ARTICLES

 

SAIMM Branch Chairpersons

 

 

 

Johannesburg Branch

Daniel F. Jensen

Danie has more than 35 years' success driving comprehensive strategic planning, project governance, business analysis, tender/bid development, and general management for renowned, world-class organizations, all aimed at cultivating business and revenue growth and optimal performance. He has been involved in the mining industry specifically from 2003 onwards. While consulting to re-establish a diamond and a coal mine in eSwatini (Swaziland), he initiated the eSwatini 'Mining Rights' Project with a potential market capitalization in excess of US$1 billion. Danie was employed on a contract basis between 2007 and 2009, at RSV ENCO as Project Management Office Manager (PMO), where he was instrumental in the establishment of major engineering, procurement, commissioning, and management (EPCM) coal mining projects such as Thubelisha and Impumelelo at Sasol Secunda. He also spearheaded key efforts to implement an innovative documentation management systems (DMS) and a new PMO system (using PRISM Management Suite and ProjectWise software packages) to effectively support the delivery of cutting-edge EPCM mining projects with values of over R5 billion. He spent the period from 2010 to 2012 in the IT industry, where he was instrumental in compiling numerous tenders and initiating projects worth over R2 billion. He returned to his home ground of engineering project development and management in 2012, and played an integral role in assisting the companies he worked with in pioneering 93 project portfolio concept business plans, about 35% of which are mining-related, to be executed on a global scale with a value of over US$20 billion if implemented.

Danie has been an active member of the Johannesburg Branch of the SAIMM since 2007 and is currently proudly serving as Chairperson since the untimely passing of John Luckmann, stepping from his role as Branch Secretary to Acting Chairperson, and subsequently elected Chair. He holds a Master of Science degree in Project Management, certificates in Project Risk Management and Senior Management Programme (University of Pretoria), Senior Management and Staff Course (South African Air Force), and Bachelor of Technology, Engineering (Technical University of Tshwane).

 

 

Namibian Branch

Nikowa Mabvuto Namate

Nikowa Namate is Deputy Head and lecturer at the Department of Mining and Process Engineering, Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). He holds a Batchelor's degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Zimbabwe and a Master's in Industrial Engineering (MIE) from NUST, and has over fifteen years of industrial and academic experience. His major research interests are in industrial engineering processes and ergonomics. Nikowa is also a certified energy auditor. He has an in-depth understanding of the mining industry in Namibia, and plays an active role in the development and diversification of the sector by providing consulting services to small-scale enterprises.

 

 

Northern Cape Branch

Itumeleng Lute

Itumeleng Lute began his mining career as a Learner Official at AMCOAL's New Denmark Colliery.

He obtained his National Diploma Coal Mining at the Technikon Witwatersrand (now the University of Johannesburg) in 1999 and joined Loxton Exploration as Junior Mining Engineer Projects and planning. During his three years with the company he was involved in the Bellsbank Diamond Mine-Speed Development Project and Feasibility Study.

In 2001 Itumeleng moved to Loxton Exploration, where he worked as a Shift Boss and acting Mine Overseer. He obtained his National Diploma in Mining Engineering in 2001, followed by a BTech Mining Engineering a year later, both from Technikon Witwatersrand.

From 2002 to 2004 Itumeleng worked for Rex Mining as Mining Engineer at their head office, where he participated in the mine design project for Rex Diamond Mine. He was appointed Mining Engineer: Projects in 2004, and obtained his Mine Overseer's Certificate the same year.

In 2004 Itumeleng left the corporate world to strike out on his own. He co-founded Botswerere Mining CC and served as the Chairman and Consulting Mining Engineer until April 2006, when he established Lute Mining CC and Lute Diamonds CC. He currently serves as Chairperson/Senior Mining Consultant and factory manager of these companies, respectively.

Itumeleng is very active in the Black Management Forum (BMF), serving as Provincial Secretary of the Northern Cape Branch in 2006/2007, Provincial Treasurer from 2007-2009, and Northern Cape Provincial Chairperson in 2009/2010 He was appointed as a member of the BMF National Board in 2009/2010.

Itumeleng is an Associate of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, a Member of the Mine Managers Association of South Africa, and a member of the Institute of Directors, NOCCI, and St Peter Church Finance Committee. He has been a Director of Northern Cape Economic Think Tanksince July 2020.

 

 

Pretoria Branch

Sezer Uludag

Sezer Uludag holds a BSc (Mining Engineering) and an MSc (Mining Engineering) from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is currently a lecturer in the Department of Mining Engineering at the University of Pretoria, where she presents three undergraduate and two postgraduate modules on underground and surface mining methods. Her research interests include drilling and blasting, automation, application of systems thinking and system dynamics to mining-related problems, rock cutting, and spontaneous combustion. She is currently busy with a PhD study on the quantification of the impact of disruptive technologies in an open pit mining environment using system dynamics methods.

Sezer was previously as a consultant at Anglo American Technical Solutions, creating innovative value-adding solutions to drilling and blasting related issues, as well as working on support governance and supply chain within the Group on drilling and blasting quality and standards. Prior to that, she was a lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, where she presented a full-year course on Excavation Engineering, involving principles of rock cutting, drilling and tunnel boring machines; and drilling and blasting principles and design. She also lectured and coordinated a Graduate Diploma Engineering course on blasting technology.

