Thobi Nhleko

• Alternating monthly) The role requires oversight of all processes and projects in the Centre of Excellence, from project determination to project delivery
• Supervision of all Centre of Excellence Staff;
• Management of multiple projects with multi-disciplinary teams;
• Oversee the development iof impactful research questions;
• Advancing the delivery of strategic objectives;
• Budget Management;
• Process Management and scrutiny;
• Ongoing Stakeholder engagement and interaction to identify the needs of the SAMI;
• Risk Management;
• Proving Technical input regarding OHS.
• Management of collaboration agreements

• Conducting impactful research for the purpose of reducing OHS safety in the industry
• Strategic and operational planning;
• The management of all Safety research projects;
• The technical review of project milestones and outcomes;
• Contract Management of all research assignments which have contracts and service level agreements in place
• The management and reconciliation of a contract and exit based on predefined contract criterion
• Ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope and budget;
• Contribute in all MHSC interventions and initiative that are aligned to the Mine Health and Safety Act;
• Providing technical inputs on various platforms;
• The analysis of final project reports for impact, results, research methodology, data integrity, conformance of deliverables, correct interpretation of results, relevance of conclusions and recommendations
• Development of Advisory notes for the minister
• Budget development and management

• Management and execution of research projects which contributed to the sustainability and OHS improvement of the mining industry
• Supervision of Junior researchers
• Continuous Stakeholder engagements to identify research gaps and trend in the mining industry;
• Ensuring projects delivery on time, on budget and within scope;
• Providing technical input on various platforms

Managed Project work includes (but not limited to)the following:

• The development of 3 alternative drill solutions for the mining industry;
• The Independent drill machine monitoring;
• The facilitation of the development of an alternative support to elongate support in underground hard rock mining;
• Techno-economic evaluations of various technological and system solutions;
• Cost-benefit analyses of the introduction of new technology or alternative mining methods
• Improvement of sustainability of mining through cost improvement, increased revenues and cost savings;
• Mineral Economics;
• The development of blue print designs for the mining cycle;
• Cost reduction opportunities using energy optimisation studies
• Investigation into the feasibility of utilising none explosive extraction methodologies (thermal spalling and diamond wire cutting);

• Provision of Specialist Rock engineering services and expertise to the mine.
• Conducting short-term and long term planning
• Design and approval of underground layout designs
• Technical validity of planning, ensuring integration with other technical disciplines (geology; survey; mining; ventilation, SHE);
• Project Management
• Budget Management
• Management of junior staff
• Development of strategies and methodologies to minimize seismic hazards
• Development of strategies and systems to ensure the reduction in rockfall and rockburst hazard
• Life of mine planning and scheduling scrutiny;
• Development of protocols to ensure rock engineering safety protocols are adhered to;
• Geotechnical studies;
• Technical Systems Implementation;
• Establish and maintain technical standards;
• Establish and maintain management information systems;
• Conduct numerical modelling for layout designs
• Business improvement through departmental interventions;
• The implementation of the new projects to drive cost saving and safety improvement
• Overseeing Rock Engineering technology trials and implementations

Project lead work included (but not limited to):

• Investigation and subsequent roll out of an alternative in-stope areal coverage support
• Design of feasible systems to prevent isolated sinkhole formation;
• Implementation of continuous closure monitoring devices applicable to a shallow mine with high stresses
• The design of layouts applicable for highly stresses Merensky remnants;
• Change Management processes with regard to the implementation of new systems and technologies;
• Implementation of improved seismic monitoring systems

• Short term planning
• Managing staff within allocated Section
• Monitoring and ensuring overall support compliance underground
• Seismic monitoring and response protocol
• Fall of Ground investigations and subsequent remedial actions
• Micro design risk ratings and assessments
• Monitoring adherence to pillar layouts and designs
• Risk assessments and analysis
• Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.

• Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.
• Daily underground visits to monitor support compliance
• Quality control audits of secondary support
• Ensuring hazards associated with challenging underground solutions are mitigated
• Assisting production personnel with issues relating to strata in their sections
• Conducting pre-mining risk assessment underground.
• Underground mapping and subsequently ensuring data entry, analysis and reporting.

Training Programme in the Department

Conducting underground site observations and subsequent reporting

Secondary support quality control and measurement

• Exposure to all the Mining Technical Departments and the Production Department.

• Conducted a project on the change management processes required for the implementation of in-stope safety nets and roof bolts.

• Exposure to underground mining.
• Knowledge of mechanised mining methods
• Mentored by the Shift Supervisor and assisting with daily tasks to achieve production targets.
• Worked in team environment to achieve safety and production targets.