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Themba Langa

Managing Director(BScEng Mining)

Themba is the founding member and Managing Director of Mwelase Mining Pty Ltd. Themba holds a BSc (Mining) Engineering degree and Mine Manager’s Certificate of Competency (Coal). As a graduate of the University of Witwatersrand Themba Langa began his mining career as a student mine official with the former Trans Natal Coal Corporation (now transformed to what is known as BHP Billiton), and was seconded to Koornfontein Mines in 1990.

Before establishing his own contract mining company in March 2000 he had held various management positions:

- Mine Overseer at Blinkpan Colliery where he was in charge of four underground production units together with the backbye supporting infrastructure and a mini pit and had approximately 280 under his watch.

- Production Manager at Elandsfontein Colliery where he was responsible for all coal production related activities.

- Mine Manager at Elcoal Colliery wherein he managed the construction of the opencast mine, the crushing and screening plant and all supporting infrastructure. Following the construction of the mine, Themba managed the whole operation and reported directly to the owner of the mine. Together with the owner of the mine, Themba negotiated the offtake contract with Eskom.

Through his entrepreneurial involvement in various aspects of the coal mining industry Themba gained invaluable experience that has positioned him well to take advantage of opportunities presented by MPRDA and the Mining Charter in 2004.

Themba Langa co-founded Umcebo as a junior coal mining company and, within a very short period the business grew exponentially to the extent that by 2008 it had built six mines in Mpumalanga. These mines created about 1500 jobs and produced approximately 8.8 million tons annually mostly for the power generation industry. Themba was actively involved in the day-to-day development of what then constituted the mineral asset base and business of Umcebo Mining.

In 2012, Themba founded Hlagisa Mining which owns an opencast coal mine producing approximately 1.8 million tons annually for the Eskom market. He is a member of the South African Colliery Managers’ Association and a fellow of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

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Dutch Botes

Chief Operating Officer

Dutch [HP] Botes is a qualified mining, electrical and mechanical engineer who has over 39 years’ experience in the mining sector.

Dutch was the Chief Executive Officer of Wescoal Mining for several years and prior to that Chief Executive Officer at Umcebo Mining, a significant junior coal mining house.

Whilst in his position at Umcebo Mining, Dutch successfully brought six new coal mines into production, including an underground operation at Klippan Colliery. Prior to joining Umcebo Mining, Dutch was General Manager at various BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa operations, including Middelburg Mines, Khutala Colliery, Optimum Colliery, Koornfontein Mines and Delmas Colliery.

For a while he was General Manager of Hotazel Manganese Mines, an operation consisting of an underground and opencast mine with various processing plants, including a sinter operation.

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Mack Maleka

CA (SA) Chief Financial Officer

Mack is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA, UK) with extensive experience and expertise in mining finance environment. He obtained his Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting degree from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). He further holds a postgraduate honours degree from University of Kwazulu Natal (UKZN). Furthermore, he holds postgraduate certificates in Senior Management Development from the University of South Africa (Unisa).

Mack has trained as an auditor and accountant at PricewaterCoopers (PwC, Johannesburg) specialising in metals, mining, construction and financial services sector. Amongst some of the clients Mack serviced where Goldfield Ltd, Group 5, Basil Read, Foskor, Impala Platinum, SAB, Toyota SA Motors and Namakwa Diamonds.

After completing his training and promoted to middle management, Mack was recruited to join a junior miner, Umcebo Mining Group as the Financial Controller. Soon thereafter Mack joined Optimum Coal Mine as the manager of Internal Audit and Compliance and then Financial Services Manager. Following the acquisition of Shanduka Coal and Optimum Coal by commodities trader, Glencore, Mack was then recruited to become the Group Financial Manager for Shanduka Coal Group of Companies which included both opencast and underground operations. The Group consisted of Shanduka Coal, Umcebo Mining, Hlagisa Mining, Springlake, Umsimbithi Mining and Koornfontein Mines. Mack also serves on the board of trustees for the Optimum Coal, Umcebo and Shanduka Coal environmental rehabilitation, employees share-ownership schemes and communities’ trusts.

Mack joined Mwelase Mining in January 2017 from Glencore Coal SA to fulfil the role of the Chief Financial Officer for the group.

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Sibusiso Sibisi

(LLB) Chief Legal Counsel

Sibusiso is an admitted attorney of the high court. He obtained his LLB degree from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). He also holds postgraduate certificates in Company Laws 1 and 2, Prospecting and Mining Law and Mining Tax Law from the Mandela Institute (Wits). Furthermore, he holds a postgraduate certificate from Wits Business School in Finance for Non-Financial Managers.

Sibusiso has practised as an attorney at Hogan Lovells (formally Eversheds) and Bowman Gilfillan specialising in mining law. Sibusiso has advised blue chip mining companies on all aspects relating to mining. After leaving practice Sibusiso joined Petra Diamonds Limited which is listed on the London Stock Exchange as Legal Counsel.

