Biz people

S. African firm hires black chair

Sasol Ltd, used by the South African government to shield the country from sanctions during the apartheid era, has appointed its first black South African and first woman to the post of chair of the company.

Hixonia Nyasulu (right) will replace Pieter Cox on Nov 28, the Johannesburg-based company said. Founded in 1950 and state-owned until 1979, Sasol today has a market value of 248.9 billion rand ($31.8 billion), the biggest of any company based in South Africa.