Iron ore

Our business: an overview of Kumba Iron Ore

Kumba Iron Ore is a supplier of high-quality iron ore to the global steel industry and is focused on creating shared value with a range of stakeholders.

In South Africa, our iron ore operations are made up of a 69.7% shareholding in Kumba Iron Ore Limited, a leading supplier of seaborne iron ore.

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Our difference

At Kumba Iron Ore, we aim to create and leave a positive legacy wherever we go, especially for the communities in and around our operations. We also strive to operate safely and in a way that eliminates harm to people and to the environment. We are also focused on our Corporate Social Investment responsibilities and our responsibility to create shared value for all our stakeholders.

Mpumi Zikalala

Chief Executive Officer at Kumba Iron Ore Limited

Mpumi Zikalala

Chief Executive Officer at Kumba Iron Ore Limited

Mpumi was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Kumba Iron Ore Limited with effect from 1 January 2022 and joined the Kumba Board as an executive director. She assumed the role of Chairman of the operating entity, Sishen Iron Ore Company (Pty) Ltd. Mpumi was a De Beers Group bursar and officially joined De Beers in 2001 as a process engineer. As part of her production journey, she worked on process improvement and plant design projects, she also worked in various leadership roles within production management. She was appointed General Manager at De Beers Kimberley Mines in 2007, becoming the first female General Manager in the De Beers Group. In 2010, she was appointed General Manager of De Beers Voorspoed mine and three and a half years later became Senior Vice-President of De Beers Sightholder Sales South Africa.

Mpumi was promoted to Deputy CEO of De Beers Consolidated Mines in November 2017, rising to the position of Managing Director, De Beers Group Managed Operations, in April 2019. Managed Operations includes De Beers Group's operations in South Africa and Canada.

Mpumi holds a BSc in chemical engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand and completed leadership development at the London Business School.

Mpumi previously served as a non-executive director of various companies including the Black Management Forum and Mintek. She was a winner of the 2018 Top 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining awards issued in Mayfield, London. She was a winner of the 2018 Top 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining awards issued in Mayfield, London.

Uses of iron ore

Of all the metals that make modern life possible, steel is the most widely used – and iron ore is its main ingredient.

Iron ore is needed for train tracks and other types of infrastructure, which is one reason for the great demand from emerging economies such as China and Brazil.

But it’s also used in medicine, cosmetics, engineering, construction, paint and a whole range of products we need for modern life.

Our business: an overview of Kumba Iron Ore

Our difference

Where we mine iron ore in South Africa

Sishen

Leadership team

Uses of iron ore

Contacts