Firestone Energy (Firestone) had appointed Stephen Miller as MD with immediate effect, the JSE and ASE-listed exploration and development firm said on Wednesday.

This comes after Firestone said it had appointed the former high-ranking official of the ANC, Mathews Phosa, as the chairman of the board.

The company said they appointed Phosa so that he can use his experience at board level to help the company rapidly advance the Waterberg Coal Project.

But it is well-known that most South African companies hire experienced and high-ranking ANC officials to use their contacts to access government business as well as influence policies and secure contracts.

Miller was appointed a director of the firm in June last year and then on July 4 the same year he was appointed CEO/Executive Director of Firestone. Miller has substantial experience in the financing and development of large scale projects having been a founding director, executive chairman and CEO of a number of successful resource companies listed on the Australian and North American stock exchanges.

Between 2012 to 2013, Miller oversaw the reorganization and recalibration of The Waterberg Coal Project ownership, which has led to the creation of The Waterberg Coal Company.