Kabelo Ignitius Dube
Metallurgist
Brits, North West
Summary
I am a highly skilled and performance-driven professional with extensive experience in Platinum Group Metals (MG and UG2 ore) and Chrome mineral beneficiation processing. With a strong background in processing engineering, leadership roles in heavy industrial plant operations, and expertise in plant construction, commissioning, and ramp-up, I bring a comprehensive set of skills to the table. I am proficient in metal accounting systems, reporting, metallurgical principles, and plant process optimization. I have a proven ability to solve complex technical challenges. I possess excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills, coupled with experience in workplace systems such as MS Office, Pragma OnKey, MySHEQ, SAGE, and OnSuite. Additionally, I am well-versed in SHEQ, MHSA regulations, and control room operations (SCADA), and have a strong commitment to safety and performance standards. I am highly motivated, eager to learn, and capable of maintaining excellent work relationships while adhering to legal and ethical standards.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
year of post-secondary education
Work History
Acting Plant Superintendent (2.6.1)
Barplats Mine (Eastplats)
08.2025 - Current
- Ensure full compliance with legal, statutory, and company procedures by managing sign-off of required documentation and enforcing adherence to approved operating standards.
- Lead end-to-end operational oversight across Crushing and Comminution, Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), Magnetic Separation, Spiral Concentration, Flotation, and Water Treatment Plants.
- Direct daily plant operations and coordinate maintenance activities to ensure safe, stable, and efficient equipment performance.
- Plan, manage, and guide metallurgical test work programmes to support process optimization and operational improvements.
- Deliver safe production while achieving daily and monthly production targets through effective team leadership and operational control.
- Maximise equipment availability by proactively coordinating with Engineering teams to reduce breakdowns and mitigate equipment failures.
- Lead Root Cause Failure Analyses (RCFA) and implement corrective and preventive control measures to ensure sustained plant reliability.
- Control overall plant operating costs, including daily consumables usage and critical equipment spares management.
- Perform daily metal accounting verification, reconciliation, and performance reporting to support operational decision-making.
- Drive continuous improvement and optimization projects across existing processing plants to enhance recovery, throughput, and stability.
- Lead plant expansion projects, including scope definition, design input, execution support, and commissioning activities.
- Supervise and support legally appointed 2.9.2 Production Foremen to ensure compliance, performance, and safety leadership.
- Conduct Value for Effort (VFE) initiatives to improve workplace conditions, safety, and operational efficiency.
- Oversaw capital expenditure projects related to infrastructure improvements or equipment upgrades to maintain a state-of-the-art facility competitive within the industry landscape.
- Collaborated with engineering teams to design and implement custom solutions for unique plant requirements.
Production Day Foreman
Barplats Mine (Eastplats)
07.2024 - 08.2025
- Ensure production daily activities and production targets targets are met, reduce costs & manage performance of direct production staff.
- Process monitoring, control, optimization and manage process recipe by ensuring key performance indicators are adhered to.
- Effective supervision of subordinates (Attendance & Wellness).
- Ensure discipline across the team members if any deviations need to be addressed.
- Perform inspections in accordance with the Mine Health and Safety Act regulations and ensure compliance.
- Ensure adherence to Process standards and Procedures. As 2.9.2 appointee.
- Coordinate and monitor equipment availability and ensure continuous effective communication with relevant stakeholders to minimize production delays.
- Identify key performance shortfalls, gaps, and critical improvement areas by methods of root cause analysis.
- Coordinate training and development of team members.
- Responsible for commissioning and optimization of 80 KTPM UG2 processing plant.
- Ensure adherence to plant recipe.
- Ensure continuous training of team member, and conducting PTO’s
- Implementation of Standard operating Procedure.
Operations Metallurgist
Tharisa Minerals
01.2024 - 06.2024
- Drive adherence to the plant production plan and deliver daily, weekly, and monthly production targets through effective control of key process variables.
- Optimize production performance by identifying controllable variables and implementing corrective actions to meet shift and daily targets.
- Identify, recommend, and support process and equipment improvement projects through innovative problem-solving.
