Key Factors
- Zim led main expansions at Northam Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore, driving acquisitions like Eland Platinum and the Booysendal Mine growth.
- Past mining, Zim’s Zanozi Properties & Commodities strengthened his footprint in actual property, whereas management at MTN and Telkom highlighted his telecom affect.
- Regardless of previous ties to the Gupta household, Zim distanced himself in 2010, shielding his fame from South Africa’s state seize fallout.
Few enterprise leaders in South Africa have made their mark throughout industries fairly like Polelo Lazarus Zim. A seasoned investor and company strategist, Zim has performed a defining function within the nation’s mining, power, finance, and actual property sectors. His profession—spanning government management, main acquisitions, and boardroom affect—displays a deep understanding of South Africa’s shifting financial panorama.
A chartered accountant by coaching, Zim has led a few of the nation’s most distinguished corporations, shaping company governance and driving financial transformation, particularly in mining. As chairman of Northam Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore, he oversaw main expansions, together with the event of the Booysendal Mine and the acquisition of Eland Platinum. His management at Zambezi Platinum and Afripalm Assets additional cemented his standing as a key participant within the useful resource sector.
However his enterprise pursuits go effectively past mining. By means of Zanozi Properties & Commodities, he has constructed a powerful presence in actual property and investments, whereas management roles at Anglo American, MTN, and Telkom SA underscore his affect in telecommunications and finance. At Mvelaphanda Assets, he helped drive strategic investments in platinum, gold, and diamonds, reinforcing his place in Africa’s useful resource economic system.
Zim’s profession hasn’t been with out controversy. His monetary ties to the Gupta household—grew to become a danger because the household’s grip on state establishments tightened. Nonetheless, his determination to chop these ties in 2010, together with the removing of Atul Gupta from Northam Platinum’s board, helped protect him from the complete affect of the state seize scandal.
With many years of expertise and management roles in additional than 15 corporations, Zim stays considered one of South Africa’s most formidable enterprise figures. Billionaires.Africa takes a more in-depth have a look at 5 key corporations he owns or holds important stakes in, highlighting the size of his investments and lasting affect.
- Zanozi Properties & Commodities
Lazarus Zim is the founder and chairman of Zanozi Properties & Commodities, an organization centered on actual property investments and commodity buying and selling. With a powerful background in each industries, he beforehand served as CEO of Anglo American South Africa Restricted and chairman of Anglo Operations Restricted. His management at Zanozi is constructed on years of trade experience and an in depth community, guaranteeing the corporate identifies strategic alternatives that drive long-term development.
- Afripalm Assets Pty Restricted
Afripalm Assets, based by Zim as an funding automobile, has grown into a significant participant in South Africa’s mining sector. The corporate has pursuits in platinum, gold, and diamonds, with operations throughout sub-Saharan Africa. In 2007, Zim led Afripalm’s acquisition of a 19.3 % financial stake in Mvelaphanda Assets (Mvela), securing a 31 % voting stake and a key management function. He later succeeded Tokyo Sexwale as chairman, additional strengthening Mvela’s place as a black-controlled mining firm. The acquisition additionally coincided with the itemizing of Exxaro Assets—Africa’s largest black-owned mining group—on the Johannesburg Inventory Alternate, solidifying Afripalm’s affect within the trade.
- Mvelaphanda Assets Pty Restricted
Mvelaphanda Assets is a pan-African mining funding and exploration firm established below South Africa’s Black Financial Empowerment framework. By means of Mvela, Zim holds a 21 percent stake in Northam Platinum. The 2007 acquisition that gave Afripalm a 19.3 % financial curiosity in Mvela was a defining second, making the corporate 50.5 % black-controlled. As chairman of Northam, Zim performed an important function within the firm’s development, specializing in empowerment and strategic enlargement.
- Zim Group
Lazarus Zim and his spouse lead the Zim Group, which has investments in Mpilo and Atisa. The agency focuses on figuring out and growing high-potential alternatives throughout a number of industries. Underneath Zim’s management, identified for company transformation and strategic investments, the group has performed a key function in driving black financial participation. In 2015, Northam Platinum accomplished a significant BEE deal, with Zambezi Platinum buying 112.2 million shares, financed via 159.9 million BEE desire shares on the JSE. Atisa Consortium, led by Zim, secured 12.8 % of Zambezi, whereas the Public Funding Company’s Afripalm stake was transformed right into a 7 % Atisa fairness—for gratis. This transfer strengthened black possession within the mining sector.
By means of Mvelaphanda Assets, Zim holds a 21 percent stake in Northam Platinum, considered one of South Africa’s prime producers of platinum group metals. As non-executive chairman from 2007 to 2017, he oversaw key acquisitions that expanded Northam’s footprint. In 2007, his agency, Afripalm Assets, facilitated the acquisition of Booysendal, positioning Northam for long-term development. In 2015, he led the acquisition of the Everest mine, additional strengthening the corporate’s portfolio. That very same yr, he performed a central function in Northam’s R4.6 billion ($384 million) empowerment cope with Zambezi Platinum RF Ltd., securing its HDSA fairness standing and boosting its monetary place. These strategic strikes cemented Northam’s place as a number one, low-cost PGM producer with robust future prospects.
