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