Johannesburg, South Africa, October 2025 – Sasol today announced the appointment of Thabile Makgala as its new Executive Vice President: People, Safety, Health and Environment (SHE), Risk and Corporate Affairs, effective immediately. The announcement was made by Simon Baloyi, President & CEO of Sasol, who welcomed Makgala to the company and highlighted her vast global expertise and inspirational leadership in the mining sector.
Makgala brings with her more than two decades of international experience spanning gold, coal, diamond, iron ore, mineral sands, and platinum sectors. She most recently served at Rio Tinto as Vice President for Health, Safety, Environment, Security, Communities and Risk for its global minerals product group operations. During her tenure, she played a key role in overseeing high-grade iron ore, titanium dioxide, borate, and diamond mining assets across South Africa, Madagascar, Canada, and the United States.
“We’re pleased to welcome Thabile Makgala as our new Executive Vice President: People, SHE, Risk and Corporate Affairs. With her global leadership experience and deep commitment to transformation, she will help shape our people strategy, strengthen our culture, and support Sasol’s growth trajectory towards becoming a future-ready, inclusive organization.” – Simon Baloyi, President & CEO, Sasol
Prior to joining Rio Tinto, she was a Mining Executive at Implats, leading operations at Marula and Two Rivers Platinum Mines. Under her leadership, the operations achieved record safety and production performance, while also strengthening community and stakeholder engagement. Earlier, she built her leadership credentials at Gold Fields in both strategy and technical services, and at AngloGold Ashanti, where she advanced strategy and business planning initiatives. Her career began at AngloAmerican and Gold Fields, where she developed a deep technical foundation in mining engineering and production.
Beyond corporate roles, Makgala has made a significant impact as a champion for diversity and equity in mining. She served as Chairperson of Women in Mining South Africa, where she advocated for gender equity and advancement opportunities for women in the industry. Her contributions earned her recognition among the WIM UK Top 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining in 2018. She also held board positions with B2Gold Corp., St Andrew’s School for Girls, and Bauba Resources (Pty) Ltd, reflecting her influence across both industry and education.
Academically, Makgala is highly accomplished. She holds a BSc in Mining Engineering from the University of Witwatersrand, an MBA in Business Strategy from the University of Stellenbosch Business School, and she completed the Senior Executive Program – Africa at Harvard Business School.
About Sasol
Sasol is a global chemicals and energy company that integrates advanced technologies and processes into world-scale operating facilities. Operating in 22 countries, the company produces and markets a wide range of high-quality products with a focus on sustainable sourcing, production, and growth. Sasol’s revised strategy emphasizes value realization for stakeholders, sustainable growth, improved business resilience, and enhanced cash generation. Its Chemicals Business focuses on specialty chemicals with strong market positions, while its Energy Business pursues innovative energy and mobility solutions, with a commitment to greenhouse gas emission reduction through gas and renewable investments.
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