RAND REFINERY

One of the largest single-site precious metals refining and smelting complexes in the world

About Us

We are not miners, we transform and add value to metals and people’s lives.  We do this by adding value to the African economy by refining raw materials into valuable products by evaluating and recovering precious metals received.

Established by the Chamber of Mines of South Africa in 1920, Rand Refinery is one of the largest integrated single-site precious metals refining and smelting complex in the world.

Today, we continuously ensure that the change we facilitate to our raw materials return the greatest value for our suppliers and clients.

Integrated Annual Report: 2019
Integrated Annual Report: 2020
Integrated Annual Report: 2021

What We Offer

Our offering extends across the precious metals value chain and begins with world-class smelting, evaluation, refining and recovery of precious metals that have been responsibly sourced. From there, we fabricate a variety of products for investment and retail clients.

Recovery of low-grade precious metals and concentrates through the smelting processes for primary and secondary depositors through the expertise of sampling a wide variety of materials.

The Rand Refinery mark can be found on cast and minted bars and we can customise legal tender blank coins upon request.

Acting as an agent for our precious metals depositing customers, we also provide 24-hour turnaround assaying and state-of-the-art vault and logistics services.

Business Philosophy

Beneficiating Africa’s gold and creating value through strategic partnerships,
our business pillars are:
  1. Regulatory Framework and Governance Processes
  2. Self Sufficient and Sustainable
  3. Creation of Value
  4. Delivery through People

Accreditations and Certifications

Foundations of Trust

Our reputation for integrity and excellence as well as our longstanding history as one of the world’s leading refiners
has seen Rand Refinery receive global accreditation, international referee status and ISO certification.

Accreditations

London Bullion Market Association (LBMA)
1974 New York Commodities Exchange (COMEX)
Tokyo Commodities Exchange (TOCOM)
London Good Delivery silver bars to the London Metal Exchange (LME)
Shanghai Gold Exchange
2017 Global Precious Metal Code (LBMA)
2020 became members of the Singapore Bullion Market Association
1921
1974
1993
2006
2015
2017
2020

ISO Certifications

We ensure that we run an integrated safety, health, environment, radiation and quality management system – constantly striving to create value for our customers while reducing the impact on the environment and ensuring the well-being of our people.

Good Delivery Referee

Rand Refinery has been appointed as one of only five internationally recognised referees by the LBMA, to assist LBMA in maintaining the good delivery system and its standards.

As a referee, Rand Refinery is globally recognised as:

  • Setting the highest industry standards as a leading benchmark refinery, and the only one, in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Over 99 years of pure integrity and unquestionable ethics.
  • Being undisputedly trustworthy and inspiring confidence in the market.
  • Providing our long-standing customers with true peace of mind.
Our role as referee qualifies us to:
  • Expertly advise the LBMA Executive on technical matters.
  • Act as the Advisory Committee for Assaying and Refining Seminars
  • Evaluate on Good Delivery list application
  • Produce certified reference materials and reference components
  • Participation in proficiency testing and pro-active monitoring
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Unathi Sihlahla

BA Hons Industrial Psychology, BA Human Resource Management

General Manager: Human Resources

Unathi holds an Honours Degree in Industrial Psychology from UNISA and has also completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Nelson Mandela University. She is an experienced HR professional with extensive experience in using Strategic Human Resources to drive value creation. Unathi has worked across a variety of different industries with vast geographical coverage – mainly multinational companies where she has provided HR support to the local South African market and the African continent with some regional responsibilities in EMEA. Her career started in the Uitenhage plant of Volkswagen Group South Africa, she has worked for and occupied generalist and niche HR positions in companies such as Sasol Limited, the JSE, ABB South Africa, BASF and Roche Diagnostics.

Unathi was appointed to the position of General Manager: Human Resources of Rand Refinery with effect from 1 March 2021.

