THE NELSON MANDELA YEARS: BHP BILLITON SA LIMITED
“Dr Mandela, in the early 1990’s you generated in our fractured country a sociological, political and economic miracle.”
Dr Vincent Maphai Chairman BHP Billiton SA Limited 6 Hollard Street Marshalltown Johannesburg 2001 Dear Madiba
Our hallmark of wisdom In this the year of your 90th birthday, all of us at BHP Billiton share, along with family, friends and your admirers throughout the world, a celebration of your life and an appreciation for the wisdom that is the hallmark of who you are.
Vincent Maphai Chairman
From the moment you walked out of Pollsmoor Prison in 1990, South Africa and the world have quite simply never been the same. You demonstrated popularity without populism, humility without weakness and authority without authoritarianism. You have shown humanity that it is possible to become a great man – in your case, an icon of our era - and yet still stay close to your roots; treating all men, women and children as equals and never setting yourself before any other person. For someone like myself, who was fortunate enough to rise from a childhood background of poverty, went on to earn R57 a month in my first job and now guides an organisation of 16 000 people, your example of consistent humility is one to hold close and pass on to my own daughter and three sons. Dr Mandela, in the early 1990’s you generated in our fractured country a sociological, political and economic miracle. It is my sincerest hope that with patience, care and focus, we as a nation will repeat that miracle many times over. I can think of no better way for the nation to honour your many years of sacrifice before 1990, and your years of dedication since. In the midst of pessimism, cynicism and scepticism, you spared this land a seemingly inevitable conflagration and set for the world a new and exacting standard of conflict resolution. We commend you for that and continue to celebrate the fact that every minute of your life is a blessing to South Africa and to all. Happy Birthday, Madiba.
CONTACT DETAILS Physical address: 6 Hollard Street, Marshalltown, Johannesburg 2001 Telephone: (+27 11) 376 3361 Fax: (+27 11) 688 4362 Website: www.bhpbilliton.com
Dr Vincent Maphai Chairman
BHP BILLITON SA LIMITED TIMELINE
1860
1885
1977
2001
2002
2003
2004
NY Billiton Maatschappij established in The Hague, Netherlands
BHP incorporated in Victoria, Australia
First joint venture discussions between Billiton and BHP
BHP Billiton merger (formed out of BHP Limited and Billiton plc) - first combined profit of a record US$2 189-million announced
Natural gas discovered, deepwater Gulf of Mexico; BHP Billiton endorses South Africa’s mining charter
BHP Billiton moves to new global headquarters
Dr Vincent Maphai appointed to the position of Chairman of BHP Billiton South Africa Limited