Olebogeng Mataboge

“I am a qualified Mechanical Engineer with over a decade of experience within the mining and heavy industrial sector, with operational exposure across platinum, gold, magnetite, and aluminium processing operations. My career has been built around engineering excellence, maintenance leadership, asset reliability, legal compliance, shutdown management, and driving safe production within high-risk environments.

Over the years, I have held progressive engineering leadership roles with direct accountability for engineering operations, plant maintenance, infrastructure, and trackless mobile machinery. I have operated within both mining and processing environments, where I was entrusted with legal appointments and responsibility for ensuring engineering compliance, equipment reliability, operational continuity, and team performance.

I bring strong experience in leading multidisciplinary teams, executing shutdowns, improving maintenance systems, managing operational risk, and driving continuous improvement initiatives that support production stability and asset integrity. I am particularly strong in environments that demand high levels of accountability, operational discipline, and decisive leadership.

In my most recent assignment, I was responsible for leading critical risk management initiatives within an aluminium processing operation, focusing on strengthening operational controls, improving compliance, and reducing high-consequence exposure. That experience further strengthened my ability to balance operational performance with safety and governance requirements.

Academically, I hold a B-Tech in Mechanical Engineering and I am currently completing a Postgraduate Business Administration qualification at Wits University to strengthen my strategic and commercial capability as an engineering leader.

I consider myself a hands-on and results-driven engineering professional who understands both the technical and operational demands of mining. I am confident in my ability to contribute meaningfully to organisations that require strong engineering leadership, sound maintenance practices, and a clear focus on safety, reliability, and operational performance.”

Consultant Risk Lead at ZAOHS&E Solution (South32 Hillside Aluminum) (2024-10 – 2026-02)

• Aluminum Processing Plant Operations: Oversight of lifting-related material risk activities within a high-risk industrial processing environment.
• Lifting Risk Management: Accountable for managing the performance of lifting material risk across operations, ensuring full compliance with internal standards and legislative requirements.
• Activity Authorization: Approve all scheduled lifting material risk-related tasks and interventions, ensuring readiness and compliance of critical controls prior to execution.
• Operational Intervention: Empowered to halt any lifting activity where control measures are deemed insufficient or ineffective.
• Control Verification: Conduct regular plant safety walks and task observations to assess and verify the effectiveness of critical risk controls during execution.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify gaps during site engagements and implement practical, risk-reducing recommendations for operational improvement.
• Incident Analysis: Review historical lifting-related incidents, verify root cause corrective actions, and ensure key learnings are communicated across all relevant South32 sections.
• Risk Reduction Initiatives: Lead and implement lifting risk reduction projects and initiatives aimed at improving safety performance and eliminating high-consequence risk exposures.

Unit Manager Engineering at Sibanye-Stillwater (Bambanani Shaft) (2023-03 – 2024-08)

• Trackless Mobile Machinery Operations: Extensive experience in managing inclined TMM operations within a board-and-pillar Platinum Group Metals (PGM) mining context.
• Statutory Accountability: Reported directly to the Section 3.1(a) legal appointee, with functional reporting to the Section 7(2) Engineering Manager.
• Legal Appointment – 2.13.1 Engineer: Legally appointed and accountable for the safe installation, operation, and maintenance of all machinery within the mining unit.
• Engineering Leadership: Oversaw all engineering functions across Infrastructure and TMM departments, each led by a General Engineering Superintendent reporting to me.
• Key Achievement: Successfully completed and commissioned the underground main ventilation fans Project, significantly improving airflow and compliance with ventilation standards.

Plant Engineer at Idwala Industrial Holdings (Magnetite Plant: Phalaborwa) (2022-10 – 2023-02)

• Magnetite Processing – Dry Beneficiation Plant: Managed engineering functions within a high-throughput iron ore plant, specialising in dry beneficiation processes.
• Direct Statutory Reporting: Legally appointed under Section 2.13.1, reporting directly to the Plant Manager with full accountability for engineering compliance and plant safety.
• Health & Safety Responsibility: Ensured the safety of personnel and the integrity of all mechanical installations and machinery in line with MHSA requirements.
• Supervision & Workforce Management: Provided direct leadership to a team of artisans, driving maintenance execution, equipment reliability, and operational readiness.

Project Engineer at M-Tech Industrial (Royal Bafokeng Platinum (Rasimone and Maseve Plant)) (2021-06 – 2021-12)

• PGM Processing Plant: Supported plant operations with a focus on process optimisation, equipment performance, and production efficiency.
• Multi-Level Reporting: Reported to the M-Tech Contract Project Manager, Plant Engineer, and Plant Manager, ensuring coordinated execution of contract scope and plant performance targets.
• Performance Improvement: Led process monitoring and reporting activities, facilitated root cause analysis workshops, and developed corrective action plans to address production and equipment inefficiencies.

Junior Project Engineer at Village Main Reef (Nicolor South plant) (2016-03 – 2020-10)

• Gold Processing & Smelting Plant: Directed engineering projects across the plant, driving successful delivery from initiation through to completion.
• Direct Reporting: Accountable to the 2.13.1 Plant Engineer for statutory compliance and operational integrity.
• End-to-End Project Management: Oversaw all project phases, ensuring alignment with safety, quality, and schedule requirements.
• Contractor Leadership: Managed contractor managers, optimizing workforce performance and adherence to project deliverables.

Engineering Intern at Village Main Reef (Tau Lekoa gold Mine) (2013-01 – 2016-02)

• Conventional Gold Mine (Rail-Bound Equipment): Supported engineering and production teams in maintaining safe and efficient underground mining operations.
• Statutory Reporting: Reported directly to the appointed 2.13.1 Engineer with full accountability for engineering support compliance.
• Technical & Project Support: Provided technical assistance and project input to optimize operational performance and reliability.
• Safety & Risk Management: Actively engaged in safety initiatives and risk management processes to uphold mine safety standards and reduce hazards.

Post Grad in Business Administration – Wits University

Advanced Project Management – University of Cape Town (2023)

Management & Leadership Development Programme – Black Management Forum (2021)

B – Tech Mechanical Engineering in Mechanical Engineering – University of Johannesburg (2012)

National Diploma Mechanical Engineering in Mechanical Engineering – University of Johannesburg (2011)