JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Former South African Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni has been appointed chairperson of gold-mining company AngloGold Ashanti, succeeding current chairperson Russell Edey, who is retiring after eight years.

Mboweni has also been appointed chairperson of South African packaging company Nampak, succeeding Trevor Evans. Both appointments take effect from June 1.

AngloGold Ashanti says in a media release that former Labour Minister Mboweni was the architect of South Africa's post-apartheid labour legislation, which continues to provide the basis for the "mutually respectful" labour relationships central to the gold-mining company's operational approach in South Africa.

"His experience and stature, both in South Africa and abroad, is a tremendous asset to a company with AngloGold Ashanti's global portfolio and project pipeline, as well as our international shareholder base," says AngloGold Ashanti CEO Mark Cutifani, who paid tribute to Edey for providing the company with "a solid governance platform".

Prior to leaving the Reserve Bank, where he was governor for ten years, Mboweni became embroiled in an incident in September 2008 when he asked a shareholder not to speak to him like "white people used to speak to black people", which had an Equality Court sequel, with judgement expected to be passed soon.

To subscribe to Mining Weekly's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.