Our History In Brief

Kalagadi Manganese (Pty) Ltd traces its origins to Kalahari Resources (Pty) Ltd, co-founded in 2001 by a group of black South African women entrepreneurs led by Mrs Daphne Mashile-Nkosi, together with her late husband, Mr Stanley Nqobizizwe Nkosi who both played an integral role as a founding members in the early inception and establishment of the business. From the outset, the company has remained focused on building sustainable investments across the mining and related sectors.

In 2005, Kalahari Resources was granted a new-order mining right to prospect for manganese in the Kalahari Basin in the Northern Cape. The right covers approximately 6,300 hectares across three farms located near Hotazel in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality.

The company's vision has consistently been to develop a fully integrated mining operation encompassing extraction, processing, and beneficiation. This includes sintering and, ultimately, the production of ferromanganese and silicomanganese. Central to this vision is the commitment to majority black women ownership, the development of black technical professionals, and meaningful socio-economic development of surrounding communities.

In 2007, the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa acquired a 20% shareholding, leading to the establishment of Kalagadi Manganese (Pty) Ltd. ArcelorMittal later acquired a 50% interest, which has since been divested.

Today, Kalagadi Manganese remains majority owned by black women through Kalahari Resources and Kgalagadi Alloys. The company operates a modern underground mine and the world's largest sinter plant. Production commenced in 2017, with ongoing ramp-up towards full nameplate capacity.