LEADERSHIP / KEY PEOPLE

Managing Director: Merafe Ramono

The Managing Director of the company is Merafe Ramono, who has extensive experience, both as a commercial attorney and an entrepreneur. He completed his B.A., LL.B at one of South Africa’s premier law schools, the University of Cape Town.

While reading law at the University of Cape Town, Merafe persuaded one of South Africa’s top four financial institutions to grant him a loan to pursue his business interests and set up a construction company, Nomzamo Construction. This was a first for the Financial Institution, as, at that stage, loans were advanced purely for study purposes. Not only was the company a success, but the loan was paid off in a record time of 2 years.

His articles were served at Deneys Reitz Attorneys (now Norton Rose), one of South Africa’s leading law firms in Johannesburg. He practised in the insurance, real estate and commercial departments. The challenge of founding a black commercial law practice led him to be one of the founding directors of Moseneke& Partners Law Firm, which, at the time, became the largest Black Commercial Law practice in Johannesburg. His major clients included Levi Strauss and Silicon Graphics, both companies which he assisted to establish their businesses in South Africa.

Merafe’s interests have extended beyond legal practice and he has participated in various business forums. He was, during the mid-90’s an active member of the French-SA Chamber of Commerce.

His experience includes lobbying and strategic interventions, to assist businesses to align their vision with the framework of the South African Government’s Socio-economic Transformation Agenda. Clients have included, amongst others, the Life Offices’ Association.

He is a director of Royal Africa Investments, a black economic empowerment company.

Merafe is also one of the Black Economic Empowerment shareholders in Hudaco Industries Ltd, which is listed in the industrial sector of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

He has written articles on and has been invited to address the topics of procurement, transformation and wildlife conservation at conferences throughout Africa.

He also serves on the board of Gilgal Mining Supplies, a mining equipment supplier and Chartered Employee Benefits Company.

As a patriotic South African citizen he finds personal fulfilment in facilitating dialogue to create a safe space, where individuals from different backgrounds can go through a journey of self-discovery.  In this way they can gain insight into how their world-view shapes their understanding of others and structures their relationships. He describes his job as a ‘stimulator of critical thinking’ to change the national discourse within both the corporate world and the country.

In this regard, he has consulted for and facilitated Transformation workshops covering topics such as Employment Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, at executive manager level, within a number of corporates in South Africa, including Sasol, De Beers, Anglo American Platinum, Investec, Impala Platinum Mines, SAPREF (South African Petroleum Refinery), The Post Office and EDCON.

As part of his plough-back citizenry, he mentors youth and uses his rank to stimulate personal growth, based on his belief is that all individuals have the power and responsibility to make a difference through their lives.

Director: Glen Smithwick

Glenn Smithwick was born and educated in Durban, KZN. He later trained in Johannesburg as an Engineering Designer, qualifying with an Engineering Diploma. He has spent 35 years as a Designer/3D Modeller and the last 5 or so years in planning. In all of this time he has worked on numerous projects, both locally and internationally. Amongst them, Power Stations, Base and Precious Metals Refineries, HMS plants, Aluminium Smelters in Australia, and a Boiler in Mauritius. He was privileged to be involved with the development of the Ngqura Container Terminal at Port Elizabeth, and the upgrades done to Durban and Cape Town Harbours. His hobbies include reading, travelling and spending time with his wife, children and grand-children

 

Non-Executive Director: Andrew Adar

Mr Andrew Adar is a Business Analysis expert with over 10 years  experience in business and systems analysis as well as project management, including working with clients of local top performing IT companies as well as global insurance firms in Europe and Asia. He holds graduate and post-graduate degrees in Commerce, Information Systems and Microbiology from Rhodes University. He also passionate about mentorship, skills development and career development with youth both in South Africa and abroad and an author of books centered around these topics that have a very strong Christian focus.

 

 

Non-Executive Director: Zukile Majikela

Mr Zukile Majikela has vast treasury management and leadership experience having filled various roles at leading South African and foreign owned enterprises in financial services, mining/manufacturing and public sectors. His past roles include

• Treasury Broker/Dealer at a treasury outsourcing company
• Financial Markets Dealer at a precious metals refining company
• Treasurer at a base and industrial metals mining company,
• Cashflow management executive in the public sector and
• Treasurer for Africa at global multinational metals/mining companies.

Zukile Majikela, is also the owner and principal realtor of Urban and Country Realty, is a qualified Master Practitioner in Real Estate [MPRE] who joined the real estate market with a long and illustrious career in corporate as a treasury professional. He holds a BCom (Accounting and Commercial Law) from Rhodes University, a Certificate in Real Estate Economics and Finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and is a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) charter holder with various other world-class treasury & finance related qualifications. His Commercial Law background and the attention he pays to detail have served him well in many respects in the real estate market. He covers residential, commercial, and development properties in multiple areas. His mantra is “You want anything done right, do it yourself”.