|
In-Depth
On the Rise
Coming up through the ranks, Zikalala has reached executive status at De Beers.
By Ettagale Blauer
 |
Mpumi Nompumelelo Zikalala
Senior Vice President De Beers Sightholder Sales, Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa |
Mpumi Nompumelelo Zikalala’s entire career has been under the guidance and tutelage of De Beers. South African born, her early schooling was taught in the Zulu language.
When representatives from De Beers came to her high school in a small town in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, it was the first time she heard about careers in engineering.“I did not know what engineering was,”said Zikalala, who is now senior vice president De Beers Sightholder Sales South Africa. “People usually want to be a nurse or a doctor. I knew nothing about the mining industry.What attracted me to engineering was that I was good in math and science. What I really remember, though, is that mining was the most difficult.”
For Zikalala and her family, mining meant the yearly exodus of gold miners to Johannesburg, called “eGoli” in the Zulu language, meaning the city of gold. “My father, who was a teacher and school principal, did not want that for me, so I chose chemical engineering.”
De Beers paid for her studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in the heart of Johannesburg, where she earned a bachelor of science in chemical engineering.
Zikalala’s first assignment was the Cullinan mine, where she learned all the aspects of diamond mining, including recovery and sorting. “There was a team of people — engineers and foremen and sorters. That was the first time I got to understand the 4Cs of diamonds. I moved into a position as technical assistant and then moved to the Kimberley mine, where I was production manager.” In 2007, Zikalala was named general manager of the Kimberley mines. “I covered everything: productivity and health, costs, the bottom line, importantly working with mining town communities, and regulatory licensing matters.” The job came at a crucial time. “The team had to sustain operations during a financial downturn.”
As general manager of the Voorspoed mine (see Rapaport Magazine, September 2014), Zikalala worked in a unique atmosphere where there was a high percentage of women working at all types of technical jobs. “They operated trucks, there were female engineers, geologists; it is a modern mine.”
Throughout her career at De Beers, Zikalala was usually the youngest person in her job, and often the first female. At Kimberley, she says, David Noko — then general manager of Kimberley — told her, “‘You have the opportunity, it’s yours. To make sure you succeed, ask people questions. Don’t pretend you are the smartest person.’ He had a significant impact on my career.”
In 2013, Zikalala was asked if she would move to the post mining business, known as De Beers Sightholder Sales. She had to learn an entirely new language relating to rough diamond qualities and value.“I really enjoy it,” she concludes, “engaging with people and interfacing with South African sightholders.”Article from the Rapaport Magazine - October 2016. To subscribe click here.
|
|