Terance Nkosi

BEng (Chemical), BEng Honours (Environment), IMDP, PGDip (Human Sciences), MBA, MPHIL
Executive Head: SHEQ and Technical Assurance

Terance started his career at Samancor as a graduate metallurgist in January 2000. He later joined Rand Refinery as a plant metallurgist in August 2001, where he held various positions with the department. He was appointed as the Head: Smelter in May 2008 which is the position that he held until January 2016 when he was appointed as the Executive Head: SHEQ and Evaluation. In November 2024, his job was changed to Chief Technical and Sustainability Officer, with the goal of enhancing the technical and sustainability among compliance matters and government relations. In 2012, Terance was nominated as the rising star in the minerals and mining category and received the recognition of “pay it forward” as a leader in 2022 and 2024 that uplift community. Since the commencement of his career, he has been involved in the successful completion of several capital projects.

Peter Bouwer

General Manager: Refinery and Fabrication

Peter’s career initially commenced in 1992 as junior engineer with Sasol Secunda in the engineering department, with later roles in the business process information and strategy departments.  From 2004 he held positions in strategy develop at Sasol Technology, Sasol Head Office and Sasol Petroleum International before joining Rand Refinery in 2010.  In his various roles, Peter has worked in the fields of electrical and instrumentation engineering, process control systems, business information systems, business intelligence, corporate strategy development, operations management and manufacturing. His business experience spans the coal mining, energy and petro-chemical industries, upstream oil and gas industries as well as the precious metals refining industry.

Peter was appointed to the position of Chief Strategy Officer of Rand Refinery with effect from March 2010.  From 1 December 2014 he fulfilled the role of Chief Operating Officer of Rand Refinery with the appointment into his current role as General Manager: Refinery and Fabrication from 1 November 2016. Peter also served as director on the board of the Ekurhuleni Jewellery Project (EJP) NGO.

Peter has a passion to find the synergy in teams that will unlock desired performance and meaningful work experiences for every team member.

Collin Naicker

HND Mechanical Engineering, BCom, MBA, Government Certificate of Competency (Factories)

General Manager: Smelter and Engineering Services

Collin is a certified Mechanical Engineer with 28 years’ experience in the manufacturing, minerals beneficiation and the metals industries. He also completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (BCom) with specialisation in Management, Transport Economics and Logistics from the University of South Africa in 2006 and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business’s in 2009. Collin also holds a government certificate of competency (GCC) for the factories environment.

Collin’s career initially commenced with Bell Equipment (Pty) Ltd, then BHP Billiton’s Aluminium South Africa and later Delta EMD Limited, where he held various technical and senior management positions in Engineering, Capital Projects, Business Improvement, Maintenance, Reliability, Production and Operations Management. Collin also held the senior executive role of Operations Director for JSE listed Delta EMD Limited and served on the Board of Directors.

In May 2016, Collin resigned as Operations Director of Delta EMD Limited to join Rand Refinery on 1 June 2016, as Head: Asset Care and Capital Projects. Since 1 November 2016, Collin has taken on the executive role of General Manager: Smelter and Engineering Services.

Herman Perry CA (SA)

Alternate Non-executive Director

Mr Perry was appointed executive: Treasury at Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited in September 2018. A chartered accountant with over 20 years’ experience in the finance and treasury functions of various gold mining companies, he also serves as director of certain Harmony Group companies. Mr Perry was appointed as an alternate non-executive director to Mr Mashego in July 2016.

Alexandra Strobl (46) CA (SA)

Non-executive Director – Alternates

Alex has in-depth mining operational African experience gained during her 16 years employment at AngloGold Ashanti focussed on the Continental African operations. She has previously been employed both at mine sites and at regional level in a senior financial management capacity and also led the Continental African regional supply chain function for 3 years. In 2019, Alex was appointed vice-president: group financial reporting.

Alex qualified as a charted accountant in 2009 after completing her articles at KPMG. Alex is an alternate director to Ian Kramer.

