Patrice Motsepe steers Rainbow Minerals’ Ferrous into new era

Billionaire mining entrepreneur Patrice Motsepe has approved a new leadership direction for African Rainbow Minerals’ ferrous division, appointing seasoned mining executive Maryke Burger as chief executive in a move that underscores his drive to reposition the company for resilience and growth.

The appointment, which takes effect from February 1, 2026, comes as African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) continues to implement the outcomes of a major restructuring carried out last year to lower operating costs and sharpen efficiency across its businesses.

Motsepe, a renowned Business mogul who founded ARM and serves as its executive chairman, has been at the forefront of the strategic shift, guiding the group through a period marked by weak commodity prices, rising input costs, and increasing operational pressure in the global mining sector.

Under the changes, Andre Joubert will step down from his role as chief executive of the ferrous division after 13 years of leadership. During his tenure, Joubert oversaw key phases of expansion and consolidation in ARM’s iron ore, manganese, and chrome operations, helping to establish the division as a core pillar of the group’s diversified portfolio.

Motsepe’s decision to elevate Burger reflects a focus on deep operational expertise and continuity within ARM’s ecosystem.

Burger Spent More Than a Decade at Assmang 

Burger has spent more than a decade at Assmang, the joint venture between ARM’s ferrous unit and Assore, which operates iron ore, chrome, and manganese mines in South Africa’s Northern Cape province. She most recently served as a consulting mining engineer and previously held executive responsibilities within the smelter’s ferrous division.

Her career also includes a stint as senior general manager at Assmang Iron Ore’s Beeshoek Mine, where she led large, multidisciplinary teams and drove transformational initiatives aimed at improving safety, productivity, and operational stability.

With formal training from Regenesys Business School, Burger combines technical depth with strategic management capability qualities that align with Motsepe’s broader vision of building a leaner, more agile mining group.

By placing Burger at the helm of the ferrous division, Motsepe is signaling confidence in homegrown leadership to navigate a challenging market environment while positioning ARM to capitalise on any eventual recovery in metal prices.

The leadership change is expected to provide continuity, strengthen operational discipline, and reinforce Motsepe’s long-standing ambition to keep African Rainbow Minerals competitive across the iron ore, manganese, and chrome value chain.