Our people

Board of Directors

MEMSA has six Board Members, four of whom are representatives of Member companies. Board Members work on a seconded basis from their companies or institutions. The current Board has successfully guided MEMSA through formal establishment, obtaining CDP funding from the dti, and developing partnerships across government and the private sector; it is now steering MEMSA into a member-guided programme implementation phase. Get to know the Board Members better here:

Freddy Mugeri

Board Chair - Fabchem Mining

Freddy Mugeri Profile

After qualifying with a BSc. In Electrical Engineering at UCT in 1996, Freddy commenced working as an engineer at Mondi Kraft, Sasol and then SA Breweries. He achieved registration as a Professional Engineer with the Engineering Council of SA in 2002; during this period he also established two hardware businesses. In 2004 Freddy joined Fabchem Mining as Executive Director (Finance and Business Development), becoming a shareholder in 2007. From 2007 his role at Fabchem shifted to Non-Executive Director, while he moved into the banking sector holding managerial positions in business and public sector credit at Standard Bank and ABSA Capital, respectively. Freddy returned full-time to the Fabchem Group in 2015 as CEO. In addition to his Board position at MEMSA, he is also a Board Member at SACEEC (SA Capital Equipment Export Council) and provides an interface between the two organisations.

Christina Zondi

Vise Chair - Drill Rod Specialist

Christina Zondi Profile

Christina is a qualified Metallurgist with a B-Tech in engineering metallurgy and is currently registered for BSC Management of Technology with the University of Pretoria. She has a level II ultrasonic inspection certificate and Internal Auditor’s certificate. She worked for Hullet aluminium Pty (Ltd) an Aluminium product manufacturing company and Pilot tools Pty (Ltd) which is a tungsten carbide manufacturing company as a Metallurgist. She also worked for Sandvik Mining and Construction for 7 years, of the 7 years 3 years she was in management position. In June 2014 she started working for Drill Rod Specialist (Pty) Ltd where she is a Director and holds 25% shares of the company.

Kevin Reynders

Rham Equipment

Kevin Reynders Profile

Kevin Reynders is an accomplished Managing Director at Rham Equipment, Engineer and Commercial Leader with considerable expertise gained from diverse functions across management and engineering disciplines in the challenging mining and aerospace sectors.Utilises knowledge, expertise and experience to consistently and effectively integrate all therequisite aspects of an executive function to meet demanding organisational objectives.

He is differentiated by in-depth knowledge of structural engineering, customer requirements and
extensive business acumen – a unique combination, which has facilitated a macro viewpoint,a pro-business stance and the implementation of best practice solutions. He holds a postgraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA.

Adept in changing strategic objectives into operational realities in demanding, complex customer-centric environments. His numerous achievements include successful turnaround,change management, process re-engineering, organisational reorganisation and expansion, design and customisation of products to meet market needs, the implementation of quality systems and an increase in local and international market penetration.

Kevin has innovative problem-solving, prioritising and organising skills, a strong
ability to effectively manage multiple concurrent priorities and a consultative, open communication management style. Also has a strong ability to inspire and lead diverse and geographically spread teams in an ethical and equitable manner.An excellent communicator and strong commercial and technical leader who consistentlydelivers improvements in motivation and performance in individuals and teams while developing strategic alliances and productive relationships with all stakeholders

Alastair Macfarlane Profile

Alastair is a Modernisation Advisor to the Minerals Council of South Africa. In this regard, he provides the linkage between the Chamber and the CSIR, the DST, MEMSA and the DTI respectively at the Mining Precinct, being a partner and co-director in the Mandela Mining Precinct. In this capacity, Alastair liaises with the Minerals Council Members to constantly assess their R&D needs, and to represent the interests of MEMSA and its members. In addition, Alastair is a founding member of Sebilo Resources, an operating BBBEE mining company, mining manganese in the Northern Cape. This allows him realistic insight into the emerging mining sector and its needs. At Implats he serves as a Non-Executive, Independent Director and Board Member, and chairs the Health, Safety, Environment and Risk Committee. Alastair is the Senior Vice President of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM), a learned society that is becoming increasingly involved in the Phakisa initiatives. From an education and training perspective, Alastair is associated with Wits University and its Mining School, through being a Visiting Lecturer.

