Meet the team behind our success.
MEET OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT : MINOPEX GROUP EMEA AND PRESIDENT DRA SAUDI ARABIA
RASHID KADER
Mr Kader is an accomplished executive and Chemical Engineer with 25+ years of exemplary leadership in the metallurgical industry, showcasing a remarkable ability to drive business growth and ensure safe operations. Mr Kader maintains an unwavering commitment to a zero-harm culture, achieving an injury-free record benchmarked among the world's best. As a visionary leader, Mr Kader excels in strategic planning, operational optimization, and team leadership.
He is highly skilled at streamlining operational processes, ensuring superior product quality, cost efficiency and developing high-performing teams. Beyond his executive role, Mr Kader actively serves on a number of subsidiary group company boards, guiding businesses towards profitability, efficiency, and instilling a zero-harm ethos. Mr Kader forward-thinking approach keeps him at the forefront of the industry.
His deep industry knowledge and insight drives innovation and upholds a competitive edge. He has played a key role in expanding business into new geographical areas. Known for his collaborative leadership style, Mr Kader fosters motivation and cultivates a positive work environment, leading to continuous improvement and employee development.
As a thought leader in the metallurgical industry, Mr Kader actively participates in professional associations such as MMMA, SAIMM, and SAMMRI earning recognition for leading safety initiatives in operations.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT: OPERATIONS & BIT
LUCAS NGOBENI
Lucas is an experienced metallurgist with proven track record in mineral processing, particularly PGM concentrating and coal handling and processing. Lucas is experienced in optimizing plant operations and building cohesive, high-performance teams. Lucas has spent the past 26 years in plant operations and management roles, 20 of which have been with Minopex.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT: MINING
WESSEL PHUMO
Wessel has over 35 years’ experience in the mining industry. He holds a BTech Degree in Mining Engineering, National and National Higher Diplomas in Mining Engineering, and a Certificate Programme in Leadership Development from Wits Business School. Wessels has gained experience from many mining houses throughout his career and built extensive knowledge in underground and open pit, in both platinum and gold.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OPERATIONS : GROUP ENGINEERING, SYSTEMS &TECHNOLOGY
RADESH SUKHDEO
Radesh has over 33 years’ experience in the mining and construction industry. He holds qualifications in Electrical, Mechanical and Instrumentation including Management for Scientists and Engineers certification. Radesh has a sound track record on optimising Plant Operations, Asset Management and Technology implementations. Radesh has experience in various commodities and plant commission and ramp-up including Platinum, Base Metals and Phosphate.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT : ORIGINATION & SPECIAL PROJECTS
MPHO NKGODI
Mpho has nearly 20 years’ experience in the mining, metals and built environment sectors. Mpho is a professional engineer by trade (ECSA, Pr. Eng 20120373), holds a B.Eng (Hons) Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Johannesburg and also a MBA from Wits Business School.
Prior to joining Minopex as head of business development, Mpho served in various roles for SENET which included having acted in project execution roles on several precious and base metals projects and studies in central and west Africa.
VICE PRESIDENT: HUMAN RESOURCES
ELGIE BLIGNAUT
Elgie has earned 27 years of experience in Human Resources having worked for local and international organisations across Financial Services, Mining & Resources, and Information & Communications Technology (ICT) industries. Elgie has worked at various mining operations and most recently was leading the HR transition from surface to underground mining operations at De Beers’ Venetia mine, a 2.5 billion U$D project.
He has also successfully headed up large scale restructuring and change management programmes at Business Unit and Enterprise level in all the industries he has worked and has an excellent delivery track record both as an HR Generalist and as an Employee Relations Specialist.
VICE PRESIDENT: FINANCE
NICOLETTE UYS
Nicolette is a Chartered Accountant who completed her articles with PwC in South Africa in 2006. She assumed the role of VP – Finance at Minopex in September 2018. She manages the financial department of the Minopex Group and is responsible for financial controls, reporting and compliance on a day-to-day basis.
