Mzi Khumalo Biography

(Entrepreneur)

Birthday: November 4, 1955 (Scorpio)

Born In: Durban, South Africa

Advanced Search

Mzi Khumalo is a South African businessman, investor and mining entrepreneur. Born in Durban, in 1955, Khumalo joined political party, African National Congress (ANC), and its military wing, Umkhonto Wesizwe. In 1978, he was arrested and charged with treason and sentenced to 20 years in island-prison Robben Island. In 1990, after serving 12 years, he was released together with all other ANC leaders and other political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela. Following his release from prison, Mzi Khumalo subsequently became the Provincial Treasurer of the ANC in KwaZululu-Natal and a member of the National Finance Committee of the ANC. In 1994, Khumalo went into business, going on to serve on the boards of a number of publicly listed and state-owned companies, including telecommunications company Telkom SA, mining company Anglo-American SA, financial services business South African Government Financial Services Advisory Board, and Ridge Mining Plc. He was also the Chairman of Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Ltd (JCI), Mintech, and Durban Point Waterfront Company, which was instrumental in the redevelopment of the harbour-side town located at the entrance to the Port of Durban. He went on to found financial services company Capital Alliance Holdings, which was subsequently sold with $8 billion worth of assets under management. In 2002, Mzi Khumalo founded Metallon Corporation, a company based in London, United Kingdom, involved in mining operations in Zimbabwe and Tanzania, as well as telecommunication infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he remains Chairman. Khumalo is also Chairman of Gold and General, a Jersey-based company which is a family holding business, which owns the majority shares in Metallon Corporation as well as other family investments. Mzi Khumalo is a Trustee of the World Wildlife Fund of Southern Africa and his family owns and manages a private game reserve focused on conservation and preservation of endangered wildlife and plants. Khumalo holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of South Africa.

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Mzilikazi G. Khumalo

Age: 69 Years, 69 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Khosi Khumalo

South African Men Scorpio Entrepreneurs

City: Durban, South Africa

Recommended For You

Recommended Lists:

South African Business People

Childhood & Early Life

Born in 1955 in Durban, South Africa, Mzi Khumalo is the son of Sellina and Bernard Khumalo. He is one of the ten children of his parents. Khumalo lost his father before the age of nine.

As a young boy, Khumalo made money buying and selling old oil cans and, later, made an income from buying and selling fuel.

In the 1970s, Khumalo joined the African National Congress (ANC) and its military wing, Umkhonto Wesizwe.

In 1978, he was arrested and charged with treason and sentenced to 20 years at island-prison Robben Island. He was the 27th prisoner to enter Robben Island in 1979, and was given prisoner number 2779.

He has said that, when he arrived on Robben Island, he "found fellow comrades who had been incarcerated for a long time. Among them were Walter Sisulu‚ Govan Mbeki‚ Ahmed Kathrada and many others who were all part of the struggle and were jailed for standing up for freedom."

After his release from prison, Khumalo served as Provincial Treasurer of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal as well as a member of National Finance Committee.

Recognising the power business could play in empowering black people, he decided to enter business, in 1993. He attained a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of South Africa.

Continue Reading Below

Career

Since 1994, Mzi Khumalo has served on the boards of a number of publicly listed and state-owned companies, including telecommunications company Telkom SA, mining company Anglo-American SA, financial services business South African Government Financial Services Advisory Board, and Ridge Mining Plc.

Khumalo also served on the board of Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Ltd (JCI), Mintech, and Durban Point Waterfront Company, which was instrumental in the redevelopment of the harbour-side town located at the entrance to the Port of Durban.

After becoming interested in finance, Khumalo founded Capital Alliance Holdings, a financial-insurance business. It was subsequently sold with $8 billion worth of assets under management.

In 2002, Mzi Khumalo founded Metallon Corporation, a leading gold producer, developer and explorer in southern Africa. Metallon is focused on low cost, high grade mining operations and increasing gold production over the next few years.

Based in London, Metallon Corporation is the 100-percent owner of four gold mining companies in Zimbabwe. It is one of the largest employers in Zimbabwe and currently employs approximately 3,000 people.

Khumalo is also Chairman of Gold and General, a Jersey-based company, which owns the majority shares in Metallon Corporation. Gold and General also holds the Khumalo family's other pan-industry investments.

Mzi Khumalo is also Non-Executive Chairman of TITC DRC, which is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Central Africa to build a modern high-speed, fibre Internet network.

Family & Personal Life

Mzi Khumalo is married to Khosi and, together, they have a number of children.

Mzi and his wife are founders of the Mzi and Khosi Family Foundation, which provided a significant gift to Kearsney College.

Passionate about wildlife, conservation and the outdoors, he is a Trustee of the World Wildlife Fund of Southern Africa.

His family owns and manages a private game reserve focused on conservation and preservation of endangered wildlife and plants.