Tlhaloso Nakedi

1st March 2019 By: Martin Creamer - Creamer Media Editor

Tlhaloso Nakedi

Full Name: Nelson Tlhaloso ‘Tee’ Nakedi

Position: Exploration nanager, Gubhani Exploration

Main Activity of the Company: Exploration drilling

Date and Place of Birth: May 24, 1979, Soweto

Education: MSc Eng (property development) (still to complete), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); BSc (Hons) (geology), University of Johannesburg; BSc (mining and exploration geology), Wits

First Job: Sasol Mining

Size of First Pay Packet: About R12 000 a month

Value of Assets under Your Control: R15-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 11

Management Style: Inclusive – everyone has to understand the plan and have a say; that is the only way the vision can be executed

Personal Best Achievement: Becoming a father

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My brother, Vuyo Nakedi

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: John Sparrow – he recruited me straight from university and mentored me, and remains a voice of reason in my head

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Pep Guardiola – former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and current Manchester City head coach

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: My brother-in-law, Paki Matlolane. He has the ability to create something out of nothing and his negotiation skills are second to none. He is equally comfortable talking to Presidents or CEOs, or the ordinary person

Philosophy of Life: If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together – crime, jealousy and the like happen when people are left behind to struggle

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being an exchange student in South America many, many years ago. This showed me that the world is not just black and white

Biggest Ever Disappointment: It is football related. My team, Kaizer Chiefs, has not won any silverware in the past three seasons

Hope For the Future: I hope to build a school for orphaned children

Favourite Reading: I am a gadget guy, so I read anything that is tech related, and my go-to source is the Flipboard app. My favourite book, however, is The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand, and I have read the Bible from cover to cover – twice

Favourite TV Programme: At some point, it was the X-Files, then The Tomorrow People, and I have just discovered Black Mirror

Favourite Food/Drink: iNkomasi and bread (absolutely no sugar)/sparkling water or Oros with ice on a hot summer day

Favourite Music: It depends on the mood

Favourite Sport: I love to play basketball but have not watched a game in years. I also love watching soccer, but do not have the energy to play

Hobbies: I don’t hobby (sorry, private joke)

Car: Whatever my wife is driving or is available on site

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Not having options and when people say “No” too quickly

Married: To Lindi – we have been married for 13 years

Children: Gali, 11; Kelti, 8; Poh, 1

Clubs: Geological Society of South Africa