Full Name: Ditshebo Stephen Phiri

Position: CEO of JSE-listed Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) since 2010 and VP of the Chamber of Mines of South Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Platinum mining

Date and Place of Birth: March 19, 1956, Phokeng, Rustenburg

Education: Phokeng Primary School; Bafokeng High School; University of the North, LLB

First Job: Public prosecutor, 1981

Size of First Pay Packet: Meagre, meagre, meagre

First Job with Present Group: Executive director, May 1, 2003

Value of Assets: R11-billion market capitalisation at the time of going to press

Number of People: RBPlat employs 8 372 people (as at end December 2017)

Management Style: Consultative – everyone plays a role in decision-making

Personal Best Achievement: Not to have disappointed my parents, who had great expectations of me

Professional Best Achievement: Convincing South Africa’s Parliament Portfolio Committee to preserve the rights of traditional communities to mining royalties, thus helping to introduce the principle of State ownership of mineral rights

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother

Person Who Has Had Biggest Influence on Your Career: My mother and my high school teacher, Dr Malao

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Any influential person who can add value to me

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Steve Kearney

Philosophy of Life: Trustworthiness

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Becoming Merafe Resources CEO and then CEO of RBPlat

Biggest Ever Disappointment: I regard disappointments as wake-up calls to act positively and to advance

Hope for the Future: That South Africa takes its rightful place in global leadership

Favourite Reading: Books on Africa, in general, and, in particular, those by Wole Soyinka and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o

Favourite TV Programme: News, sport, Summit TV

Favourite Food and Drink: Good healthy food/good red wine

Favourite Music: Jazz fusion

Favourite Sport: Soccer

Favourite Website: None

Hobbies: Working out in the gym

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonesty

Favourite Other South African Company: Impala Platinum

Favourite Foreign Company: None

Married: Kele Makgaka, since 1983

Children: Emily, Elma and Tshepang

Clubs: None