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