- Operate and manage daily plant activities in strict accordance with approved recipes, operating guidelines, and standard operating procedures.
- Adjust shift production strategies and targets proactively to recover losses and ensure achievement of daily output requirements.
- Coordinate support services by liaising with Engineering and Technical teams to ensure operational continuity.
- Manage and align daily technical services support to plant operations.
- Control plant consumables and spares expenditure in line with approved monthly budgets.
- Implement initiatives to maximise synergies and integration across plant sections.
- Manage shift leave rosters and overtime in compliance with company policies and labour regulations.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate risks to personnel and processes during shifts, including stopping operations when conditions are unsafe.
- Lead and coach the process team to ensure consistent adherence to standard operating procedures and best operating practices.
- Provide technical guidance on recipe and process adjustments to achieve shift, daily, weekly, and monthly production targets.
- Support planned shutdowns and preventive maintenance activities to ensure plant reliability and availability.
- Monitor and evaluate process team performance and provide clear, solution-driven direction.
- Apply disciplinary processes in line with company policies and procedures.
- Implement corrective actions to address SHEQ deficiencies and close out identified gaps.
- Conduct daily metal accounting and production reconciliations to ensure accurate performance tracking.
- Ensure effective operation and integration of existing and newly implemented technologies.
- Facilitate technology transfer and skills development within the process team.
- Oversee execution of minor process improvement projects to enhance plant performance.
- Resolve plant operational delays and constraints to restore production stability.
- Communicate organizational vision and values effectively and motivate teams toward shared objectives.
- Ensure full compliance with safety legislation, regulations, codes of practice, and company standards.
- Investigate safety, injury, hazard, and risk incidents and implement preventive and corrective measures.
Metallurgical Process Controller
Tharisa Minerals
12.2021 - 01.2024
- Accountable for safe achievement of shift metallurgical targets in plant.
- Leading and controlling of plant activities.
- Assist in execution of process maintenance and process control.
- Ensure adherence to safety and safe working practices.
- Coach and instruct team on work performance and optimizing of work practices.
- Implement corrective action in places of non-compliance to objectives and safety standards.
- Ensure timeous chrome and PGM dispatch according to plan.
- Record and analyse plant breakdowns and implement corrective/preventative action to improve plant availability.
- Focus on effective and safe operation of plant to optimize efficiencies and recoveries and maintain product quality.
- Administration of systems (Job Cards, risk assessment, permits)
- Labour management
- SCADA systems monitoring for optimal plant performance and stability.
- Daily report compilation for shift end report and SHEQ management.
- Planning and organizing of plant maintenance/ shutdown tasks.
- Management of team’s leave and overtime sheets to ensure strict work attendance.
- Communicate daily, monthly plant targets and ensure targets are met in a safe working manner.
Plant Shift Foreman
Sail Black Chrome Mine
07.2019 - 07.2021
- Responsible for daily running of chrome plant by ensuring minimal downtime, equipment operation by SOP and proper maintenance.
- Ensuring daily production targets are met.
- Conducting daily production report and shift hand over.
- Trouble shooting of equipment failure or process deviation.
- MHSA 2.9.2 legal appointee with understanding of plant practices and principles.
- Daily plant inspections for hazards and risk identifications/ assessments.
- Ensure team compliance to SHEQ regulations.
- Resolve breakdowns with minimal downtime.
- Ensure daily product quality control, stock pad management and assist plant metallurgist with plant optimization.
- SCADA systems monitoring for optimal plant performance and stability.
- Materials and consumables management.
- Daily communication with plant logistics department.
- Responsible for conducting PTO and SBO and continues training of team member to ensure optimal team performance.
- Daily report compilation for shift end report and SHEQ management.
- Planning and organizing of plant maintenance/ shutdown tasks.
- Management of team’s leave and overtime sheets to ensure strict work attendance.
- Communicate daily, monthly plant targets and ensure targets are met in a safe working manner.
- Quality control by means of managing flocculent dosing, Mill steel ball loading and water control.
- Filter press operation, troubleshooting and maintenance systems knowledge for optimal water recovery.
