Ntsikelelo Nkosi biography
Ntsikelelo Nkosi is a South African entrepreneur, community activist, project consultant, mining sector advocate and social development practitioner from Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. His work sits at the intersection of entrepreneurship, mining, community development, environmental sustainability, procurement, project management, insurance and financial risk solutions.
Ntsikelelo’s entrepreneurial journey was shaped significantly by his time in Rustenburg, North West, where he lived and worked between 2016 and 2018. During this period, he served as a director and partner of Exxaro Solutions, a mining contracting company based in Rustenburg. His involvement in the mining contracting environment provided him with firsthand exposure to the opportunities and challenges within South Africa’s mining sector, particularly those affecting smaller and emerging mining businesses.
It was during this period that Ntsikelelo’s interest in the development of junior and emerging miners began to take shape. Between 2016 and 2018, he participated in an initiative that was intended to bring junior miners together, create unity within the sector and provide a platform for engagement. At the time, the initiative had not yet been formally registered or established as an organisation.
His experience in Rustenburg and the mining sector ultimately contributed to the establishment of Third Street Capital, initially trading as Minerium. The company grew from Ntsikelelo’s exposure to mining, business development and the need for practical commercial support within the sector. This period became an important foundation for his continued involvement in mining, entrepreneurship and enterprise development.
Over the years, the idea of creating a structured platform for junior miners remained important to him. The early experience of bringing emerging mining entrepreneurs together eventually contributed to the decision to formally establish the Junior Miners Forum, creating a more structured platform through which junior and emerging miners can connect, collaborate, access opportunities, share knowledge and engage around the challenges facing the sector.
Ntsikelelo’s involvement with the Junior Miners Forum therefore represents the continuation of an interest and vision that began during his years in Rustenburg, rather than a newly developed interest in mining. His experience in mining contracting, business consulting and enterprise development has informed his belief that junior and emerging miners require stronger platforms for collaboration, market access, skills development, procurement opportunities, funding and meaningful participation in the mining value chain.
Ntsikelelo is also the founder of Sobantu Community Development, a community-based organisation focused on creating meaningful and sustainable opportunities for people in Sobantu Village and surrounding communities. The organisation works across youth development, sport, education, skills development, environmental awareness, community empowerment, social cohesion, leadership, active citizenship and local economic development.
His approach to community development extends beyond organising events. He believes communities should be supported to become self-sufficient, empowered and vibrant, with young people given opportunities to develop their skills, participate meaningfully in society and build sustainable livelihoods.
Ntsikelelo has also become an active voice on environmental justice and sustainability, particularly concerning communities living alongside poorly managed waste and landfill facilities. His advocacy has focused on landfill rehabilitation, waste management, pollution, environmental health, climate change, community participation and sustainable waste-to-energy solutions.
His environmental advocacy is closely connected to his broader belief that economic development and environmental responsibility should not be treated as separate issues. He believes that environmental challenges can also create opportunities for innovation, enterprise development, job creation and sustainable infrastructure, particularly when communities are meaningfully included in the process.
His work has brought him into engagement with community organisations, environmental stakeholders, researchers, media and public institutions. A central principle in his advocacy is that communities most affected by environmental and infrastructure challenges should have a meaningful voice in decisions concerning their health, environment and future.
Beyond mining and community development, Ntsikelelo operates within the insurance and financial risk solutions sector, where he works with Corner Life Insurance and consults on solutions including bid bonds, performance guarantees and other forms of business assurance. This has enabled him to work across both the public and private sectors, particularly where businesses require financial and contractual support to participate in projects, tenders and procurement opportunities.
At the heart of Ntsikelelo’s work is a belief that entrepreneurship should go beyond creating a business for oneself. He believes business should create opportunities for others, solve real problems, develop people and contribute to the communities in which it operates.
His journey from Pietermaritzburg to Rustenburg, through the mining sector and into entrepreneurship, community development and environmental advocacy, has shaped his approach to building organisations and initiatives that connect economic opportunity with social impact.
Today, Ntsikelelo continues to work at the intersection of enterprise, mining and social impact, with a particular interest in junior mining development, procurement, project development, environmental sustainability, infrastructure, community empowerment, youth development and creating pathways for young people and emerging businesses to participate meaningfully in the economy.
His philosophy is:
“Build businesses that create opportunities, solve problems that matter, and leave communities better than you found them.”