African Rainbow Minerals

About African Rainbow Minerals

African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) is a diversified mining company listed on the JSE. Patrice Motsepe founded it in 1994, and its head office is in Sandton, Johannesburg. ARM mines and processes iron ore, manganese ore, chrome ore, platinum group metals, nickel and coal. It also holds a strategic investment in Harmony Gold.

The company operates mainly in South Africa. In addition, it has manganese alloy facilities in Malaysia. Its operations are organised into divisions such as ARM Platinum, ARM Ferrous and ARM Coal. ARM often works through joint ventures with other mining partners. Its stated values include safe workplaces, fair treatment, and better quality of life for neighbouring communities.

How ARM supports students

Mining depends on scarce technical skills. For that reason, ARM runs an annual bursary programme. Students often call it the ARM Bright Sparks programme. The company also offers learnerships and graduate development, so a bursary can lead into a longer career path. For a student from a small town, that route can open doors into one of the country's key industries. Mining also needs accountants, data specialists and geologists, so the choice of study field is wider than many people expect.

Fields differ from one university to the next. Reports on recent calls list engineering disciplines such as electrical, mechanical, civil, industrial, metallurgical, mining and process engineering. Other fields include geology, geohydrology, accounting, computer science and data science. Participating universities have included the University of Pretoria, North-West University, Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town. Funding usually reaches from undergraduate level to honours.

The package has typically covered registration, tuition, residence accommodation, prescribed books, a laptop and meals. However, the terms are set by ARM each year, so students should not assume that every item will be included.

What to know before applying

Basic requirements include South African citizenship and a matric certificate. Applicants must also study at an eligible university in an approved field. Some calls are open only to students at specific institutions. Therefore, check which fields your university is offering before you apply.

Whether a work-back obligation applies is not confirmed here. Many mining bursaries expect graduates to work for the company for a set period. Ask ARM about this, and read any contract before you sign it.

ARM is a separate company from the Motsepe Foundation. Both are linked to the Motsepe family, but they run different programmes, so apply through the right channel. Keep your own copies of every form you submit, and note each deadline in your diary. The ARM website lists bursaries, learnerships and graduate programmes under its careers section. For questions, you can phone the company on 011 779 1300 during office hours.