Page 16 - 25 Reasons

Anglo American’s R28 billion investment in the Venetia mine represents one of the largest investments in SA mining in more than two decades
John Rhodes reluctantly A SPARKLING
uch has changed in the
mining of diamonds since
Barney Barnato and Cecil

agreed to grow stronger by
Mconsolidating their claim
collectives in 1888 in Kimberley. That
partnership resulted in the formation of De FUTURE
Beers Group – a company that has changed
dramatically from its randlord history of
yesteryear.
But if there is one attribute that has embedded
itself in the company’s character, it is the belief in
progress through powerful partnerships. Distilled IN SA
through several iterations, earlier this year it
changed once more when its Canadian and South
African assets were consolidated into a new
corporate brand, De Beers Group Managed
Operations.
Anglo American owns 85% of De Beers Group, Anglo American is investing in
with the remaining 15% held by the government South Africa, and a multibillion-rand
of Botswana.
De Beers Group Managed Operations is headed investment to extend the life of the Venetia
by vibrant chemical engineer Mpumi Zikalala, who
is only 40 years old and is a product of the underground mine in Limpopo is testament to
company’s “grow your own timber” programme.
Having received a bursary to study chemical its long-term view. Eugene Goddard talks to
engineering at Wits, she later joined De Beers as a Mpumi Zikalala about the future of diamonds
graduate.
Zikalala is at the forefront of Anglo American’s
biggest investment in South African mining – the into a good space from a holistic point of view.”
R28 billion capital input that will extend the It is also De Beers Group’s expertise through
underground life of Venetia diamond mine in experience, and always working towards knowing
Limpopo. The mine’s current open-pit operations and learning all there is to know about one’s craft,
will continue until 2021, and the innovative that sustains it as a leader in its sector.
underground operation is expected to produce Having cut her teeth in the global diamond
diamonds well into the 2040s. industry’s unofficial capital, Kimberley, Zikalala
Talking about the headwinds they have faced in fondly talks of how the Northern Cape town still
recent years, Zikalala is both frank and futuristic in has that “diamond feel to it” – the same feeling she
her assessment of strength through consolidation. got when she visited Canada for the first time since
“We remain committed to the country. We have her promotion earlier this year to managing
learnt over 130 years of history that one can only Mpumi director after the company’s consolidation into De
grow bigger and better through partnerships,” she Zikalala Beers Group Managed Operations. A feeling that
says. also permeates the new centre of South Africa’s
“We believe that, as a country and as the mining diamond business in Limpopo.
industry, we need to continue driving for those De Beers Group’s Venetia is an open-pit mine
partnerships that are ultimately aimed at getting that has been in operation since 1992. Venetia has
16 ANGLO AMERICAN 25 REASONS TO BELIEVE