Full Name: Simphiwe Nanise
Position: COO of the Mineworkers Investment Trust (MIT) since November 2000
Main Activity of the Trust: The trust, which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year, 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 a mine technician, 1981 to 1982; 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: I 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, 30; Tenzi, 24; Nomonde, 17; Luyanda, 11; Kamohelo, 10; Yolisa, 7
Clubs: I support Kaizer Chiefs Football Club