Management team

Sephaku Cement

Pieter Fourie | Chief Executive Officer

BCom (Accounting), Executive Development Program (PRISM) for Global Leaders (Switzerland)

Pieter Fourie has extensive experience in the cement industry, having been the marketing director of Blue Circle (subsequently acquired by Lafarge SA), the managing director of the cement business unit of Lafarge SA and lastly strategic development director for Africa based at Lafarge head office in France. Pieter's role at Blue Circle included sales, distribution and marketing and he was primarily responsible for leading Blue Circle from a legal cartel into a competitive environment. He was promoted to managing director of the cement business unit at Lafarge SA, at that time a company producing cement of 1.7 million tons per annum. Pieter subsequently accepted an assignment at Lafarge's head office, in a strategic development role aimed at integrating newly acquired business in Africa into Lafarge's portfolio and identifying new business opportunities.

Duncan Leith | Commercial Manager

BCom (University of South Africa), Young Managers Program (INSEAD, France), MBA (GIBS)

Duncan has extensive experience in all commercial aspects of the cement industry, having worked for Lafarge SA (formerly Blue Circle) for 10 years. Duncan's role at Blue Circle was to establish a fully integrated logistics process after the disbanding of the cartel in 1994. After the acquisition of Blue Circle by Lafarge, Duncan was promoted to distribution manager, responsible for logistics as well as all distribution depots. He was later promoted to commercial manager with total responsibility for marketing, sales, distribution and logistics. Before joining Sephaku Cement, Duncan spent three years with the Imperial Group managing their Renault Trucks franchise. Currently Duncan is responsible for marketing, sales and distribution.

Duan Claassen | Cement Operations Manager

BEng (Metallurgical Engineering) (University of Pretoria - cum laude), MDP (Duke University, USA)

Duan has 10 years' experience in cement production , having worked for Lafarge and PPC as operations manager of Lichtenburg Works and Dwaalboom respectively. His principal duties included plant performance and reliability, people management, production planning, product quality, safety and cost control.

Gay De Witt | Chief Financial Officer

B Com (Hons) (University of Pretoria), CTA (University of South Africa), CA (SA) (SAICA)

Gay has comprehensive experience in fields ranging from finance and operations to risk. Gay joined DANONE - Clover as finance controller where she gained valuable experience in the FMCG market. From there she moved into a business control role where she broadened her general business experience. Gay was instrumental in establishing the Sub-Saharan Africa expansion plan with exports to Angola. To gain wider experience she joined Murray & Roberts in a risk executive capacity, responsible for managing the steel cluster's risk in Africa and Middle East.

Puseletso Makhubo | Organisational Performance Manager

BA Admin Hons (Industrial Psychology) (University of Durban Westville), MDP (University of Durban Westville), MBL (University of South Africa)

Puseletso Makhubo has extensive generalist experience in human resources management particularly in the banking sector and manufacturing industry. She held various key positions in the HR field, while working for Nedcor Electronic Banking, Development Bank of Southern Africa and Lafarge Gypsum, where she was the human resources director for the Business Unit. Her responsibilities have ranged from developing and aligning HR strategies and systems to implementing business strategy.

E Heinrich de Beer | Engineering Project Manager

BEng Mechanical (PU for CHE), MDP (PU for CHE), LDP (GIBS)

Heinrich started his career as Project Engineer and Maintenance Manager at Mittal (Iscor), Vanderbijlpark Carbonization Plant. He joined Lafarge SA as Depot Manager for their Kaalfontein terminal. He was then promoted to Depot Operations Manager responsible for all of Lafarge Cement’s distribution facilities as well as their Richards Bay Grinding Plant. Heinrich was later promoted to Development Manager at the Lichtenburg Plant where he was responsible for major projects (including Lafarge SA’s recent new kiln line), Automation and IT, Quality and Environment.