Vitesh Maharaj BSc

Non-executive Director

Mr Maharaj is currently senior vice-president of technical at AngloGold Ashanti and has both multi-product (diamonds, gold and platinum) and multinational exposure with a deep understanding of all facets of the mining business. Mr Maharaj joined Rand Refinery in May 2021 as a non-executive director and is a member of the SEC.

Mpho Mashatola BAccSci, CA (SA)

Non-executive Director

Financial and Business Development Manager at DRDGOLD. Ms Mashatola joined Rand Refinery in February 2019 as an alternate non-executive director, and following Mr Burrell’s retirement, was appointed as a non-executive director on 1 April 2024, and as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee on 20 August 2024.


Mark Burrell

BCom (Acct), MDP (Mining Management)

Non-executive Director

Mark joined DRDGOLD in 2004 to assist with the evaluation of their ERPM operation and thereafter transferred to Blyvooruitzicht Gold Mining Company as Financial Manager. In 2012, Mark was appointed as Financial Director of DRDGOLD’s Ergo Mining. He is a director of East Rand Proprietary Mines, Crown Consolidated Gold Recoveries, Ergo Business Development Academy and Ergo Mining.

Mark was appointed as an alternate director to Themba Gwebu on 24 May 2012 and currently serves as an alternate director to Charles Symons.

Mark joined the Board of Rand Refinery on 24 May 2012.

Ian Kramer (50) CA (SA)

Non-Executive Directors

Ian qualified as a charted accountant in 1993. He spent 20 years at KPMG, 11 years as an external audit partner as part of KPMG’s mining group. During this time he was seconded to Canada and subsequently appointed the KPMG head of mining for Africa. Ian joined AngloGold Ashanti in 2012 as vice- president: finance. He was promoted to senior vice- president: group finance in 2019 and interim chief financial officer from September 2020. Ian has considerable experience in IFRS as well as US GAAP.

Harry Ephraim "Mashego" Mashego

BA (Education), BA (Hons), (Human Resources Management) Joint Management Development Programme, Global Executive Development Programme, United Nations Global Leadership Award Recipient (March 2023)

Non-Executive Director

Mr Mashego was appointed an executive director of Harmony in February 2010 and is also a director of numerous Harmony Gold subsidiaries. He was appointed a non- executive director of Rand Refinery in August 2017 and is the Chairman of the SEC.

Pieter Henning BCom, BCompt (Hons), CA (SA)

Non-Executive Directors

Pieter is the divisional Chief Financial Officer of Sibanye Gold Limited’s (‘Sibanye’) gold and uranium business and is a qualified Chartered Accountant (South Africa). He started his career at KPMG Inc. after which he joined Western Areas Limited in 2005 as Financial Manager. He was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Western Areas Limited in January 2007 and, with Gold Fields Limited (‘Gold Fields’) acquiring Western Areas Limited later that year, he joined the Gold Fields financial reporting team. From 2009 to 2013, Pieter was part of the Gold Fields corporate finance division responsible for various capital raisings in the international and local debt markets. With the unbundling of Sibanye in 2013, Pieter was appointed as Vice President: Corporate Finance responsible for finance and the external financial reporting functions of Sibanye.

Pieter was appointed on 21 October 2005 as a non-executive director of Rand Refinery. He serves as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee and the Remuneration and Nominations Committee.

Fatima Daniels BSc, CA (SA)

Independent Non-Executive Director After several years in the auditing profession, Ms Daniels lectured in financial accounting before spending over a decade in various corporate positions. Ms Daniels was appointed as independent non-executive director in June 2012 and serves as the Chairman of the ARC.

Rams Ramashia BIuris, LLB, LLM

Independent Chairman

Rams has held senior positions in various international and domestic Non-Governmental organisations which he used as a platform for anti-apartheid activism prior to 1994, culminating in his election as founding President of the South African National NGO Coalition (SANGOCO). Following the democratisation of the South African society, he was appointed Deputy Director-General of the National Department of Labour and later elevated to the position of Director-General (DG) of the Labour Department.

