Joint statement by the President of the Chamber Of Mines and its Chief Executive announcing the imminent retirement of Mr Mzolisi “Zoli” Diliza

The President of the Chamber of Mines, Mr Sipho Nkosi, and its Chief Executive Mr Mzolisi “Zoli” Diliza, today announced that Diliza, who was scheduled to retire at the end of June 2009, has agreed to a request by the Chamber’s Executive Council that he remain in his current position until the end of June 2010.

“The Executive Council has determined that with several outstanding mining industry issues demanding acceptable resolution – among them the Mining Charter review – it was essential to retain the experience and leadership skills that Diliza brings to the table in negotiations with Government, organized labour and other mining sector stakeholders. All members of the Executive Council are pleased that Diliza has undertaken to extend his tenure as Chief Executive. Diliza has been at the front end of Chamber preparations for the upcoming Charter review and considered in the context of his considerable experience in the lobbying and advocacy arena, his departure from the Chamber in June 2009 would have been a strategically irrational move”, said Nkosi.

Having joined the Chamber in 1998 as the organisation’s first black Chief Executive in more than 100 years, Diliza is the only top level mining sector executive who remains in the service of the industry and who was a leading participant in the process that produced the Broad Based Socio-Economic Charter for the Mining Industry - South Africa’s first sectoral empowerment template.  The Charter was accepted and signed by industry stakeholders on 11 October 2002.

Entrenched in the Charter, which was implemented in 2004, is a stakeholder commitment to meet after five years to review progress and to determine what steps, if any, need to be taken to achieve the Charter’s 26% HDSA ownership target. The five years have elapsed, and later this year, the concentrated review process is expected to get underway.

Nkosi also noted that having served as a Commissioner on South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment Commission chaired by Cyril Ramaphosa, transformation has been one of Diliza’s major personal objectives and that he has played a central role in converting the Chamber of Mines into an effective mining industry lobbying and advocacy agency with a staff complement that is truly representative of South Africa’s demographic profile. 

Diliza is a founding member of the Mining Industry Associations of Southern Africa (MIASA) and a member of the Executive Working Group of the London-based International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). He is also Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce South Africa and Chairman of TEBA Fund Trust, a controlling shareholder of TEBA Bank.

Diliza expressed gratitude for the opportunity and trust afforded him by the Chamber’s Executive Council. “I am grateful to the Chamber of Mines’ Executive Council for the unique opportunity that has been given to me to lead a team of specialists and skilled individuals whose collective intellectual attributes have assisted in addressing the demands of mining company members in their collective quest to convince Government to create a legislative and regulatory environment that will enable the mining sector to be more competitive globally and to enhance its contribution to the socio economic prosperity of South Africa. Achievement of the best possible operational conditions for the business of mining in our country remains an unaccomplished objective but the many positive achievements that the Chamber has recorded during the past 11 years have significantly advanced industry ambitions to create – in co-operation with major stakeholders – an optimal enabling environment. It has, and continues to be, a privilege to be part of this important industry. I am, however, looking forward to being able to pursue some of my other business interests”,  said Diliza.

In conclusion, Nkosi said “the leadership and executive management qualities that Diliza has demonstrated over the past 11 years in his capacity as Chief Executive of the Chamber will be of inestimable value in the next few months as the mining industry navigates its way through difficult operational and economic circumstances in both the domestic and global business environments”.

Although it is accepted that Diliza’s new termination of service date will be 30 June 2010, there is supplementary provision for this to be extended to 31 December 2010 on condition that he and the Chamber’s Executive Council are in mutual accord that there is further relevant need to prolong his period of employment by an additional six months.

For enquiries please contact:
Jabu Maphalala
Deputy Communications Adviser
Chamber of Mines of South Africa
Tel No. +27 11 498 7212
Fax No. + 27 11 838 4251
Cell No. + 27 72 883 4642
Email: jmaphalala@bullion.org.za