Prior to her appointment, Nicolette previously held the role of Group Financial Controller – Operations at Petra Diamonds Ltd, with responsibility for financial management across the Petra Group’s operations. She has 15 years’ experience in the mining industry.
VICE PRESIDENT : SPECIAL PROJECTS
PHEMELO GONKGANG
Phemelo has over 22 years’ experience in the mining industry. He holds a B.Sc. Degree in Chemical Engineering, Post Graduate Diploma in Engineering and an MBL from Unisa Business School. Phemelo's career journey encompasses roles ranging from plant operations to projects. Prior to joining Minopex, he was Managing Director of JHDA whereby he executed projects in various commodities such as coal, manganese, iron ore and PGM’s.
OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE : WEST AFRICA & DRC
PAUL THOMSON
Paul has earned more than 28 years’ experience in the mining industry. He holds a BEng in Metallurgical Engineering and a National Diploma in Nuclear Technology and has completed executive development courses at Cranfield University.
Throughout his career, Paul has worked at various mining companies in multi-level positions ranging from operator to CEO. Paul’s commodity experience is substantial and includes extensive experience in Copper, Platinum, Iron, Zirconia and Vermiculite processing, in addition to. He has a working knowledge of gold processing and open pit planning.
VICE PRESIDENT : SUPPLY CHAIN
LANCE BALDWIN
Lance is a supply chain specialist with extensive experience. He has 28 years’ end-to-end supply chain and supply chain consulting experience. He is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) and holds the MCIPS (Chartered Status) designation.
He holds Master of Science degree, a Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree, as well as holding the designation of Certified Purchasing Manager through the Institute of Purchasing and Supply. Lance has held many strategic positions in local and multinational companies and added great value through unlocking untapped value in supply chains.
VICE PRESIDENT : MENA REGION
SAJID IQBAL
Sajid has earned more than 28 years’ experience having worked on various projects in South Africa, Saudi Arabia and within the African continent under the Minopex / DRA Saudi Arabia. His knowledge includes extensive mining experience in the Gold, Coal, and Platinum industries.
Sajid holds a B. Eng. (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering as well as a Government Certificate of Competency (Mines and Works). Sajid was an instrumental member of the team which successfully launched the business in the Middle East, having built strong client relationships and an impressive reputation in the market.
Sajid was seconded to a client for a period as the Group engineering manager of all their operational assets in which time he gained a more intimate understanding of the client and geographical area.
MANAGING DIRECTOR : ADVISORY
MATT VAN WYK
Matt’s knowledge is rooted in business performance improvements which he has earned across multiple industries. For 20 years Matt has developed keen insight into Lean Thinking, Business Process Optimisation, digitalisation and the application of global best practice.
During his career, he has designed and embedded the improvement journey for De Beers, and supported companies like Anglo American, De Beers Marine, Debswana, GEM Diamonds, Anglo Coal, Nando’s, Sasol, Willis Towers Watson and a number of others on their improvement journeys.
Matt has a background in Process Engineering and holds a MSc in Lean Operations from Cardiff University. He has 26 years of operational experience and has spent 13 years in consulting.
VICE PRESIDENT : MINOPEX MOZAMBIQUE
JACO BADENHORST
Jaco has 18 years’ experience in the Construction, Processing and Mining Industry focussing on plant operations, engineering and project related work.
A hydrometallurgical engineer by background, Jaco has been involved in the technical, operational and project departments of Anglo Platinum’s Rustenburg Base Metal Refinery. As Project Process Engineer for an EPCM company, he was intimately involved in the design, construction and commissioning of a hydrometallurgical refinery in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Subsequently, he was appointed Plant Manager for Coal Preparation Plants in Queensland, Australia and was later appointed as Completions Manager for an EPCM company.
Jaco currently manages the Operations as Contracting Company of a large coal CPP in Mozambique