By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider 

On the second day of Joburg Indaba 2025, CEO of Bokamoso Hold Billy Mawasha, caught up with Diplomatic Insider, to explain the crucial role that gold still plays especially regarding the retail market. 

Diplomatic Insider asked Mawasha that since South Africa once led the world in Gold production. What lessons could be learnt from that era which still guides Bokamoso Gold in today’s climate. 

“South Africa is built on gold. We do know that after the diamond rush of the 19th Century gold really became the engine of the industry in South Africa. What we see as an opportunity is Gold and because of its history in South Africa, we do have a set of skills to understand the deep level mines that operate in South Africa and we want to leverage that to build a future for these assets,” said Mawasha. 

Diplomatic Insider then asked him how the company has adapted to today’s challenges such as rise in costs and the shift to renewable resources.

 “Today’s challenges are challenges that we expect in the industry, every mining business has to think about how they constantly reduce costs through optimization, through looking at how they bring in technology. How do we bring in new thinking into these mines and that’s part of the operations we are looking at,” said Mawasha. 

Then lastly, Diplomatic Insider asked him about the lack of South African gold made in jewelry and if Bokamosa Gold is able to change that.

 “Gold has been a key element in the retail space in South Africa obviously prices have gone up and it’s become difficult to be able to source this Gold however, if you go to the stores gold is still available and rand refinery in South Africa is part of promoting sales in Gold in retail and if you look at the world Gold council they are also continuing to grow Gold in South Africa. So, if you go to our stores I invite you to go to Sandton you will find a lot of stores that are prepared to sell you a lot of gold” said Mawasha 

Billy Mawasha had expressed on the first day of Joburg Indaba, that Bokamosa Gold have confidence in the future of Gold mining in South Africa and see the rise in prices as a unique opportunity to capitalise.