Full Name: Simphiwe Nanise

Position: COO of the Mineworkers Investment Trust (MIT) since November 2000

Main Activity of the Trust: The trust was established in 1995 to provide benefits for members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and their dependants

Main Beneficiaries: The JB Marks Education Trust Fund for NUM members and their dependants; the Mineworkers Development Agency, which establishes entrepreneurial projects for retrenched NUM members; the Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre, which provides training for NUM members and is situated in Yeoville and Midrand; and the Sam Tambani Research Initiative, which is under development

Date and Place of Birth: September 23, 1958, Durban Roodepoort Deep gold mine

Education, Career: Orlando West High School, matric, 1979; trained and worked as mine technician, 1981/2; studied for a BCom degree at Vista University, 1983, before being expelled in 1985 as a consequence of student activism; joined the NUM in 1986

First Job: Mine hostel barman, 1980

Size of First Pay Packet: Cannot remember but it was very little

First NUM Job: Union organiser for R300 a month in 1986

Funding: The NUM provided seed capital of R3-million for the trust in 1995, which was invested in the Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC)

Value of Investments of MIC: R368-million, a portion of the dividends from which accrues to the MIT, which, in turn, disburses proceeds to beneficiaries

Number of People Directly Associated with the Trust’s Activities: About 50

Management Style: Consultative and democratic within clear timeframes

Personal Best Achievement: Helping others

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My grandmother, Naomi, who brought me up

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Cyril Ramaphosa, who employed me

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Nobody in particular

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Patrice Motsepe

Philosophy of Life: Do not stand by while people are suffering – do something to help them

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Improving the lives of union members

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The dismissal of 50 000 mineworkers during the 1987 strike

Hope for the Future: That South Africa reduces poverty and increases employment

Favourite Reading: Politics and economics

Favourite TV Programme: News

Favourite Food/Drink: My grandmother was a good cook and I like good food and a glass of wine now and then

Favourite Music: Modern jazz

Favourite Sport: Soccer

Hobbies: Reading, theatre and the movies

Car: Mercedes-Benz

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Arrogance, people with chips on their shoulders

Married: To Mandisa (née Shongwe)

Children: Zwelethu, 28; Tenzi, 22; Nomonde, 15; Luyanda, 9; Kamohelo, 8; Yolisa, 5

Clubs: I support Kaizer Chiefs Football Club