Full Name: Dr Thuthula Balfour
Position and Company Name: Head of health, Minerals Council South Africa
Main Activity of the Company: Minerals Council South Africa represents the mining industry on various matters and advocates for improvements in the industry
Date and Place of Birth: August 21, 1963, Mthatha, Eastern Cape
Education: MBChB, Fellow of the College of Public Health Medicine, MBA
First Job: After serving as an intern and medical officer at Mthatha hospital, I had the opportunity to serve as medical officer of health for the City of Mthatha. This was one of my best jobs. It was managerial and I was very young but, with health education and mentoring by colleagues, I did well and learned a lot. Notable colleagues were Mzimkhulu Msiwa, who was the municipal engineer and went on to be the CEO of Umgeni Water. This job led to my love of management and my interest in public health – I ultimately specialised in public health medicine
Size of First Pay Packet: I cannot remember but have never complained about my salary, as I compare it with other, lower-paid people in South Africa. I am passionate about reducing the pay gap across our society
Value of Assets under Your Control: Minerals Council South Africa is not a commercial organisation and our value is, thus, not monetary
Number of People under Your Leadership: I work with a small team of four people
Management Style: I believe everyone must be a leader with a conscience as he or she does his or her work. I thus lead in terms of setting targets and monitoring performance
Personal Best Achievement: Being the chairperson of the Mining Lekgotla and leading the successful hosting of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Mining Lekgotlas
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Barack Obama
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Patrice Motsepe
Philosophy of Life: Live and let live – be the best you can be
Biggest Ever Disappointment: The level of corruption in the new South Africa
Hope for the Future: An inclusive, more prosperous South Africa where we all work towards nationhood
Favourite Reading: Anything about evolution and human behaviour. I was blown away by Sapiens, A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari
Favourite TV Programme: The news, Date My Family and Somizi’s show
Favourite Food/Drink: Mngqusho (samp and beans) and stew
Favourite Music: I wish I could appreciate jazz, but, no, I love pop music. Brenda Fassie is a favourite
Favourite Sport: Tennis, especially watching Serena Williams
Hobbies: Reading, watching TV and cooking
Car: I am a BMW person – it makes me feel young, fast and hip
Clubs: A book club and a savings club