Mmakau Mining – A 100% Black Owned Mining Company Since The 1990s. The Mining Industry in South Africa is dominated by white owned big companies that were mostly established during Apartheid. This is an industry that many black South Africans have tried to get into with little success as most black people in the country lack the financial capacity of investing in such an industry. Only a few have managed to get into the industry and maintain full ownership of their companies. One of these people is Bridgette Radebe who was resilient in fighting the apartheid government to achieve her goals.
Mmakau Mining was founded in 1995 by Bridgette Radebe, who serves as the company’s Executive Chairperson and CEO. Radebe was the first black South African deep level hard rock mining entrepreneur in the 1980s and the first black woman in the country to become involved in the production and executive management of gold, platinum and diamond mining. According to Engineering News, Radebe had an objective of arming herself to help redress the mining injustices inherent in her home community and she set out to pursue a law degree in mining but was blocked by Apartheid law and had to settle for a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Botswana.
Mmakau Mining is located in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa and is part o the Gold and Silver Mining Industry. Mmakau has over 200 employees across all of its locations and generates $29.85 million in sales.
Mmakau Mining’s prime focus is on the investment in sustainable mining ventures with a view to providing wealth creation benefiting the company and local communities alike. This is achieved through empowerment procurement practices, management empowerment partnering and entrepreneur development.
It was launched in the 1990s and it has grown into one of Africa’s most significant 100% black owned mining companies. The company significantly broadened its skills and mining services base through the acquisition of a 36% shareholding in Shaft Sinkers, a world leader in shaft-sinking and underground construction. It is a pioneering mining group with interests in coal, platinum, gold, chrome, vanadium and uranium.
