Full Name: Martin van Zyl

Position: CEO of Blue Chip Mining & Drilling

Main Activity of the Company: Strategic and generic core services, such as surface and underground exploration; drill and blast; load and haul; screen and crush; rehabilitation of mines; full contract mining; and soft services, such as intergovernmental liaison on behalf of clients, training of mining staff at own centre and mining right management

Date and Place of birth: January 14, 1951, Calvinia

Education: Master’s degree in public health (Boston University), honours degree in public administration (Stellenbosch University); national diploma in public health (PenTech)

First Job: Provincial regional librarian

Size of First Pay Packet: R45 a month

Value of Assets under Your Control: R364 976 094 (cost)

Number of People under Your Leadership: 776

Management Style: Interactive management style

Personal Best Achievement: Being appointed Northern Cape province director-general, receiving the Boss of the Year accolade, establishing Blue Chip Mining & Drilling with my operational partner, Kobus Botes, and growing it to the size it currently is as a market force

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My grandmother

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Barack Obama

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Daphne Mashile-Nkosi, for her steadfastness in a man’s world and as a women entrepreneur who has had to swim among the sharks to prove her mettle; also Exxaro Resources CEO Sipho Abednego Nkosi, for his industrial leadership, business acumen and humbleness

Philosophy of Life: Look at the mountain top

Biggest Ever Opportunity: My week as non-clergy with the late Pope John Paul II in the Vatican, Rome

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The death of my mother

Hope for the Future: That South Africans rid themselves of their arrogance and accept people with other cultures as their fellow citizens

Favourite Reading: Science, non-fiction and books by David Icke

Favourite TV Programme: Discovery

Favourite Food/Drink: An ordinary Karoo meal of braced saddle chops, rice and potato with ground black coffee

Favourite Music: Caribbean and South African Community street music genres

Favourite Sport: Rugby, athletics and swimming

Hobbies: Creative thinking and design, writing and music

Car: Toyota Prado

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Disrespect for others, selfish people and philargyrists

Married: To Gillian (nee Collins)

Children: Christo, 34, married to Fia, and Ricco, 29, married to Mon

Clubs: Ikageng Brass Band and various social structures