Alastair Macfarlane

Minerals Council

Navin Singh

Mandela Mining Precinct

Navin Singh Profile

Navin Singh is currently the Manager for Mining Research & Development at the CSIR, and Co-Director of the Mandela Mining Precinct@Carlow Road. He has over 20 years of working experience in the Mining, Minerals and Research sector, ranging from technical management at a mine operational level, to strategic executive management within a research organisation. His experience across the sector further includes research management; research publications; technology implementation; corporate management; and business improvement. Navin has a strong background in Rock Engineering and Mining Engineering, having a Chamber of Mines Rock Engineering Certificate for Metalliferous Mines, and a Masters in Mining Engineering degree from the University of Witwatersrand. These skills are built on the foundation obtained in his undergraduate degree being a Bachelor of Science, from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, with majors in Physics and Applied Physics.

Yusuf Vorajee

AARD Mining Equipment

Yusuf Vorajee Profile

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Yusuf was appointed as an Executive Director of Aard Mining Equipment and Jacobs Matasis (now Worley Matasis) in 2009. Appointed as CEO of Matasis Investment Holdings (a Broad-based BEE investment holding company in 2010

Yusuf completed Bachelor of Accounting Science from the University of South Africa (UNISA). He also holds an MBA from GIBS Business School.

He became the Co-founder of Tirelo Capital (Boutique Corporate Finance Advisory house) 2002 -2004, BEE Deal Originator at Nedbank Capital Investment Banking from 2004 -2009 and the founder and Head of Nedbank Capital BEE Capital Partners from 2007 – 2009

Ossie Carstens

MEMSA CEO

Ossie Carstens Profile

Ossie Carstens is a mechanical engineer with a history spanning more than 30 years steeped in the mining industry. He has worked in various roles in the base metal mines, gold mines, coal mines and platinum mines. He then joined the supply chain in 2003 and worked for Sandvik in various roles and was also intensely involved in developing the local supply chain for Sandvik. Subsequently he joined Deutz Dieselpower as Managing Director, served as EXCO member of Hudaco Industries and later on as Divisional CEO responsible for Deutz Dieselpower, Belting Supply Services, Deltec Power and Specialized Battery Services. Ossie currently divides his time between his role as CEO of Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa (MEMSA), an industry cluster organisation, and his own businesses – Lightcycle Energy Management (renewable energy solutions), Induscon West (supplier of industrial goods and services) and Transital Engineering (manufacturer of buckets and frame components for capital mining machines). He is also a non-executive director on the board of WESSA (Wildlife and Environmental Society of SA) and is the chairman of their Remcom. Ossie has a National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, GCC (Mech) and a MBA (NWU).

Juliana Makapan

Nkangala Bucket Repairs Services

Juliana Makapan

Juliana Makapan is currently a Director of Nkangala Bucket Repairs Services, an engineering company in Middleburg that manufactures and repairs buckets in the mining sector. In this role, her area of focus is setting the strategy and policies of the company, including developing leadership and meeting shareholder commitments.

She is a seasoned management consultant, with more than 20 years’ experience, focusing on high- level implementation of Business Strategies, OD, Business Processes- Re-Engineering, HR strategies, Social Development and Change Management. She has delivered successful large scale projects with international consulting firms such as CapGemini, and Deloittes.

Prior to venturing into consulting, she was an HR Executive in companies such as Nestle’ and ACSA, where she was extensively involved in providing strong HR related solutions, in meeting business objectives. In some organizations, she started HR Departments where there was none. As an HR Executive and Consultant, she positioned HR Departments as strategic partners. She also held positions as interim executive in different organisations and sectors.

She has proven track record of participating in Boards and Board sub- committees in the private, government and non-profit organisations sectors, providing strategic advice and support. Her background provides the Board with broad leadership, strategy and governance expertise.

She has a Master’s in Business Administration degree from De Montfort University that is based in the UK. She also completed a Management Advancement Programme with Witwatersrand Business School.

In the Office

Elizabeth Jansen van Vuuren

Administrative Assistant

Elizabeth Jansen van Vuuren Profile

Elizabeth has a diverse professional background including education, tourism, research, administration, and a Master’s degree in Geography focused on local economic development. She has provided administrative support to MEMSA since its inception. In addition to keeping MEMSA’s ‘behind the scenes’ processes on track, she enjoys interacting with member companies and ensuring MEMSA provides them with useful information and support.

Lufuno Muzila

Administrative Assistant

Lufuno Muzila Profile

Lufuno has a BSc Honor’s Degree in Geology from the University of the Free State. She is currently doing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) through the University of South Africa. She is an assistant administrator at MEMSA. As part of her role at MEMSA, she enjoys working towards helping MEMSA meet member companies’ needs and her other interest is to see the members companies to be at the top of the ladder in the mining equipment manufacturing industry.