Board of Directors
Board of Directors
CEO
H Van Staden
Hannes joined Group T in 1997 as a Site Manager at Finsch Mine, operated by De Beers. His ability to make production targets in a safe working environment was not only a key factor to his appointment but also ensured the constant growth at Finsch. He was promoted to Director in 1999. He holds a National Diploma in Mining. His ability to foresee changes in the industry empowers the company to be on the forefront of technological changes.
Prior to joining Group T, Hannes worked at Hartebeestfontein Gold Mine on production and mine development.
For expansion, he started the first offshore project, Group R, outside the borders of South Africa in Mali, West Africa in January 2010. Several other projects followed thereafter in Zambia from 2010 till the end of 2020. Group R has started a new venture in India in 2021.
Experience –
1981 – 1997, 16 years deep level gold mine experience
1997 – 2010, 13 years experience as contractor in various mines & commodities.
2010 – to date, 11 years mining experience in Africa and abroad (India)
As current CEO of the company, his wealth of experience in the mining industry largely contributes to the successes and growth of the company.
CMO
T.A. Mokhele (Abie)
Abie joined Group R in 1996 and was appointed as Contracts Manager over multiple sites for the company. For his experience and strong track record in underground mine development he played a pivotal role in the further development of the company.
In 1997 he was appointed as a Director and had the opportunity to focus on the key role of developing the business into a specialist role player in the South African mining sector. His accolades include being awarded the Businessman of the Year Award by the Westvaal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Prior to Group R Abie worked for De Beers in both Botswana and South Africa for 8 years during which time he completed his National Higher Diploma in Mining whilst garnering the respect of everyone he worked with.
COO
Hein Van Staden
Hein joined Group R in August 2001 as Site Manager at Phalaborwa Mining Company Ltd, Hein’s experience in deep level gold mining was one of the key drivers to his appointment into this position. He holds a Certificate in Mining, he is respected industry wide for his ability to manage staff, work safe and constantly exceeding production targets has stood him in good stead as a leader in the SA mining sector.
In 2010 Hein joined Group R as Operations Director and was responsible for the turnkey underground mining contract in Mali for Randgold Resources. One of Hein’s biggest achievements is in achieving 5 years LTI free on his projects.
Before joining Group T, Hein worked at Hartbeesfontein Gold Mine and was responsible for production on the mine. During this time safety and production awards were regularly awarded to him.
SA COO
J Heyneke
Mr. Heyneke joined the company as Site Manager at Finsch Mine in 1994. A key reason for his appointment was to implement a turnaround strategy for the project. He, with his strong technical acumen has played a major role in the company’s expansion into the Copper industry. Before joining Group R, Jan worked for De Beers for 12 years.
CFO
Johan Botha
Johan joined Group R in August 2012 as the company’s financial officer. His ability to build strong relationships with Bankers and his keen eye for administrative issues was quickly valued by the board when he was appointed as Director in 2014.
Since joining the Company Johan has been able to provide accurate financial data of Company’s operations and has also played a pivotal role in securing many of the credit lines required to expand the business. His keenness for proper financial and business structures has empowered the board to make proactive decisions on capital requirements and financial strategies.
Prior to Group R, Johan ran his own private practice and currently still holds multiple directorships. His passion for business was proven at a young age when he was promoted as partner and director of a large accounting firm in his twenties. Johan holds a B.Comm degree and is a member of the Institute of Accounting and Commerce of South Africa.
He completed his Independent Auditors Review Exams in 2021 through SAIPA and is now qualified as an Independent Auditor Reviewer.
INDIA COO
H S Rao
With over 25 years of international experience in the underground mining industry, our Director brings strong leadership across underground operations, mineral processing, and large-scale project development. He has successfully led greenfield and brownfield mining projects from feasibility through construction and commissioning, delivering multi-billion-dollar capital programs with a strong focus on safety, cost efficiency, and operational excellence.
His expertise spans mine planning, shaft sinking, mineral processing optimization, infrastructure development, and strategic business expansion. Known for delivering projects ahead of schedule and within budget, he has consistently driven improvements in production, recovery, and overall operational performance.
At Group R Mining, he provides strategic direction and operational leadership, ensuring sustainable growth, disciplined execution, and long-term value creation.
