GERARD MOLATOLI LETLASTA
Summary
CANDIDATE SUMMARY
Gerard is an mining/engineering geologist with more than 30 years of experience in heavy
construction and mining industries (roads/ramps, dams, and tunnels, material blast analysis
and geo-hazard logging, geological/geotechnical site explorations and investigations for
National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) and slope management strategy, and
resources modelling of ore-body). He has acted as technical manager at least once a year in
the period from 2012 to 2018 at a diamond open pit mine. During this time, he managed to
bring in consulting engineers and was involved in the budgeting for the complex stability
support for slopes that were failing on the east side of the main pit at Letseng. Gerard managed
to complete a pit optimization exercise where the pit slope was steepened by 3 degrees and
thereby he made a huge saving on the waste budget. The mine saved a large amount of
money. While with Letseng Mine, the candidate managed to put many geologists and mining
engineers as well as mine surveyors on training where they improved their knowledge of slope
stability monitoring and exploration before leaving left the mine. In addition, he completed data
collection for the study of the underground development at Venetia Mine.
He successfully completed many geological/geotechnical investigations studies both locally
and internationally, where he was a leading geologist or geotechnical engineer. Gerard has
provided timely slope movement predictions to meet demanding daily production to the mining
section, i.e. even mining safely below unstable pit walls because of the implementation of
quality of the slope management strategy. He provide timely geotechnical slope optimization
service to meet demanding mining schedules, and create additional revenue-generating
points. His work included monitoring drilling oversight, and remedial geotechnical and
geological investigation on pit slopes, groundwater, coal, soil, sediment, and surface water
sampling. He has been a mine overseer caretaker on a number of times.
The candidate supervised drilling, geological and geotechnical logging, and road construction.
He has for a loong time been involved in mentoring and supervising young professionals.
Gerard is experienced in geological/geotechnical sample/data collection in order to estimate
rock and rock mass properties at depth for the purpose of evaluating feasibility, costs, and
uncertainties with the ground. He has both local and international exposure as an engineering
geologist, an environmentalist, lecturer and community liason. QUALIFICATIONS
Description Attributes
Experience working in the mining and large
construction firms at different levels of
responsibility
Yes - The candidate holds a Philosophie
Doctor (Ph.D.) in Geology from the University
for the Free State obtained in 2005
Professionally Registered Status with
SACNASP, or approved equivalent
Yes - The candidate is registered as a
Professional Natural Scientist with
SACNASP
Minimum ten (10) years’ involvement in
the management, investigation, design
and construction of excavations, mining,
tunnels, and associated works, including
tunnels in hard rock, budgeting, middle to
top management, people management
Yes - The candidate has over 30 years’
experience in
Must be familiar with advanced mining and
tunnel geological software and systems
Yes - The candidate is proficient
RocScience Software (dips), Vulcan,
MicroSoft Office,
Management of projects
Yes - The candidate has held manerial
positions in his career and possesses course
certificate in management.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages
Work History
Technical Manager
LLBK Consulting
10.2018 - Current
Senior Engineering Geologist
LLBK Consulting, TYPE OF FIRM Consulting Engineers
Johannesburg
04.2018 - Current
- REASON FOR BEING ON THE
Geotechnical Mnanager
Letseng Diamond Mine, TYPE OF FIRM Mining Company
Johannesburg
04.2012 - 10.2018
- REASON FOR LEAVING Career Growth
- KEY DUTIES
- Managing geological and geotechnical projects, including multi-disciplinary projects, tailings facility site investigations, buildings and infrastructure projects
- Interpreting geological and geotechnical data, perform analysis, and draw conclusions/recommendations
- Preparing proposals, and compilation of cost estimations, tenders, reports, and other technical deliverables
- Conducting, analysing and managing pit observations and carrying out geological and geotechnical reporting for the mine
- Geotechnical site and construction material investigations
- Supervise work of geo-technicians on site and junior professional staff where required
- Identify safety hazards, report OH&S incidents and conduct all work in a safe manner
- Conduct all work to satisfy all mine, client and government conditions, policies, procedures, regulations, and standards
