The Brigadier Stokes memorial award is the highest achievement in the South African mining and metallurgical industry. The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy has the privilege to honour Nolitha Fakude with this award in recognition of her service and contribution to the industry.

Nolitha Fakude, the Chairman of Anglo American was presented the medal at the SAIMM Annual General Meeting on 18 August 2023. The medal is a symbol of her contribution to the mining fraternity. Nolitha is the current President of the Minerals Council of South Africa (MINCOSA), Non-Executive Director of the JSE Limited and Vice President of the International Woman’s Forum South Africa. She is also the Patron of Guild Cottage home for girls.

Previously, Nolitha served on the Board of Anglo-American plc from 2017 to 2019. She has worked in senior executive roles in various industries including Retail, Financial Services, Mining, and Oil and Gas. She served as an Executive Director and Executive Vice President of Strategy and Sustainability at Sasol Limited, and Chairman of Sasol Mining from 2010 until 2016. Nolitha was the President of the Black Management Forum (BMF) from 2003 to 2006 and its Managing Director between 2000 and 2003. She also served as a non-executive director of Harmony Gold 24 years ago. She now serves as a member of the Council of Elders and is a respected authority on transformation and empowerment in South Africa.

On accepting the 2023 Brigadier Stoke Memorial award, Nolitha quoted Maya Angelou saying ‘I come as one but I stand as ten thousand.’ As she accepted the award on behalf of all the unknowns in the mining and metallurgy industry.

Her accolades include: The 2004 Most Influential Businesswoman by Financial Mail, Impala Platinum Young Entrepreneur Award and the National Honor by the Golden Key Society of the University of Johannesburg. Nolitha has led from the front and has not been shy to tackle the tough issues that business has to deal with including policy reform to enable inclusive economic growth. Nolitha is an author of a book titled, “Boardroom Dancing – Transformation stories from a Corporate Activist”, published in 2019.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in Psychology from the University of Fort Hare and completed the Senior Executive Programme at Harvard Business School in the United States.