Do You Have A Project We Can Help With?
The Team
SIFISO KUNENE
Sifiso obtained a BSc. (Hydrology) from the University of Zululand in 1999. He started his career as a Hydrologist at Arcus Gibb, where he worked until 2004. At Arcus Gibb, Sifiso participated in the following projects;
- The Water Situation Assessment Model (WSAM) – involved in the development and testing of the model for the Department of Water Affairs.
- WSAM – Water Quality – Part of the WSAM Water Quality development team.
- Kelvin Power Station – Designing of a Water Balance for the annual water management plan updates, and developing concepts to satisfy the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry’s (DWAF) zero effluent requirements.
- Rooikraal landfill site – Involved in the permit application process for the Rooikraal waste disposal site.
- Sappi Swaziland gas pipeline – Involved in the development of environmental proposals for the construction of a gas pipeline to supply the Sappi Mill in Bunya Swaziland.
- Mauritius Land Drainage Study – Providing Technical solutions for a storm-water master plan in Mauritius.
- Grand Baie Backfilling (Mauritius) – Modelling of wetlands and application of the ACRU model to quantify the effects of land use change on the inflow into wetlands.
- WSAM Help Desk – Project managing and co-ordinating the WSAM Help Desk as part of the user support team.
- World Summit – Co-ordination of the Knowledge Pool Team for the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
- Limpopo Integrated Development Plan – Part of a team of Arcus Gibb experts involved in drafting an Integrated development Plan for the Limpopo province.
- Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) – Assisted the CHDM with the Implementation of the section 78 of the municipal act, for transferring water service provision (WSP) responsibility from Local Municipalities to the Water Services Authority (WSA). The District Municipality now assumes the position of the WSA.
- Ngwaname rural water supply – Conducted hydrological studies for the Ngwaname River in the Limpopo province, to estimate the sustainability of the river for water supply to the Ngwaname villages.
In 2004, Sifiso joined First National Bank (FNB) where he worked until 2005. At FNB he was responsible for the Project Management of Customer Service Interventions including training and development, and infrastructure recommendations mainly but not limited to FNB branches nationally. His portfolio also covered other First Rand companies such as eBucks, Momentum, Rand Merchant Bank, and Discovery Health.
Key Projects:
- Managing the design and delivery of the Customer Experience Programmes for the Growth to Greatness project for the entire FNB branch network. The project was initiated by the C.E.O. of FNB.
- Managing the design and delivery of Customer Service improvement programmes for eBucks call centres.
- Managing the design and delivery of Customer Service improvement programmes for Rand Merchant Bank.
- Managing the design and delivery of Customer Service improvement programmes for FNB Life.
- Managing the design and delivery of Customer Service improvement programmes for the Mzansi Account.
In 2005, Sifiso left FNB to start Sechaba Engineering Design and Management (now operating as Maropeng Engineering). Under his leadership, Sechaba successfully delivered design and management solutions of the following flagship projects:
- Management of Capital Infrastructure Projects for the Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality in the North West Province. Project value R70 million.
- Project Monitoring for the construction of township roads in the KOSH area Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom – Project value; R15 million
- Department of Housing – Design and Project Management of the construction of 1000 low cost housing in Diepsloot West Johannesburg – Project value; R55 million
- Design and Project Management of the construction of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes between Daveyton and Benoni. Project value; R120 million
- Electrical and Mechanical Design and Project Management for the construction of Nokuthula Special Needs School. Project value – R200 million
- Mechanical Design and Project Management for the construction of a boarding school in Fochvile. Project value – R200 million
Sifiso, through his company Marope Group, is a member of the Rail Road Association of Southern Africa. He has also been accepted to study towards a Masters in Industrial Engineering in 2018.
MOTSHEGOA Rakale (HAWK)
Hawk obtained a B.Sc. Eng. (Mining) at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1998 and a postgraduate certificate in Engineering Business Management from Warwick University in 2006. He started his career at Greenside Colliery in 1999 as a mining graduate and obtained a Blasting certificate for fiery mines in February 2000.
Hawk was appointed a section miner from March 2000 until December 2000. During this period he worked in all three sections of the mine – one drill and blast section and two were continuous miners sections (using Joy HM31 CM).
In January 2001, Hawk started acting as a Shift Overseer responsible for production in the two CM sections and maintenance of the drill and blast section. Hawk was part of the team that achieved a record production of 103 000 tons per month per continuous miner (CM) in January 2001 at the George section. Hawk was then appointed as a Shift Overseer in July 2001.
Hawk wanted to fulfill his aspirations for entrepreneurship and consequently joined the Ukhozi Group in November 2001 as a Project Manager.
At Ukhozi, Hawk managed a Services Contract at Middelbult Colliery where he was responsible for construction of water containment stopping (seals), construction of Ventilations Structures and Belt Extension. At the time, that operation employed over 150 people.