- Carry out client and mining business development activities
- Prepare presentation materials and present to management
- Participate in training activities, mentoring, and transferring knowledge to intermediate/junior geotechnical engineers/engineering geologists
- Hydrogeological study for the pit (in and around the pit)
- Page 7 of 11
Geotechnical Manager, Rock Engineer
Letseng Diamond Mine
04.2012 - 09.2018
Technical Specialist
GeNap Consulting
03.2012 - 05.2013
Director/Technical Specialist
GeNap Consulting, OF FIRM Consulting Engineers
03.2012 - 05.2013
- REASON FOR LEAVING N/A
Materials Engineer
Mathokoane, Ha Leshoele, Monicas Road Construction, GeNap Consulting
03.2010 - 03.2012
Materials Engineer/Community Liason
Mathokoane
05.2010 - 03.2012
- Construction, GeNap Consulting
- TYPE OF FIRM Consulting Engineers, REASON FOR LEAVING End of Project, Supervise contractors on site, ensuring that the works meet the highest standards expected
- Monitor construction and rehabilitation works, including environmental mitigation and safety plans in accordance with contractual agreements
- Review the contractor’s work programmes, resource, schedule and project implementation plans and ensure that the contractors/site supervisors comply with their work plans and complete the work within the specified time frame
- Ensure all works, undertaken by the contractor and/or his agent, are of good quality, as per specifications and with approved quality materials
- Assess and evaluate the contractor’s performance and resources
- Provide clear written and verbal instructions to the contractor or contractor’s representative(s) on site, and effectively and quickly resolve any project-related problems or issues causing delay
- Be able to prepare the drafts for contractual correspondence, interpret the contract conditions and specifications, monitor the progress of work, be able to prepare work plans, minutes of meetings, etc
Geotechnical Engineer
GeNap Consulting
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Planning, Monitoring and supervision of drilling, supervised geological and geotechnical logging of core, calculation of RMR, Q-Values for design of slopes, prepare monthly reports and coordinate data distribution
- Geotechnical site investigations
- Supervision of roads and building construction sites
- More than 100 thousand low cost housing settlement stands were geotechnically investigated as per requirements of National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC)
HELD Director
GeNap
01.2006 - 02.2010
- Consulting subcontracted to C4/SEED
- TYPE OF FIRM Consulting Engineers, Mining and Construction
- REASON FOR LEAVING
Consulting Director
GeNap, Mining & Construction
08.2006 - 01.2010
Geotechnical Specialist
TYPE OF, Engineers
04.2007 - 12.2009
- REASON FOR LEAVING Fixed Term Contract
Resident Engineering Geologist
JOB MARKET
01.2007 - 01.2009
- DUTIES
- Page 6 of 11
- Provide timely slope movement predictions to meet demanding daily production to the diversion tunnels section, i.e
- Facilitating drill and blast operations safely carried out close underground
- Provide timely geotechnical slope optimization service to meet demanding construction schedule, and create additional revenue generating point
- Work includes monitoring drilling oversight, remedial geotechnical and geological investigation during tunnel excavations and on slopes, groundwater, sediment, and surface water sampling
- Management: Monitoring and supervision of drilling, geological and geotechnical logging and road construction
- Mentoring and supervising young professionals
- Geotechnical sample/data collection in order to estimate rock and rock mass properties at depth for the purpose of evaluating and determining the support classes required after each excavation round, costs and uncertainties in the ground,
- Managing, organising and supervising geotechnical feasibility study on Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlnds Water Project
- Responsible for all field work of the envisaged 32 km long tunnel and 156 m high
- CRFD.
Senior Geotechnical Engineer
DeBeers Venetia Mine
01.2004 - 12.2006
Pavement Engineer
LEAVING Career
Johannesburg
12.2003 - 10.2004
- Growth
- KEY DUTIES
- Planning and budgeting for the section
- Review of solid pavement materials supervising road material laboratory
- Planning maintenance of roads and concrete surfaces
- Producing pavement plans and drawings
- Assessing and investigating road material and writing technical reports
- Creates regulatory safety issues documents
- Overseeing budget and project resources and managing the pavement Operations
- Unit Teams, efficiently, cost effectively and safely to meet both short and long term production objectives
- Writing pavement construction specifications
- Maintains pavement structures after being built
- Page 10 of 11
Senior Geotechnical Engineer
GeNap Consulting Engineers, TYPE OF FIRM Mining and Construction
11.2004 - 07.2004
- REASON FOR LEAVING End of Contract
Pavement Engineer
Council
05.2003 - 06.2004
- TYPE OF FIRM State Owned Entity, for Scientific and
- Industrial Research
Senior Tunnel Engineer
REASON FOR LEAVING
05.1996 - 06.2003
- DUTIES
- Participated in and supervised the geotechnical investigations of Mohale Dam
- Contract 2008 in 1997
- Responsible for mapping of the Mohale tunnel, tunnel boring machine face wall and geotechnical logging of the tunnel spoil and monitoring tbm progress
- Community Liason responsibilities
- Page 11 of 11, and Geology
- TYPE OF FIRM State
- LOCATION
Senior Tunnel Engineer
Lesotho Highlands, Developement Authority
10.1996 - 01.2003
Quarry Operations Geologist
Lesotho Highlands
02.1994 - 10.1996
Quarry Geologist
Lesotho Highlands Consultants, TYPE OF, Consulting Engineers, Lesotho, REASON FOR LEAVING Career
07.1994 - 01.1996
- Growth
- KEY DUTIES
- Responsible for all geological and geotechnical mapping at the Katse Dam Site, diversion tunnels and quarry
- Suppervising and monitoring of mining and crushing of the aggregate material to ensure that crushers are producing the desired quality and quantity for all the works, in particular for the batching plant
- Looking after 10 technicians in the laboratory and at the quarry
- Planning and budgeting for the the laboratory and quarry personnel and daily consummables
Geology Exploration Geologist
Mines
01.1989 - 12.1993
Lerotholi PolyTech College Lecturer Engineering Geology
01.1990 - 11.1993
Exploration Geologist
REASON FOR LEAVING Career
07.1989 - 01.1993
- Growth
- KEY DUTIES
- Responsible for all geological and geotechnical mapping Site
- Monitoring of the mineral and mining activities
- Community Liason
- Parttime lecturer at Lerotholi Polytechnic College (mining/geology)
Koidu Holdings (PTY) LTD, Tanzania
01.1991 - 01.1992
- Budgeted and Conducted geological/geotechnical exploration service in Sierra Leone for mine design, Geological sampling on all boreholes focusing on the kimberlite blows, dyke zones and write factual report
- Germany, GTZ, Freiberg and Hannover
- Hydrogeology and geology of the Elbingerode Copper Mine, dealing with the ground water chemistry and researching on the neutralisation possibility before discharging the water into the environment (produced Hons and MSc Thesis 1985 to 1989)
- Participated in an international mapping in Tanzania, gold exploration (, , Dodoma, Mines and Geology,
- Participated in an internation Geological exploration in the Kilimbe Mountains Valley and Ruaha River Basin for gold
- Training and supervising young professionals
Engineering geologist
Magwagwa Hydropower
- Kenya
- Community Liason and, for the detailed geotechnical investigations for a proposed 17 km long tunnel and a CFRD
- Managing and supervising all aspect of geotechnical data collection for the design team.
Resident
Lesotho Highlands Water
- Project, Lesotho
- Engineering Geologist on Phase 2 geotechnical investigation project
- In addition to being responsible for the geological and geotechnical aspects, assisting the Project Manager in carrying out his duties
- He is responsible to the Engineer’s
- Representative.
Impala Platinum Mine Limited
Rustenburg
- Geological/geotechnical Logging: the core recovered from the approximately 1450 m deep borehole was logged
- This included the identification of geotechnical zones, i.e
- Zones of rock expected to behave uniformly when exposed within the shaft excavation, and the classification of the geotechnical zones according to Laubscher’s (1990) Mine Rock Mass Rating (MRMR) system.
De Beers Consolidated Mines (PTY) LTD – Venetia
- Mine underground Exploration,
- South Africa
- Geological and geotechnical data collection, Geotechnical data for calculation of
- Rock Mass Rating (RMR, MRMR and Q-Value), Standardized all historic geological and geotechnical logging (QA/QC) and input in Gemcom, documentation and supervision
- Supervising 25 graduate geologists in geotechnical logging, drilling supervision and monitoring
- Over 500 holes, between 100 m to 1200 m deep, were drilled and logged
- Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly reporting on the progress and expenditure.
Coal Projects of Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc, PTY
- Coal of Africa and Kitten (, Budgeted and Conducted all geotechnical logging on their coal projects in
- Mpumalanga Region, completed a database of all logging and supervised drilling on the projects
- In addition, sampling, geotechnical field work, laboratory testing (e.g
- Strength (UCS), Split test for roof and floor, point load tests, Calculation of Roof
- Rockmass Ratings and write technical reports.
Authority, TYPE OF FIRM
- State Owned Enity
- LOCATION
Education
PhD - Geology
the Free State
YEAR Zanite International Consultants Project Management - undefined
Use of Borehole Geophysics for Geologists and Hydrogeologists - undefined
CEE University of
Witwatersand
Witwatersand Analysis and Redesign of Prestressed - undefined
CEE University
UNISA Training Course in Toponymy - undefined
LOCATION NAME OF - undefined
Bachelor of Science - Engineering Geology
Bergakademie Freiberg
Skills
COMPUTER LITERACYundefined
Accomplishments
- Monitoring and supervision of drilling,
- Supervised geological and geotechnical logging of core,
- Calculation of RMR, Q-Values for design of slopes,
- Prepare monthly reports and coordinate data distribution
- Reponsible for all geotechnical activies on the mine including monitoring of the pit slopes,
- Visual inspection and using a Satalite Radar System
- Formulating, Planning and Leading Coal and Diamond exploration projects
- Page 8 of 11, Contracted to DeBeers Venetia Mine (Exploration for Underground Mining),
- Monitoring and supervision of drilling,
- Supervised geological and geotechnical logging of core,
- Calculation of RMR, Q-Values for design of slopes,
- Prepare monthly reports and coordinate data distribution
- Worked on secondment at Venetia Mine Limpopo as Senior Engineering Geologist
- Reponsible for all geotechnical activies on the mine including monitoring of the pit slopes using a Satalite Radar System
- Page 9 of 11, Pit slope and waste rock dump stability monitoring, interpretation and reporting;
- Design, interpretation and reporting of extensometer and monitoring networks ,
- Stability analysis and recommendations,
- Monitoring and control of final pit boundaries,
- Geotechnical phase mapping, core logging and sampling,
- Management, interpretation and reporting of pit dewatering projects,
- Geotechnical drilling project management,
- Assisting with revision of mandatory codes of practice and relevant procedures,
- Management of slope stability radar (Consulting on Australian SSR),
- Member of the special area committee managing geotechnical risk areas,
- Mentoring junior 12 project geologist, responsible for the Data collection for the underground development
Affiliations
Geological Society of South Africa
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Technical Manager
LLBK Consulting
10.2018 - Current
Senior Engineering Geologist
LLBK Consulting, TYPE OF FIRM Consulting Engineers
04.2018 - Current
Geotechnical Mnanager
Letseng Diamond Mine, TYPE OF FIRM Mining Company
04.2012 - 10.2018
Geotechnical Manager, Rock Engineer
Letseng Diamond Mine
04.2012 - 09.2018
Technical Specialist
GeNap Consulting
03.2012 - 05.2013
Director/Technical Specialist
GeNap Consulting, OF FIRM Consulting Engineers
03.2012 - 05.2013
Materials Engineer/Community Liason
Mathokoane
05.2010 - 03.2012
Materials Engineer
Mathokoane, Ha Leshoele, Monicas Road Construction, GeNap Consulting
03.2010 - 03.2012
Geotechnical Engineer
GeNap Consulting
01.2010 - 01.2012
Geotechnical Specialist
TYPE OF, Engineers
04.2007 - 12.2009
Resident Engineering Geologist
JOB MARKET
01.2007 - 01.2009
Consulting Director
GeNap, Mining & Construction
08.2006 - 01.2010
HELD Director
GeNap
01.2006 - 02.2010
Senior Geotechnical Engineer
GeNap Consulting Engineers, TYPE OF FIRM Mining and Construction
11.2004 - 07.2004
Senior Geotechnical Engineer
DeBeers Venetia Mine
01.2004 - 12.2006
Pavement Engineer
LEAVING Career
12.2003 - 10.2004
Pavement Engineer
Council
05.2003 - 06.2004
Senior Tunnel Engineer
Lesotho Highlands, Developement Authority
10.1996 - 01.2003
Senior Tunnel Engineer
REASON FOR LEAVING
05.1996 - 06.2003
Quarry Geologist
Lesotho Highlands Consultants, TYPE OF, Consulting Engineers, Lesotho, REASON FOR LEAVING Career
07.1994 - 01.1996
Quarry Operations Geologist
Lesotho Highlands
02.1994 - 10.1996
Koidu Holdings (PTY) LTD, Tanzania
01.1991 - 01.1992
Lerotholi PolyTech College Lecturer Engineering Geology
01.1990 - 11.1993
Exploration Geologist
REASON FOR LEAVING Career
07.1989 - 01.1993
Geology Exploration Geologist
Mines
01.1989 - 12.1993
Engineering geologist
Magwagwa Hydropower
Resident
Lesotho Highlands Water
Impala Platinum Mine Limited
De Beers Consolidated Mines (PTY) LTD – Venetia
Coal Projects of Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc, PTY
Authority, TYPE OF FIRM
PhD - Geology
the Free State
YEAR Zanite International Consultants Project Management - undefined
Use of Borehole Geophysics for Geologists and Hydrogeologists - undefined
CEE University of
Witwatersand
Witwatersand Analysis and Redesign of Prestressed - undefined
CEE University
UNISA Training Course in Toponymy - undefined
LOCATION NAME OF - undefined
Bachelor of Science - Engineering Geology
Bergakademie Freiberg
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