 

 

Western Cape Branch

Alan Nesbitt

Dr Nesbitt holds an N.D. Chemical Engineering (Cape Technikon, 1985), an N.H.D. in Chemical Engineering (Vaal Triangle Technikon, 1989), an M. Tech. (Cape Technikon, 1996), and a PhD (UCT, 2016). Dr Nesbitt started his consultancy Tibsen Technologies in 2008 and has conducted research projects through direct contact with various mineral processing companies/organizations including, De Beers, BHP Billiton, Alcoa, Gekko Systems, Namdeb, and UCT. In addition to research he teaches water purification and hydrometallurgy to graduate staff of Anglo Platinum, Debswana, and other personnel on an ad hoc basis. Dr Nesbitt's main research interests are in resin ion exchange technology for the mineral processing industry and water purification.

Prior to Tibsen Technologies Dr Nesbitt was a lecturer at the Cape Technikon (1998-2009) and worked as a technical officer on the Chamber of Mines collaborative initiative in mineral processing education in the Western Cape while based at the University of Stellenbosch (1992-1997). Prior to 1992 Dr Nesbitt worked for a number of companies including South African Breweries, Caltex South Africa, and Mintek.

 

 

Zambian Branch

Darius Muma

Darius Muma graduated from the University of Zambia (UNZA) in 2004 with a BSc Chemistry. He worked as an Environmental Project Assistant at UNZA School of Mines with the Advocacy for Environmental Restoration Zambia (AREZ), before joining Konkola Copper Mines' (KCM) Nchanga Mine in Chingola as a Graduate Chemist. He remained with KCM for 8½ years, progressing through the ranks to Senior Chemist, Sectional Chemist, and Acting Head of Analytical Services. During this time he gained a Diploma in Business Management (Association of Business Executives, UK). In February, 2014 Darius moved to Mopani Copper Mines' Mufulira Mine to take up his present position of Assistant Superintendent Technical.

While at Mufulira, he completed a Bachelor of Education in Environmental Education at UNZA, and also a MSc in Sustainable Mineral Resource Development under the Education for Sustainable Development in Africa (ESDA) joint programme of the University of Cape Town's Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment and the UNZA School of Mines. Darius is married to Priscilla Chola, a professional nurse and tutor at Nchanga School of midwifery and nursing in the Zambian Ministry of Health, and the couple have four children; Martin Kazandwe, Precious Mwaba, Gracious Kunda, and Joseph Kaindu.

Darius has a wide range of specialized skills and training in mineral sampling and assaying, including X-ray fluorescence, fire assay and related pyrometallugical analysis techniques, laboratory auditing, chemometrics and intelligent laboratory systems, metallurgical accounting, copper metallography sample preparation, laboratory information management systems, and project management. He is also a BSI Certified Auditor for BSI ISO 14001 and Lead Auditor for BSI ISO 9001. He is a Member of the SAIMM (currently Chairperson of the Zambian Branch), the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), the Chemical Society of Zambia (CSZ) (currently Northern Region Vice President), the Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ), and a member of ABE, UK.

 

 

Zimbabwean Branch

Clara Petronella Sadomba

Clara Sadomba graduated from the University of Zimbabwe in 1990 with a Bachelor of Technology (Applied Chemistry & Chemical Technology), and went on to complete a Master's degree in Metallurgical Engineering at McGill University, Montreal, Canada in 1996. After a brief spell in the chemicals and plastics industries, she joined Zimbabwean integrated ferrochrome producer Zimasco (Pvt) Ltd under their graduate learnership programme and has been with the company since then, progressing through the operational, middle, and executive managerial levels. She is currently General Manager - Marketing and Administration, with key responsibilities that include marketing strategy and planning; market analysis; marketing, sales, and logistics process optimization; corporate communication; and administration of head office operations.

Clara has extensive international business experience with cross-sector and cross-cultural exposure. She is registered as a Professional Engineer with the Engineering Council of Zimbabwe and a member of the Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers. She is also Chairperson of the Zimasco Pension Fund.

Clara is single, with one son aged nineteen.

 

 

Zululand Branch

Christo Mienie

Christo Mienie obtained his Dip Tech (T5) in Metallurgical Engineering from the Vaal Triangle Technikon. He began his career with Iscor (Mittal Steel) in their research and development department, where his area of focus was iron manufacturing, with particular interest in the evaluation and characterization of iron ore, coal, and coke for the blast furnace, direct reduction, and Corex processes.

In 1992 he joined Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), and gained valuable metallurgical and production experience over the next 14 years at various RBM plants including the roaster, char plant, iron processing, slag processing, and the smelter. His responsibilities included increasing the production of prime grade slag and pig iron, furnace rebuilds, establishing new markets and customers in conjunction with the marketing department, and the introduction of best practices in process metallurgy. His HR responsibilities included the management, training, and development of metallurgists, and he obtained valuable experience with regard to business restructuring ('right-sizing') while the team leader responsible for the SHEQ and technical departments. He completed his Management Development Programme through the University of Durban Westville during 1997.

Christo left the corporate world when he joined Spectrum Technical (Pty) Ltd in 2006 as a director and shareholder - his current position. Services to clients includes plant feasibility studies, flow sheet design, process equipment selection and supply, pilot-scale test work, plant commissioning, troubleshooting, and cost analyses in the metals and minerals industry.

Christo is married to Marietjie, and they have two boys - Francois and Christo Junior. He is a keen jogger.