mokala later secured mining rights in December 2017, paving the way for mine construction and potential future underground extraction.
