Simelokuhle Ndlovu
Bulawayo,Zimbabwe
Summary
Dedicated professional with vast experience in Rock engineering. Proficient in support design ,software applications and risk assessment techniques critical for mining safety. Committed to maintaining high standards of quality assurance and compliance in all operations.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Strata Control Officer
Anglo American - Unki Mines
08.2021 - 03.2026
- Ensuring compliance with and enforcing the rock engineering standards and procedures.
- Ensuring adherence to the mining method and sequence of extraction of the ore body and scrutinizing sizes and shapes of excavations against design.
- Assessment of ground condition making use of RMR and Barton rating systems, updating the respective databases and plans.
- Evaluating and recording ground movement as a result of mining operations by use of ground monitoring systems such as closure meters, data loggers & FOG lights.
- Recommending suitable support methods and material for underground excavations.
- Assessing the quality (QAQC) of support installations and improving the efficiency of installations.
- Use of Microstation to produce layouts of mine plans and pillar designs.
- Applying numerical modelling softwares to predict failure e.g J Block, Unwedge etc.
- Assisting in short term interval planning by conducting bord risk assessments and bord risk ranking.
- Maintaining technical standards.
- Training and coaching Strata Control and TARP to production personnel.
- Installing and monitoring all rock engineering instrumentation in area of responsibility.
- Using of instruments(GPR & Borehole camera) to determine Fall out thickness in order to make valid decisions in tendon length and spacing recommendation.
Database Geology Technician
Bravura Mine
01.2020 - 07.2021
- Uploading and sorting Drilling data into Fusion database.
- Use of ArcGIS to locate coordinates and to create drilling maps for Diamond Drilling team.
- Site visits to supervise drilling and geotechnical core logging.
- Managing logistics and resourcing drilling and geology teams at site.
- Enforcing SHE standards and keeping files in order for audit purposes.
Exploration Geology Technician
ZIMPLATS
06.2018 - 10.2019
- PGE minerals.
- Modelling of drilled hole Data using Vulcan softwares.
- Maintaining exploration database using Sable database.
- Geotechnical logging using the Barton Q System.
- Preliminary logging.
Open pit Geology Technician
ZIMPLATS
01.2016 - 06.2018
- Mapping Pit area and updating plans in vulcan.
- Monitoring of highwalls and recommending their suitable slope angle.
- Ensuring standard distance from highwalls and Berm sizes are adhered to.
- Creating Digital Terrain model of the ore body using Vulcan software, to direct mining contractors on mining depths and patterns.
- Supervising Reverse circulation contractor.
- Monitoring of dumps by use of crack meters.
Underground Grade Control Geology Technician
ZIMPLATS
01.2009 - 12.2015
- Room and pillar mining of PGE minerals.
- Carrying out grade control functions to ensure minimal dilution of ore. These included supervision of sampling crews, assay analysis, reef marking, prescription of drilling angles and waste management.
- Using Barton Q system for Rock Mass classification.
- Preliminary and Geotechnical Core logging.
- Issuing Support Recommendations.
- Use of Vulcan softwares to model reef and create maps and plans.
Education
Certificate - Strata Control
South Africa Chamber Of Mines
10.2011 - 10.2011
Certificate - Rock Mechanics Paper 1
Minerals Council South Africa
10.2024 - 10.2024
MSC - Mining Engineering-specialising in Rock Engineering
Witswatersrand University
01.2025 -
BSC - Computing
UNISA
08.2014 - 10.2018
National Diploma - Mining Geology
Zimbabwe School Of Mines
01.2006 - 10.2008
Skills
- MicroStation
- Vulcan
- Microsoft Access
- J Block
- Vantage - Pillar numerical modelling
- Rocscience softwares
- Flac 3D
- Map 3D
Languages
English
Fluent
Ndebele
Native
Shona
Fluent
References
- Tarisai, Marazani, tarisai.marazani@zimplats.com, +263783697862, ZIMPLATS
- Kona, Maxwell, maxwell.kona@angloamerican.com, +263772232746, UNKI
Hobbies
Coding, Soccer
Affiliations
- Programming
- Watching soccer
Accomplishments
- 2007-Awarded scholarship by ZIMPLATS after attachment to finish off my studies and rejoin them as a permanent employee.
- 2015-Awarded scholarship by ZIMPLATS to study Computer science at UNISA.
Certification
- Class 4 drving License
- First aid certificate
Timeline
MSC - Mining Engineering-specialising in Rock Engineering
Witswatersrand University
01.2025 -
Certificate - Rock Mechanics Paper 1
Minerals Council South Africa
10.2024 - 10.2024
Strata Control Officer
Anglo American - Unki Mines
08.2021 - 03.2026
Database Geology Technician
Bravura Mine
01.2020 - 07.2021
Exploration Geology Technician
ZIMPLATS
06.2018 - 10.2019
Open pit Geology Technician
ZIMPLATS
01.2016 - 06.2018
BSC - Computing
UNISA
08.2014 - 10.2018
Certificate - Strata Control
South Africa Chamber Of Mines
10.2011 - 10.2011
Underground Grade Control Geology Technician
ZIMPLATS
01.2009 - 12.2015
National Diploma - Mining Geology
Zimbabwe School Of Mines
01.2006 - 10.2008