As DG of Labour, he was Government Chief Negotiator and overall Convenor of the government caucus at the National Economic and Labour Council (NEDLAC). He also represented the South African Government at the International Labour Organisation (ILO). As Labour DG, he also presided over the process of amending the Labour Relations Act (LRA) and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), respectively.

Prior to joining government Rams also served on the then Deputy President Mbeki’s Advisory Committee on the National Development Agency (NDA) as Head of its legal task team.

In 2004, Rams was appointed Regional President of BP Africa and Executive Chairman of the Board of BP Southern Africa. In 2011, he became non-executive chairman of BP Southern Africa.

Rams is a practicing advocate of the High Court and member of the Pretoria Society of Advocates.

He is a non-executive director of AECI where he serves on its Risk, Social and Ethics, Remuneration and Nomination Committees, respectively. He is also a non-executive director of Anglo American South Africa, where he chairs its Social and Ethics Committee and also serves on its Risk and Audit Committee. Rams is also a non-executive director of the Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC).

Rams also serves as a member of the NDA Ethics Board chaired by former Constitutional Court Judge Yvonne Mokgoro and is a member of the Human Resource Development Council.

Rams was appointed as the Independent Chairman of the Board of Rand Refinery in October 2010 where he also serves as Chairman of its Remuneration and Nominations Committee.

Dean Subramanian

BCom, Hons Acc, CA (SA)

Chief Financial Officer

Mr Subramanian is a chartered accountant with extensive CFO and finance- executive experience and was appointed as CFO of Rand Refinery in August 2018.

Mr Subramanian held various positions in the banking, construction, aviation and property industries, in companies listed on the JSE. He has extensive experience in Africa and served his articles at Ernst & Young in Johannesburg, from where he was seconded to New York.

Praveen Baijnath

ChemEng, MSAIChe, MBA, PMD

Chief Executive Director

Mr Baijnath was appointed as the CEO of Rand Refinery in June 2015. His other directorships include PB, a joint venture between Rand Refinery and the SA Mint, the Ekurhuleni Jewelry Project and was appointed on the LBMA Board effective 6 July 2022.

Mr Baijnath is a chemical engineer with 31 years’ experience in minerals beneficiation and the chemicals process industry and is a member of the SA Institute of Chemical Engineers and the SA Institute of Directors. Mr Baijnath serves as a member of the SEC.

Responsible gold and silver policy statement

Rand Refinery is opposed to activities which, directly or indirectly, finance or benefit armed conflict and the extreme levels of violence which contribute to abuses of human rights. Rand Refinery is also committed to sourcing mined gold from operations which conform to internationally-accepted environmental practices.

Consequently, Rand Refinery commits to refraining from knowingly sourcing gold and silver bearing material from regions and operations which contribute to the financing of conflict or the degradation of the environment and further commits itself to comply with the relevant United Nations sanctions, recommendations and protocols from other appropriate supra-national bodies, in this regard.

In the event that gold and silver bearing material is sourced from conflict-affected and high risk areas, Rand Refinery will neither tolerate nor by any means profit from, contribute to, assist with or facilitate the commission by any party of any forms of inhuman treatment, any form of forced labour, use of child labour, gross human rights violations, war crimes or other crimes against humanity.

Rand Refinery will not tolerate any direct or indirect support to non-state armed groups through the extraction, transport, trade, logistical assistance, handling or export of gold and silver bearing material by such groups or their affiliates. Rand Refinery will apply a robust Know Your Customer (KYC) policy in order to identify upstream suppliers where dealings with such suppliers would be in contravention of this policy, would represent money laundering or other related criminal activity. Rand Refinery will not engage with suppliers identified in this way and will not accept refining or smelting deposits from such suppliers.