Drilling operator/Supervisor drilling at Ennejah drilling, Mauritania, West Africa (2026-01 – 2026-09)
- Experienced in reverse circulation (RC) exploration drilling operations, including drilling depths of up to 500m for mineral exploration, geological sampling, and resource evaluation.
- Conducted RC drilling operations for mineral exploration projects, managing drilling activities to depths off 500m, including rod handling, sample recovery, drill parameter monitoring, and adherence to safety and quality standards
- Competent in operating and maintaining RC drilling equipment for exploration drilling programs, achieving depths of 500m, with experience in drill setup, compressor management, sample collection, and troubleshooting drilling challenges.
- Operate crawler-mounted drilling rigs for exploration and geotechnical drilling projects.
- Perform RC (Reverse Circulation), percussion, and other drilling methods according to project requirements.
- Set up, level, and position the rig safely at drilling locations.
- Conduct pre-start inspections and routine maintenance checks on drilling equipment.
- Operate drill controls, monitor drilling parameters, and adjust settings for changing ground conditions.
- Manage drill rods, casing, and tooling during drilling operations.
- Monitor sample recovery, maintain sample quality, and assist with geological sampling procedures.
- Operate and monitor compressors, boosters, and auxiliary equipment where required.
- Identify drilling problems such as blockages, lost circulation, ground instability, and equipment faults.
- Carry out basic troubleshooting and report mechanical issues.
- Maintain accurate drilling records, including depth, meters drilled, penetration rates, and production reports.
- Follow all health, safety, environmental, and site procedures.
- Conduct safe rig moves and assist with equipment setup and demobilization.
- Conducted RC drilling programs for the exploration of iron ore for SNIM.
Drilling operator at MICSIL MINING/Kika mining & exploration (2020-01 – 2025-11)
- Experienced in reverse circulation (RC) exploration drilling operations, including drilling depths of up to 500m for mineral exploration, geological sampling, and resource evaluation.
- Conducted RC drilling operations for mineral exploration projects, managing drilling activities to depths off 500m, including rod handling, sample recovery, drill parameter monitoring, and adherence to safety and quality standards
- Competent in operating and maintaining RC drilling equipment for exploration drilling programs, achieving depths of 500m, with experience in drill setup, compressor management, sample collection, and troubleshooting drilling challenges.
- Operate crawler-mounted drilling rigs for exploration and geotechnical drilling projects.
- Perform RC (Reverse Circulation), percussion, and other drilling methods according to project requirements.
- Set up, level, and position the rig safely at drilling locations.
- Conduct pre-start inspections and routine maintenance checks on drilling equipment.
- Operate drill controls, monitor drilling parameters, and adjust settings for changing ground conditions.
- Manage drill rods, casing, and tooling during drilling operations.
- Monitor sample recovery, maintain sample quality, and assist with geological sampling procedures.
- Operate and monitor compressors, boosters, and auxiliary equipment where required.
- Identify drilling problems such as blockages, lost circulation, ground instability, and equipment faults.
- Carry out basic troubleshooting and report mechanical issues.
- Maintain accurate drilling records, including depth, meters drilled, penetration rates, and production reports.
- Follow all health, safety, environmental, and site procedures.
- Conduct safe rig moves and assist with equipment setup and demobilization.
- Conducted RC drilling programs for the exploration of silica, feldspar, iron ore, and magnesium deposits.
Site Supervisor/drilling operator at IYONA TRADERS (2008-01 – 2019-12)
- Prepare, Manage and coordinate the technical team in the laying of steel pipes thus enabling effective execution in line with the plan.
- Performed corrosion prediction studies for up-stream and down-stream applications.
- Participated in establishing a testing protocol for the persistence of chemical inhibitors.
- Simulated corrosion occurrences in wet pipelines and predicted general corrosion rates.
- Simulated localized corrosion in sour hydrocarbon aqueous environment and estimated corrosion rates.
- Participated in electrochemical measurement of corrosion rates for various scenarios.
- Executed corrosion control analysis calculations of water pipelines based off of data collected from field tests.
- Performed in-pipe inspections using ultrasonic technology.
- Analysed field data and generated recommendations for individual pipelines and contracts culminating in final reports to clients.
- Supervised many other contractors and technicians and managed construction progress; reduced construction costs by increasing efficiency of contractors.
- Assist the various teams to ensure the blasting team operates the production processes and equipment safely, efficiently and in accordance with the bylaws and review grit blasting activities with key production personnel to continuously improve quality.
- Responsible for the managing and monitoring of coating and lining contracts in line with the Contractor Management Framework (Annual Contract value of +/-900 million ZAR).
- Ensure compliance with Geotechnical considerations and trench designs.
- Develop budgets and forecasts for coating and lining and assist the Senior Director with the creation of overall department budget.
- Develop and implement coating and lining improvement programs including strategies to reduce coating and lining costs to the business.
- Providing effective leadership, performance management, career development and succession planning of all teams.
- Responsible for tracking and interpreting pipe laying and rehabilitation productivity measures to develop actionable plans for improvement.
- Ensure employment targets are aligned to the site operational and strategic objectives.
- Budgeting, Supervising and monitoring performance of employees in all the different sections.
- Control and Management of employees Maintenance of administration including pay roll, reports, contracts, discipline, hearings.
- Meeting with all stakeholders continuously to monitor progress and requirements.
- Managing the issuing of PPE.
- Conducting regular meetings with the community and public liaison committee members.
- Occasionally assisting in operating yellow machinery.
- Rc drilling operator for exploration up to depths of 500m using crawler rigs and truck mounted drill rigs.
Principal at Seeff & Rawson Properties (2001-06 – 2007-12)
Worked as Principal in the real estate field in selling and marketing of properties.
Sales Manager at Snyman & associates (1997-11 – 1999-12)
Worked as Sales Manager for a legal firm managing agents to procure debt collecting business.
Branch Manager in Sales at Sanlam Health (1995-10 – 1997-10)
Worked as Branch manager managing a team of SALES agents to procure medical aid business.
Trainee Branch Manager at OK Bazaars (1986-01 – 1995-09)
PTI at SANDF (1984-01 – 1986-12)
Youngest Conscript with the highest NCO rank ever in the history of the defence force.
