Full Name: Velile Nhlapo

Position: CEO of Fraser Alexander

Main Activity of the Company: Outsource mining services across all commodities, taking in tailings management and remining, mining, material logistics, mineral processing, water management and treatment and construction

Date and Place of Birth: June 30, 1978, Diepkloof, Soweto

Education: National diploma and national higher diploma in metalliferous mining, BTech (mining engineering)

First Job: Learner official: mining, Gold Fields South Africa

Size of First Pay Packet: R2 572.52 –I remember it like yesterday

Value of Assets under Your Control: Assets valued at more than R1-billion, turnover of R2.5-billion a year and market capitalisation of R750-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 5 000

Management Style: Inclusion, a management style of taking people along

Personal Best Achievement: As production manager, managing mine costs below budget and tonnage above budget, while maintaining a good safety record; achieving the first-ever four-million fatality-free shifts at Anglo American Platinum’s Dishaba mine, the second-deepest platinum mine

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father and mother, for giving me the confidence to make my mark in life

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Too many to mention, but, most recently, people such as Steve Phiri, Mark Farren, Neil Herric and Robin Mills

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Aliko Dangote

Businesspeople Who Has Impressed You Most: Aliko Dangote and Brian Joffe

Philosophy of Life: You are what you are because of the choices you make in life – so, go on and make them

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Becoming the CEO of Fraser Alexander, which has talented employees, and knowing that I contribute to the wellbeing of the Bafokeng

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Burying one of my colleagues who was involved in an underground fatality

Hope for the Future: Africa is the future and one day we will all get our act together

Favourite Reading: The Looting Machine, by Tom Burgis

Favourite TV Programme: Nat Geo Wild (when there is time)

Favourite Food/Drink: Red wine, Merlot or Pinotage

Favourite Music: I listen to all sorts of music, depending on the mood at the time

Favourite Sport: Formula 1

Hobbies: I wish I could find something that I can master besides mining

Car: I have no attachment to cars and I change them often

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Two-faced people, Brutus

Clubs: None. Where is the time?