Roger Brett Kebble (19 February 1964 – 27 September 2005) was a South African mining magnate with close links to factions in the ruling political party, the African National Congress.^[1] Known to be personally eccentric,^[2][3] he became a major player in South African gold and diamond mining from the mid-1990s, especially through black economic empowerment deals, but was embroiled in allegations of corporate fraud and misconduct, the extent of which was revealed only after his death. He was shot dead on 27 September 2005 in Johannesburg. The investigation into his death, involving several prominent businessmen and politicians, received significant public attention. His name was also prominent in media coverage of Jackie Selebi's 2009 corruption trial. 2010 court testimony revealed that Kebble was killed by hit men hired by his security chief, allegedly at his own request – an apparent suicide-by-murder.^[4] However, the complete circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.

Kebble was born in the mining town of Springs, on the East Rand. He matriculated from St. Andrew's School, Bloemfontein, and earned a law degree from the University of Cape Town in 1986.^[5] He was an articled clerk at Mallinicks thereafter.^[6] He entered mining in 1991, when he and his father, a former mining engineer, acquired a controlling stake in Rand Leases Gold Mining and later acquired leadership of Randgold & Exploration through a hostile takeover.^[3][2] In partnership with Mzi Khumalo as part of a black economic empowerment deal, Kebble bought a controlling stake in JCI in 1995, though his and Khumalo's relationship later soured.^[3] At one point or another, he had a substantial interest in several other mid-size mining companies, including Randex, Randgold Resources, Consolidated African Mines, Harmony, Western Areas, and Durban Deep;^[5] and he was involved in numerous black economic empowerment deals.^[3][7]

Under his leadership, and to finance its R4-billion acquisition of the South Deep gold mine, Western Areas sold a half-interest in South Deep to a rival firm and hedged production forward at a low price, to disastrous consequences when the gold price increased.^[3][5][8] Subsequently, Kebble's reputation declined.^[3][6] On 30 August 2005, he was deposed from the companies he controlled – Western Areas, JCI, and Randgold & Exploration – as a condition of loans to keep the companies afloat,^[3] and amid concerns about financial irregularities and corporate governance lapses.^[6] At that point, 14.4 million shares in Randgold Resources were missing – Kebble claimed that they had been loaned out – and Randgold & Exploration had been suspended from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and delisted from Nasdaq for failing to publish its 2004 financial results.^[6] The South African National Prosecuting Authority later said that, at the time of his death, Kebble had been facing prosecution for fraud and contravention of the Stock Exchanges Control Act.^[9]

He was shot dead near a bridge over the M1 in Abbotsford, Johannesburg at around 9 p.m. on 27 September 2005,^[15] aged 41, while driving to a dinner engagement with his business associate, Sello Rasethaba. He was shot several times while in the driver's seat of his Mercedes.^[2] Forensic scientist Dr David Klatzow's investigation was the first to suggest that Kebble had been shot by people known to him with a pistol using 'low-velocity' ammunition used by bodyguards and security operatives. The purpose of such bullets, which require a specially adapted pistol, was to hit assassins and terrorists without passing through their bodies and hitting bystanders or hostages. Despite the closer range, the gunpowder burns in general were not severe, providing further evidence that the ammunition was of a special "reduced charge". Klatzow was also first to suggest that Kebble had committed assisted suicide.

During the Selebi trial, it emerged that Agliotti had acted as middleman between Selebi and Kebble at a fee of $1 million, paid from the JCI books. Kebble employees had offered holidays to Selebi's family and, through Selebi, had provided equipment to the police,^[28] and Selebi had attended dinners at the Kebbles' Johannesburg home and intervened in matters on their behalf.^[17] The Scorpions also investigated accusations that Kebble made millions of rands in disguised payments to the ANC and its affiliates.^[3][29]

During the Agliotti trial, Shultz testified that Kebble, through John Stratton, ordered the murder of several people, including Martin Welz, the editor of Noseweek.^[24] Smith, another of the hit men hired by Nassif, said that he had paid two men to shoot an Allan Gray fund manager, Stephen Mildenhall, in August 2005, shortly after Kebble had been required to resign from his companies as a condition for a R500 million loan from Allan Gray.^[30]

His art collection went under the hammer on 6 May 2009. Bidders from as far as Australia, New Zealand and Pennsylvania were at the auction. One hundred and thirty-three pieces of art were sold for ZAR53.90 million. This falls short of the one billion rand that he was said to have squandered.^[38]

Kebble was the controversial patron of the Brett Kebble Art Awards which he established in 2003 to provide a showcase for established artists, and to help those less known to attain recognition. It was also meant to build a non-racial bridge into the 21st century.

The Kebble as it became known, was the most inclusive award of its kind (often criticized for including a "craft" category to be judged on par with the other mediums like painting, sculpture, printmaking and photography) in South Africa. Adding to this, it was also the richest, having a total purse of R620 000 (roughly $98 000) with a grand prize of R200 000 (roughly $32 000).

After Kebble's murder, his family decided to cancel the 2006 awards.

In February 2006, artist Deborah Weber opened a solo exhibition in Johannesburg called Art Media Media Art on the same day that the BKAA were to open at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. She explored the time trajectory from being selected as an artist for the 2004 Kebble Art Awards, to working on the awards in 2005, and ending with Brett Kebble's death in September 2005.

• David Klatzow (2010). Steeped in Blood. Zebra Press. ISBN 978-1-77022-106-2.
• Barry Sergeant (2006). Brett Kebble: The Inside Story. Zebra Press. ISBN 978-1-77007-306-7.
• Barry Sergeant (2013). The Kebble Collusion: Ten Fateful Days in a R26 Billion Fraud. Jacana Media. ISBN 978-1-4314-0464-3.
• Wiener, Mandy (2012). Killing Kebble: an underworld exposed. Johannesburg, South Africa: Pan Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-77010-245-3. LCCN 2011478826.
• Muzi Kuzwayo (2007). "Forget the Vision and the Mission." In There's a Tsotsi in the Boardroom. Jacana. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-77009-087-3.