Steve Kearney

Stephen Victor Kearney was the first Chairman of Royal Bafokeng Resources, appointed to this position by the King of the Royal Bafokeng Nation, Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi, to establish the mining company, Royal Bafokeng Resources Holdings (Pty) Ltd.

During Steve Kearney's tenure as Chairman of Royal Bafokeng Resources (RBR), the Bafokeng Nation benefited from his fair and transparent negotiation style and his astute understanding of the Bafokeng's legal ownership of their land and mineral reserves. He played a significant role in ensuring that RBR was well placed to become one of South Africa's leading broad-based empowerment companies.

Through his work and achievements, Steve changed the condition of many people's lives and his legacy lives on in The Steve Kearney bursary which is awarded annually to Historically Disadvantaged South Africans who are presently reading for an undergraduate, honours or a masters degree.

Platinum Man

The book, Platinum Man, by Ciaran Ryan, was written in honour of Steve Kearney and his contribution to South African mining. 

"Steve Kearney is one of the most fascinating figures in recent South African mining history. An exceptionally gifted leader, he was the youngest ever general manager of a Gencor gold mine, and became chief executive of Impala Platinum before he turned 40. In three short years he turned Impala from a struggling producer into a glittering success, registering massive gains for shareholders in the process. Then, seemingly at the pinnacle of his career, Kearney fell victim to personal weaknesses, and died a few years later.

This gripping account traces Kearney's life from his early childhood in Canada's eerie Uranium City, through his days as a high school football star in Denver, Colorado; to his harsh apprenticeship at West Rand Consolidated, his meteoric career at Gencor, his fall from grace, his partial redemption, and his untimely death at age 45.

Ultimately, it celebrates Kearney's enduring contribution to the South African mining industry, as well as the Royal Bafokeng Nation of North West province."