JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The need for South Africa to attract investment as a globally competitive investment destination was highlighted on Friday by Dr Patrice Motsepe, the executive chairperson of African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed diversified mining company that declared a final dividend of 600c a share for the year ended June 30 on top of its interim dividend of 450c a share.

“This country has got some really exceptional people in business, but also in politics, and we have to support and work together and encourage those who really are committed to building this country,” Motsepe emphasised at the close of the presentation of 2025 financial results, which spotlighted ARM’s solid R6.6-billion net cash position, which excludes attributable cash and cash equivalents held at debt-free ARM Ferrous (50% of Assmang) of R3 568-million. ARM corporate reported headline earnings of R558-million. Revenue for the financial year ended June 30 was a 1% higher R13 027-million.

“We're in an industry that goes through ups and downs, and I'm very clear on my expectations. I always want us to be the best at all times, because we are judged by our results,” were among Motsepe’s opening remarks. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video,)

At the close, regarding  South Africa as a whole and this country's prospects, he concluded with these words: “I'm confident that despite all the problems, this country's got acceptable people, and we will succeed.”

Earlier, he had made the point that the proven global way to create jobs and to improve the living conditions of people the world over "is to make sure that the private sector finds your country a good place, a competitive place, and an attractive place for investment".

“We’re committed to paying dividends while pursuing quality growth and maintaining a robust financial position,” he said, while displaying a slide of ARM’s own receipt of R4.5-billion in dividends from manganese and iron-ore mining company Assmang, R462-million from ARM Coal and a 45% higher R240-million from Harmony Gold Mining Company.

“This presentation of results has been about the commitment that we have always had to make sure that African Rainbow Minerals is world class and globally competitive and we've always recognised the important for African Rainbow Minerals and the South African mining industry to operate within a country where there's very good partnerships that are built with the communities that are near our mines and with all stakeholders and essentially with the workers.

“And the perception of South Africa as a globally competitive investment destination is critically important. We need investors in South Africa to invest in the mining industry, but we also need to persuade, to convince investors outside South Africa to see the mining industry and the mining companies, not just African Rainbow Minerals, but others as well, as competitive investment companies,” Motsepe pointed out.

“Why I’m mentioning this is because I have always recognised my role and the duty I have. I presided over the coming together of black and white business, and part of that is the enormous obligation I have to make sure that South Africa, as a country, is a good place for investment.

“At the heart of that is creating jobs, at the heart of that is creating a future, ensuring that there's security, and, more importantly, zero tolerance for crime.

"Now, it's easy for people like me to stand by the sideline and say, those are problems of the government and those who are in power, and please don't burden me with those responsibilities. But I've never doubted that I have an enormous obligation to the people of this country and to South Africa.

“It makes me proud when I meet with some of the top businesspeople of the world. I was in New York a few weeks ago to meet the CEOs of the largest companies in the world, and they engage with their governments to build an environment that is good for business.

“But, also, the proven way to create jobs and to improve the living conditions of people worldwide is to make sure that the private sector finds your country a good place, a competitive place and an attractive place for investment.

“Now, why do I, towards closure of this presentation, say some of these things. It's simply because 20 years ago, they asked me, are you ever going to get involved in politics? And I said, politics are for many people. Of course, I can't say that loud, and I forgot when I said that, but it is correct that I said that, because a whole lot of issues were raised.

“I remember many years ago, when I was president of Business Unity South Africa, part of the issue was to unite business, to unite all South Africans. A few years ago, the editors of the major newspapers asked me the same thing, are you at some stage going to get involved in politics?

“And my answer was always that in order for me to make my contribution to the people of this country, I don't have to get into politics. This country has got some really exceptional people in business, but also in politics, and we have to support and work together and encourage those who really are committed to building this country.

“I’m so proud of some of the top businessmen and some leaders, some religious leaders I have the privilege to work with, traditional leaders, the kings who recognise that everybody has to do what they do in their respective responsibilities, but also to try and unite our people, to try and work together, to try and make this country a better place.

“I will continue to engage and to work together and make my humble contributions to all of the people of South Africa. We need to unite all South Africans from all political parties, within the ANC as well,” Motsepe emphasised at the close of the presentation of results covered by Mining Weekly.

COPPER IN CANADA

ARM has entered into a subscription agreement to acquire 25.8-million common shares of Surge Copper Corp of Canada through a non-brokered private placement for a total consideration of C$4.5-million. This follows ARM’s earlier exercise of its rights under an investor rights agreement, where it purchased 1.6 million shares for C$0.24-million in a top-up offering.

Prior to these transactions, ARM held 43.0-million shares (13.4% of Surge’s issued shares), and upon completion of the private placement, its shareholding will increase to 68.7-million shares, representing 19.9% of the company on a non-diluted basis. Surge Copper has made strong progress on the prefeasibility study, which remains on track for completion in 2026.

ARM mines and beneficiates iron-ore, manganese ore, chrome ore, platinum group metals and coal. It also produces manganese alloys and has a strategic investment in gold through Harmony Gold, which also has copper assets in Papua New Guinea and Australia.