Thabang Surprise Matlala

Thabang Surprise Matlala is a mining professional with experience spanning mine surveying, mine planning, rehabilitation planning, and operational leadership within
South Africa’s coal mining industry.

He currently serves as Senior Mine Planner within the MENAR Group, where he is responsible for life-of-mine planning, short- and medium-term scheduling, production
optimisation, rehabilitation planning, budgeting, and strategic mine design across multiple coal operations. Thabang holds a Master of Sustainable Mining from the University of Johannesburg, where his research focused on rehabilitation planning, design, costing, and monitoring practices within opencast coal mines in the Witbank Coalfields.

His work examined rehabilitation maturity across several South African mining operations and highlighted opportunities to improve post-mining land-use outcomes and long-term sustainability. Prior to joining MENAR, he held various technical roles at Exxaro Resources, progressing
from Mine Surveyor to Mine Planner and Acting Senior Mining Engineer. Throughout his career, he has developed a strong interest in integrating mine planning, environmental
stewardship, technology, and sustainable development into practical mining solutions.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Thabang serves as President of the Mpumalanga Branch of the Institute of Mine Surveyors of Southern Africa (IMSSA), where
he actively promotes professional development, knowledge sharing, and collaboration across the mining industry.
His areas of interest include mine planning, mine closure, rehabilitation, sustainable mining, operational excellence, digital transformation, and the long-term management
of post-mining landscapes and communities.

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