- Process included: Crushing, Ball Milling, Screening, Gravity concentration, Water recovery, Flocculation, tailing management and filtration.
Junior Process Engineer
UMS Mets International
04.2019 - 06.2019
- Junior process engineer involved in commissioning 50KTPM chrome spiral wash plant.
- This involves experience in crushing, milling, double deck screen, modular spirals, hydro-cyclones, T-type Classifier (hydrosizer), pump sizing, HDPE piping, thickener and filter press commissioning
- Ensure for smooth running of plant construction and punch listing.
- Liaising with client and service providers during construction.
- Implementation of commissioning plan and procedure.
- Solving any deviations within implementation of commissioning plan.
- Ensure SCADA systems to be represented as the P&ID and PFD.
- Punch listing and signing of for all commissioning stages.
- Commissioning, plant ramp-up and plant stabilization.
- Daily SHEQ and Risk assessments of plant site.
Laboratory Supervisor
Institute for Nano Engineering Research
02.2017 - 03.2019
- Maintain a clean safe work area in compliance with corporate and health standards.
- Supervise, mentor and train P1 / P2 students on advanced laboratory equipment.
- Day to day running of the laboratory compilation of target reports.
- Maintenance of laboratory equipment.
- Research and develop alloys and composites.
- Develop new processing techniques for the laboratory.
Junior Metallurgical Technician
Mabu Minchem & Water Services
06.2016 - 12.2016
- Consulting work for various clients based on plant optimization.
- Water care management and thickener optimization and water clarification processes.
- Research and development of froth floatation dosing of various PGM ore types.
- Water sample analysis.
Laboratory Assistant
Institute for nano Engineering Research
02.2015 - 01.2016
- Consulting work for various clients based on plant optimization.
- Water care management and thickener optimization and water clarification processes.
- Research and development of froth floatation dosing of various PGM ore types.
- Water sample analysis.
Education
B-Tech: Metallurgy
Tshwane University Of Technology
Pretoria 01.2017 - 12.2017
National Diploma - Metallurgy
Tshwane University Of Technology
Pretoria, South Africa01.2015
Skills
Communication
Management
Administrative
Technical reporting
Team leader
Metallurgical data analysis
Process plant optimization
Task planning and execution
Time conscious and management
Controlling costs
Continuous improvement strategies
Operations management
References
- Kelvin, Mukuku, Plant Manager, kmukuku@eastplats.co.za, +27 71 417 5836, Barplats
- Mosejwadi, Makgai, Plant Superintendent, tmakgai@tharisa.com, +27 76 243 9944, Tharisa
- Abednego, Mnisi, Process Foreman, amnisi@tharisa.com, +27 82 834 7069, Tharisa
- Stephen, Sekati, Plant Manager, ssekati@blackcr.com, +27 82 867 0872, Black Chrome
- Freddy, Mahlare, Lead Process Engineer, freddym@umsint.com, +27 76 978 7758, UMS Mets International
- Alex, Raboshakga, Managing Director, alex@mabuminchem.co.za, +27 72 746 5456, Mabu Minchem
- Thabiso, Langa, Laboratory Supervisor, Thabisolanga1@gmail.com, +27 76 688 4482
Timeline
Acting Plant Superintendent (2.6.1)
Barplats Mine (Eastplats)
08.2025 - Current
Production Day Foreman
Barplats Mine (Eastplats)
07.2024 - 08.2025
Operations Metallurgist
Tharisa Minerals
01.2024 - 06.2024
Metallurgical Process Controller
Tharisa Minerals
12.2021 - 01.2024
Plant Shift Foreman
Sail Black Chrome Mine
07.2019 - 07.2021
Junior Process Engineer
UMS Mets International
04.2019 - 06.2019
Laboratory Supervisor
Institute for Nano Engineering Research
02.2017 - 03.2019
B-Tech: Metallurgy
Tshwane University Of Technology
01.2017 - 12.2017
Junior Metallurgical Technician
Mabu Minchem & Water Services
06.2016 - 12.2016
Laboratory Assistant
Institute for nano Engineering Research
02.2015 - 01.2016
National Diploma - Metallurgy
Tshwane University Of Technology