Sibusiso is a co-founder and director of Siyabangena Investments (Pty) Ltd (Siyabangena). Siyabangena is an investment holding company. It has an indirect interest in the Boikarabelo coal project in the Waterberg.

Sibusiso has co-authored a number of articles relating to mining law and has also given a number of presentations on the subject, including to members of the Law Society of the Northern Province.

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Michael Mabongoane

General Manager (Operations)

Michael is a General Manager at Mwelase and is responsible for Coal Operations at its Mzimkhulu Colliery.

Michael is in possession of a Mine Overseer’s Certificate of Competency (Coal) and an advanced Rock Mechanics Certificate for underground mines. He is currently studying for a Mine Manager’s Certificate of Competency (Part C) and a National Higher Diploma in Mining. Michael also holds a Leadership Development Certificate from UNISA and a Senior Management Development Certificate from the Wits Business School.

Michael started his career as an underground miner for Johannesburg Consolidated Investments(JCI) responsible for day-to-day operations of an underground conventional drill and blast production section. Through his dedication, commitment and attitude, he was promoted through the ranks up to senior managerial positions within Xstrata Coal SA.

He worked as a Mine Overseer at numerous underground operations Sasol’s Twistdraai Colliery where he was responsible for two underground production units, Lakeside Colliery where he was responsible for three production units and projects, Leeufontein Colliery, Springlake Colliery and spent a short spell at Zulu Anthracite Colliery before joining Graspan Colliery. It was here at Graspan Colliery that he got the recognition that he deserves and was appointed as a Mine Manager.

Michael joined Mwelase Mining (Pty) Ltd in April 2017 from Izimbiwa Coal, a Glencore Coal SA subsidiary, to fulfil the role of General Manager – Operations.

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Ettienne Strydom

(B.Com)Business Group Development and Projects Manager

Ettienne holds a B.Com in Financial Management and completed his studies in Strategic Financial Analysis at Harvard Business School. His working career began in consulting as a programme director/ manager, a business integration specialist and a manager of business development at Deloitte Consulting ,T-Systems and Billiton.

From 2002 to 2005 he was employed as the Programme Manager for Sasol IM Oryx Project in Qatar, where he was the team leader responsible for the technical and functional design and implementation work of the business structures and systems. From 2006 to 2010 Ettienne worked for Lonmin in various roles, including Business Analyst, Senior Manager Strategic and Long-Term Planning. All positions reported to the Executive Vice-President Mining.

In 2010 Ettienne consulted to Xstrata Alloys, Chrome and Platinum where the primary functions included DMR compliance tracking, design, structure and implementation of capital projects and legal compliance. From January 2011 to March 2017 Ettienne was involved with Wescoal Mining where he held the position of Projects Manager and also served as a director of Wescoal Mining. During this time, he was responsible for the full cycle of development of the Elandspruit and Intibane mines. He also played a prominent part in the development of the Wescoal Triangle Joint Venture.

Ettienne joined the Mwelase Group of Companies in April 2017 where he is responsible for the Group Business Development, Projects and Business Improvement focus areas. His well-developed ability to understand, analyse, develop and implement successful solutions to business challenges, with a strong knowledge base in mining, oil and gas and in particular coal, platinum, chrome and manganese, means that Mwelase will extract the benefit from his experienced gained over more than 20 years.

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Themba Langa

Managing Director(BScEng Mining)

Themba is the founding member and Managing Director of Mwelase Mining Pty Ltd. Themba holds a BSc (Mining) Engineering degree and Mine Manager’s Certificate of Competency (Coal). As a graduate of the University of Witwatersrand Themba Langa began his mining career as a student mine official with the former Trans Natal Coal Corporation (now transformed to what is known as BHP Billiton), and was seconded to Koornfontein Mines in 1990.

Before establishing his own contract mining company in March 2000 he had held various management positions:

- Mine Overseer at Blinkpan Colliery where he was in charge of four underground production units together with the backbye supporting infrastructure and a mini pit and had approximately 280 under his watch.

- Production Manager at Elandsfontein Colliery where he was responsible for all coal production related activities.

- Mine Manager at Elcoal Colliery wherein he managed the construction of the opencast mine, the crushing and screening plant and all supporting infrastructure. Following the construction of the mine, Themba managed the whole operation and reported directly to the owner of the mine. Together with the owner of the mine, Themba negotiated the offtake contract with Eskom.

Through his entrepreneurial involvement in various aspects of the coal mining industry Themba gained invaluable experience that has positioned him well to take advantage of opportunities presented by MPRDA and the Mining Charter in 2004.

Themba Langa co-founded Umcebo as a junior coal mining company and, within a very short period the business grew exponentially to the extent that by 2008 it had built six mines in Mpumalanga. These mines created about 1500 jobs and produced approximately 8.8 million tons annually mostly for the power generation industry. Themba was actively involved in the day-to-day development of what then constituted the mineral asset base and business of Umcebo Mining.

In 2012, Themba founded Hlagisa Mining which owns an opencast coal mine producing approximately 1.8 million tons annually for the Eskom market. He is a member of the South African Colliery Managers’ Association and a fellow of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

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