Full Name: Zanele Matlala
Position: CEO of Merafe Resources since June 2012
Main Activity of the Company: Chrome mining and ferrochrome production through investment in the Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture
Date and Place of Birth: Kagiso, Krugersdorp, 1963
Education: BCom, University of South Africa, 1993; BCompt (Hons), 1996; CA (SA), 1997
First Job: Volunteer primary school teacher in Soweto
Size of First Pay Packet: R150 a month
First Job With Present Group: CFO, 2010
Value of Assets under Your Control: The market capitalisation of JSE-listed Merafe is R2-billion-plus
Number of People under Your Leadership: The Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture employs more than 6 000 full-time employees in Limpopo and the North West; there are 11 people in the Merafe head office, in Sandton
Management Style: Goal-focused with a strong desire to get things done
Personal Best Achievement: Raising a family while focusing on my career and qualifying as a chartered accountant
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My late mother, Margaret
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: A very supportive manager at Permanent Building Society (the Perm), a very encouraging partner at Arthur Andersen and a great CEO at Kagiso
Career Prior to Joining Merafe: Banking hall manager, the Perm, at age 23; articled clerk, Arthur Andersen, Durban; wholesale venture capital funds head and account manager: project finance, Industrial Development Corporation; CFO, Development Bank of Southern Africa; and group FD, Kagiso Trust Investments
Nonexecutive Directorships: Stefanutti Stocks, Dipula Property Income Fund and Business Partners
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Barack Obama, a person who has made it against all odds
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Gill Marcus, for her vision, energy and truly inspiring personality
Philosophy of Life: You get out what you put in
Biggest Ever Opportunity: The opportunity to study while working, after starting work straight out of high school
Biggest Ever Disappointment: During my time as an investment banker, I would always look back on the deals that did not work out and ask what I could have done better, but I cannot single out a specific disappointment as my biggest ever
Hope for the Future: That Merafe becomes a highly successful empowered mining company
Favourite Reading: Biographies and business books
Favourite TV Programme: Current affairs
Favourite Food/Drink: I like travelling and I enjoy trying the foods of different countries. A glass of good wine is always good when I dine out and at work I am forever drinking tea or coffee
Favourite Music: Jazz
Favourite Sport: I watch soccer, but only the big games, and I also watch golf, but also only the bigger tournaments
Hobbies: I enjoy reading, walking and spending time with my family
Car: Mercedes-Benz
Pets: My daughter has a hamster, but I do not have any pets of my own
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Insincerity and dishonesty
Married: Single
Children: Two sons, Luyanda and Thibedi, and a daughter, Naledi
Clubs: None