FOUNDER AND MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR
Thelma Mathamelo is an MBA graduate and a mining entrepreneur with extensive mining experience. Her current and past projects include being part of Minrico, a Randgold & Exploration subsidiary company with interest in Diamond and Gold mining, and Director in Ongoza/Diamcor Joint Venture, a Kimberlite Exploration project in the Northern Cape. She is also a Director and shareholder of The Diamond Bourse of Africa, the first Black Empowered diamond bourse in South Africa.
Thelma received the Cosmopolitan Magazine Mover of the Year award for 2004/2005. She was a finalist in the coveted Nedbank Business Woman of the Year award in 2006. In October 2007, she was awarded the Business Woman of the Year Award 2007 by the SA Council for Businesswomen (SACBW), an affiliate of The Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (AHI). This led to her being appointed the Vice President of the South African Council for Business Women in 2007 and finally becoming National President in 2008-2010, making her the first ever Black President in the Organization’s history in 23 years .
Thelma served on the first ever Special Advisory Committee to the Minister of Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities on matters affecting women in 2009 until recently.
She currently serves on a Panel of Judges appointed by the Deputy Minister of Small Business, on the Techno-Girl Entrepreneurship programme, with its primary focus being the empowerment of Matric girls through entrepreneurship.
With her strong background in the education fraternity, her previous involvement include:
- Member of the Standards Board at Pretoria Technikon (now TUT)
- Member of the Board of Examiners at the University of North West (Business School), and
- Executive Board member of the South African Institute of Management Services (SAIMAS),
She is currently –
- Chairman of Marothodi Resources
- Chairman of REDISA (Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of SA)
- Director of Batho-Pele Resources
- Chairman of Pholo Holdings (focussing on Commercial property development)
- Director of the Diamond Bourse of Africa, and
- Director of Bonang Training and Development which she founded in 2003.
At the beginning of 2007, her interest in the property market prompted her to diversify her portfolio into the commercial property market through Pholo Holdings in which she is the major shareholder.
In July 2005, she was invited by the Common Wealth to speak at the historic G8 Summit in Gleneagles, United Kingdom, about African Women in the Mining Sector. In October 2005 she was invited to speak at the United Nations celebration of the World Youth Week where she spoke about Youth and Young People’s Involvement in Business Globally.
The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles made his first official visit in the Unites States in more than ten years and he, together with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Anan, hosted a Historic Round Table Business meeting in New York on 1 November 2005, focusing on Africa. Thelma was invited to speak on Youth-driven Enterprises and how governments could help youth-driven businesses to succeed. Her involvement with the Common Wealth and the United Nations has led to her being appointed Advisor to the United Nations on matters affecting Women and Youth Driven Businesses in October 2005.
She dedicates her time empowering rural and disadvantaged communities, particularly women, through training on small scale mining as a business, and general business management skills.
Being passionate about children and their well-being, she is a patron of the following orphanages and charitable organization:
- Being a philanthropist at heart, in December 2008, she established the Thelma Mathamelo Foundation which she is fully funding from her own proceeds, and is currently serving as the Chairperson of the Foundation. The Primary focus is on Education, Girl-Children and Women Empowerment, with the secondary focus being on HIV/AIDS orphans, child-headed households and people with disabilities.
- Charlene’s Place of Safety for the past 2 years. On 19 August 2006, she established The Thembinkosi Assistance Fund for the reconstructive surgery of a one-year old boy who was born with a severe deformity. (Fund R100 000.00)
- In partnership with the SAPS Dog Unit, Zodwa Care and Training School for the Disabled. (Donated Computers and Mobile Library)
- Computer Literacy Training for Educators: Basic teacher computer literacy training for Teachers/Educators – Isaac Makau Primary in Wattville. (All costs, traveling, accommodation and expense fully catered for by Bonang Training and Development)
- Generous thanks-giving and constructive contribution in so many unquantifiable ways.
- Lay Minister in the Anglican Church.
- Married to a Loving Husband, Advocate Simon Jiyane.
Formal Qualifications:
- Currently studying towards a Bachelors Degree in Theology 2012 – Current
- Completed Master of Business Administration – MBA (De Montfort University, UK) – 2001
- Completed B Comm (Unisa) 1997
- Completed BA Pol. Science (Unisa) – 1995
- National Certificate Management Service (Technikon Pretoria)1996
- National Certificate Nursing (Willem Cruywagen Hospital) 1993
- Matric (Borakanelo Secondary School) 1989
Recent Comments