Hawk was then appointed a General Manager of Ukhozi Project Management in January 2003, where he was responsible for leading 40 Junior Consultants in productivity improvement at Sasol Mining Shafts (viz.: Middelbult West Shaft, Brandspruit no.2 Shaft and Twistdraai Central Shaft).
In July 2003, Hawk was seconded, on a consulting basis, to another BEE company (Khotso Batho) to work as a contract manager where he was responsible for managing coal stockpiles (that feed Sasol 2 and 3 plants) as well as construction and maintenance of slurry dams for Twistdraai export coal-washing plant.
Hawk was then appointed a Managing Director of Ukhozi Mining in April 2004 where he led over 300 employees. Operations under his directorship operations comprised of five services contracts held with Sasol’s Bojesspruit, Twistdraai and Middelbult Collieries and (the then) Eyesizwe’s Matla Colliery.
In 2007, Hawk decided to start his own mining services business and consequently acquired Quest Drilling cc to start an exploration drilling business called Sehwai Exploration Drilling (Proprietary) Limited (“Sehwai”).
Hawk is currently the CEO of Sehwai and has achieved the following:
- Established a successful relationship with Kangra Coal where Sehwai started drilling in July 2007 to current;
- Successful delivery of drilling services to Exxaro’s Matla Colliery from May 2008 to current; contract will expire in January 2014;
- Winning Total Coal’s drilling contract in January 2012 and ensuring successful delivery of contractual obligations; contract expires in December 2013;
- Successfully raising funds from Anglo American Khula Mining Fund and repaying the loan a year ahead of schedule;
- Successfully raising funds from National Empowerment Fund;
- Growing the business from initial three rigs to current 14 rigs;
- Creating employment for 100 Sehwai employees; and
- Training and developing fellow directors who later become shareholders
Hawk, together with Sifiso Kunene orchestrated acquisition of a steel fabrication company named Hi-Tech Fabrications and Projects (Proprietary) Limited (“Hi Tech”). Hawk is serving on the boards of Sehwai and Hi-Tech.
Hawk is a member of Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) and was seconded to the council in 2005 and 2006. Hawk was also seconded to the council of South African Colliery Managers’ Association (SACMA) in 2007. Hawk served as a President of African Minerals Association (AMA) during the 2007/2008 term of office. Hawk is a member of Institute of Directors of Southern Africa and serves on the council of Wits University Mining Engineers Association (WUMEA).
OBAKENG SETSHOGWE (OJ)
OJ obtained a B.Sc. Eng. (Mining) degree at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2005 following an Anglo American learner official training programme he started in 2001. OJ spent 8 years with Anglo American, where he worked at Rustenburg Platinum Mines (RPM) and Potgietersrus Platinum Limited (PPL).
At RPM, OJ worked on the following shafts:
- Bleskop Shaft – Conventional Drill & Blast and Longwall Stoping as a Learner Official
- Frank 1 Shaft – Conventional Drill & Blast and Longwall Stoping as a Team Leader
- Paardekraal 1 Shaft – Conventional Drill & Blast; Longwall Stoping and hydro powered mining as a Miner
At PPL, OJ worked at Sandsloot, Zwartfontein and Overysel pits firstly as a Load & Haul Production Coordinator then as a Drill & Blast Production Coordinator and eventually as a Drill & Blast Pit Superintendent.
During his time with Anglo American, OJ worked on various technical projects and was involved in various optimisation initiatives that saw the development of the then Paardekraal shaft “deep level” hydro mining sections. Through the various training and development initiatives at Anglo American, OJ obtained both surface and opencast blasting certificates for scheduled mines and a Metalliferous Mine Managers Certificate of Competency.
In 2009, OJ joined forces with Hawk Rakale and registered Sehwai Production Drilling in Botswana. The company was awarded a 30 000t/m contract at an aggregate quarry in Kuke, which is in the far north of Botswana. OJ was the General Manager at Kuke Quarry and was responsible for the following functions:
- Licensing and statutory compliance of the quarry
- Safety, health and environmental management
- Short term mine planning
- Drill and blasting activities
- Load and haul activities
- Crushing and screening
- Marketing and sales of aggregate product
OJ has been a director of Sehwai responsible for operations. Sehwai is an exploration drilling contractor that services the mining industry. Sehwai’s operations span four provinces (Northern Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga) in South Africa and include an operational fleet of 14 diamond drill rigs and 100 employees. Sehwai has serviced clients such as Exxaro, Coal of Africa, Total Coal, Kangra Coal and Kumba Iron Ore. Currently OJ is responsible for fundraising for Dimablox’s Zimbabwe Gold and Chrome projects
OJ is a member of the Wits University Mining Engineers Association and is a candidate engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa.