The Pan African Resources Team

About Us
Investor Snapshot

Our Board of Directors

Meet the experienced leaders guiding our vision.

Keith Spencer

Independent Non-Executive Director (Chairman)

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Dawn Earp

Independent Non-Executive Director

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Thabo Mosololi

Independent Non-Executive Director

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Charles Needham

Independent Non-Executive Director

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Yvonne Themba

Independent Non-Executive Director

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Cobus Loots

Executive Director
(CEO)

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Marileen Kok

Executive Director
(FD)

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Learn more about our corporate governance policies and board responsibilities.

Corporate Governance

Our Team

The People of PAR

Meet our team of skilled professionals, operating in a high-tech, safety-first environment where innovation, teamwork, and excellence drive success.

Phumzile Mokoena

Plant Manager,
MTR

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Hethen Hira

Head of Investor Relations & Communications

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July Tiro

HR Manager,
Barberton Mines

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Mogotsi Mokgojwa

General Manager,
Barberton Mines

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Julius von Wielligh

Plant Manager,
Fairview BIOX® Plant

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Nomfundo Mdluli

Environmental Officer,
Barberton Mines

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Fanie de Wet

General Manager,
Elikhulu

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Fortunate Ngomane

General Manager,
Barberton Mines

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Zanele Mathebula

Artisan
(Fitter & Turner)

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Oriel Shikwambana

Environmental Officer,
Barberton Mines

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Antonio Zecane Jos

General Manager,
Elikhulu

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Zanele Mathebula

Artisan (Fitter & Turner)

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A Message from Our Leadership

“At Pan African Resources, our success isn’t only measured in ounces of gold; it’s measured by the dedication, innovation, and resilience of our people. Rated among the Top 3 companies in the Sunday Times Top 100 Awards in 2024, we are proof that mining for a future takes more than minerals—it takes exceptional talent, bold ideas, and a shared vision of excellence.”

Cobus Loots, CEO

Cobus Loots, CEO

Keith Spencer

Independent Non-Executive Director (Chairman)

Appointed: 8 October 2007
BSc Eng (Mining)

Committee Membership: SHEQ (Chairman), Nomination (Chairman)

Significant Directorships: None

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Keith is a mining engineer with 48 years’ practical experience. Since 1986, Keith has held senior positions at some of the largest gold mines in the world including:

  • Managing director of Driefontein Consolidated
  • Chairman and managing director of Deelkraal Gold Mine
  • Director on the boards of gold mines belonging to Gold Fields, South Africa
  • Operations director of Metorex

EXPERIENCE

  • Technical and operational
  • Risk management
  • Environmental and sustainability
  • Business and Strategy
  • Leadership

Dawn Earp

Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed: 16 September 2021

BCompt (Hons), CA(SA), CDSA®

 

Committee Membership: Audit and Risk (Chairperson), SHEQ, Nomination

 

SIGNFICANT DIRECTORSHIPS

  • Arcelor Mittal South Africa
  • Impala Platinum Holdings
  • Truworths International
  • South African Guide-dogs Association non-profit organisation

 

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Dawn previously held the position of financial director, both at Impala Platinum and Rand Refineries. She has served as a non-executive director of various private and listed companies

  • Finance and accounting
  • Risk management
  • Governance and regulation
  • Business and strategy
  • Leadership
  • Taxation

Thabo Mosololi

Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed: 9 December 2013
BCom (Hons), CA(SA)

 

Committee Membership: Social and Ethics Committee (Chairman), Audit and Risk, Remuneration, Nomination

 

SIGNFICANT DIRECTORSHIPS

  • MFT Investment Holdings
  • Truworths Limited
  • New Season Investment Fund
  • MalaMala Game Reserve and Roadgrass
  • Investments
  • Famous Brands Limited

 

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Thabo brings a wealth of experience in financial management, corporate governance and audit to the board. He qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG in 1994. Since then, he has served on various boards as a member and chairman of audit committees in the resources and other industries in South Africa.

 

EXPERIENCE

  • Finance and accounting
  • Governance and regulation
  • Business and strategy
  • Leadership
  • Taxation
  • Environmental and sustainability

Charles Needham

Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed: 17 July 2019

Articles of Clerkship-Accounting, Dip in Mining Taxation

 

Committee: Audit and Risk, Remuneration, Nomination, SHEQ

 

SIGNFICANT DIRECTORSHIPS

  • Alphamin Resources Corporation
  • Divitiae Holdings Limited
  • Imagined Earth Proprietary Limited
  • METPROP Proprietary Limited
  • MetQuip Proprietary Limited
  • Orpheus Property Holdings Proprietary Limited
  • Unit 8 Tradewinds Proprietary Limited (Company is dormant)
  • Alphamin Bisie Mining Proprietary Limited

 

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Charles is chairman of Alphamin Resources Corporation (listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange). His previous experience includes 31 years at Metorex and its mining operations in Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He progressively held the positions of group accountant, financial director and ultimately chief executive officer of Metorex.

 

EXPERIENCE

  • Finance and Accounting
  • Technical and operational
  • Governance and regulation
  • Business and strategy
  • Leadership

Yvonne Themba

Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed: 17 July 2019

BA, MBA

 

Committee Membership: Remuneration (Chairperson), Social and Ethics, Nomination

 

SIGNFICANT DIRECTORSHIPS

  • Adopt-a-School Foundation non-profit organisation
  • Canadoce Investments Close Corporation
  • Bo Themba Projects Proprietary Limited
  • eLogistics Portal Proprietary Limited
  • Pfortner Holdings Proprietary Limited
  • Pfortner Solutions Proprietary
  • Xerosystems Proprietary Limited
  • Energy Mobility Education Trust (EMET)

 

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Yvonne is the executive director of BoThemba Projects. She was previously responsible for human capital at Phembani Group and Shanduka Group. She headed the group corporate communications department at African Life Assurance Limited and the CSI and corporate communications department at Sanlam. Prior to that, she was deputy director of the Life Officers’ Association.

 

EXPERIENCE

  • Technical and operational
  • Risk management
  • Governance and regulation
  • Environmental and sustainability
  • Business and strategy
  • Leadership

Cobus Loots

Executive Director (CEO)

Appointed: 26 August 2009

CA(SA), CFA®, Charterholder

 

Committee: SHEQ

 

Significant directorships: None

 

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Cobus has many years of experience in the African mining sector. He qualified as a chartered accountant with Deloitte & Touche in South Africa. He has been a director of Pan African since 2009, serving as financial director from 2013 until his appointment as chief executive officer on 1 March 2015.

 

EXPERIENCE

  • Technical and operational
  • Finance and accounting
  • Business and strategy
  • Leadership
  • Technology
  • Taxation

Marileen Kok

Executive Director (FD)

Appointed: 1 October 2024

CA(SA)

 

Committee: Social and Ethics

 

Significant directorships: None

 

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Marileen is a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience in the mining industry, specifically relating to financial reporting, corporate finance, governance and regulatory compliance and various other commercial matters. She joined the Group as Group financial manager in January 2020.

 

EXPERIENCE

  • Finance and accounting
  • Risk management
  • Leadership
  • Technology
  • Taxation
  • Environmental and sustainability

Phumzile Mokoena

Plant Manager, MTR

“I’ve helped build this plant. And now I get to build the team that makes it run.”

 

Phumzile isn’t just running one of our key operations, she helped build it. As part of the leadership team behind the commissioning of the MTR plant (ahead of schedule and
under budget), she’s proof that mining leadership today looks different: smarter, sharper, more human.

 

For Phumzile, leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about building teams where courageous conversations are normal, people grow beyond what they thought was possible, and every voice matters.

 

“Mining for a Future means building operations we’re proud to hand over to the next generation, stronger, smarter, and grounded in real care for our people and our land.”

Hethen Hira

Head of Investor Relations & Communications

“I don’t just tell the story. I believe in it.”

 

With over 30 years in the South African gold mining industry, Hethen Hira has worked across the full value chain, from geological exploration to stakeholder engagement and social upliftment. But today, his impact sits at a different kind of frontline: investor relations and corporate communications. As Head of IR and Communications at Pan African Resources, Hethen’s role is about more than just financial messaging. It’s about creating balance, communicating performance and purpose with the same clarity. Making sure the company’s actions reach every stakeholder. And ensuring the market sees the full picture, not just the bottom line.

 

“If you believe in the product – and I do – the story writes itself. Gold is money. And we’re proving every year that PAR is the gold investment story worth watching.”

 

A trained geologist who once preferred the solitude of exploration, Hethen has grown into a collaborative, human-first communicator. He’s played a part in shaping PAR’s reputation as one of the most consistent and values-led producers in its peer group, a mid-tier miner now tracking toward 300,000 oz per year. But he’ll be the first to tell you: it’s not about him.

 

“I tell the story, but the story belongs to our people. They’re the reason we’re outperforming. They’re the reason I’m proud to say I work here.”

 

“Mining for a Future means making a real difference, not just in profits, but in people’s lives, in how we engage, and in what we leave behind.”

July Tiro

HR Manager, Barberton Mines

“At the end of the day, this job isn’t about policies. It’s about people.”

 

With 23 years in mining HR, including five at Barberton Mines, July Tiro understands the heartbeat of an operation better than most. He’s helped roll out time and attendance
systems, led wage negotiations with clarity and calm, and implemented change without losing trust.

 

“Passion and humility carry more weight than hierarchy.”
July leads by listening. And he sees every negotiation, every mentorship moment, as a chance to create a workplace people want to be part of.

Mogotsi Mokgojwa

General Manager, Barberton Mines

“You don’t inherit a legacy. You work to earn it, every day.”

 

As General Manager of Barberton Mines, one of the oldest and most storied gold operations in Africa, MM Mokgojwa leads with calm strength and quiet authority. With over two decades of mining experience, he’s as comfortable underground as he is in a boardroom, and he brings that balance into everything he does. He believes in the power of structure, the value of people, and the importance of humility, even in a position of influence. Under his leadership, Barberton continues to deliver value to the business while creating space for the next generation of miners to rise.

 

“At a mine like Barberton, the rocks hold history, but the people shape the future.”

 

Mokgojwa leads by listening, mentoring, and empowering, not micromanaging. And when he speaks of “Mining for a Future,” it’s clear that future includes safer operations, stronger teams, and a legacy of performance without compromise.

 

“The real measure of a mine isn’t just ounces. It’s the standard you leave behind for others to follow.”

Julius von Wielligh

Plant Manager,
Fairview BIOX® Plant

“We run a complex system. But we try to keep things simple: show up, stay curious, and look after each other.”

 

Julius von Wielligh doesn’t make a lot of noise. He makes things work. As Plant Manager of the Fairview BIOX® Plant, he leads one of the most technical and high-stakes operations in the PAR portfolio, a biological oxidation system that very few people globally have mastered. And yet, talk to Julius about his work, and he’ll rarely mention pressure or prestige.

 

What he’ll talk about is process. People. The importance of getting the little things right.

 

“You don’t lead a system like this by controlling everything. You lead it by making sure people feel confident in what they’re doing, and clear about why it matters.”

 

With a background in extractive metallurgy and years of hands-on plant experience, Julius is known for his steady manner, team-first attitude, and habit of quietly solving problems before they become issues. He’s not there to prove anything, he’s there to improve everything.

 

“Mining for a Future means sharing knowledge, backing your team, and staying grounded, no matter how advanced the system gets.”

Nomfundo Mdluli

Environmental Officer,
Barberton Mines

“We don’t inherit the land from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children.”

 

Nomfundo Mdluli takes that idea seriously. As an Environmental Officer at Barberton Mines, she’s part of the team that makes sure environmental management is more than a report, it’s a lived practice. From compliance inspections to water management and biodiversity monitoring, Nomfundo helps ensure that mining activity respects the landscape, the law, and the long-term.

 

“Environmental work doesn’t always get the spotlight. But without it, nothing is truly sustainable.”

 

She’s passionate about educating others, from school learners to colleagues, and believes environmental performance improves when people understand the why, not just the what.

 

“Mining for a Future means doing things right now, so there’s still something left for the
future to mine.”

Fanie de Wet

General Manager, Elikhulu

“A plant can only run as well as the people who run it. That’s where I focus.”

 

Fanie de Wet runs the Elikhulu Tailings Retreatment Plant, one of the most efficient and sustainable operations in Pan African Resources’ portfolio. As General Manager, Fanie brings both technical command and calm leadership to the surface. His team delivers consistently, year after year, with one of the lowest AISC profiles in the business and a solar plant that’s pushing clean power into production. But for Fanie, it’s not just about throughput and targets. It’s about people. Clear communication. Safe routines. Pride in execution.

 

“If something goes wrong, it’s on us. If something goes right, it’s thanks to the team.”

 

He’s not loud. He’s reliable. The kind of leader who knows when to push and when to listen, and why both matter.

 

“Mining for a Future means staying steady, staying clean, and always backing your people.”

Fortunate Ngomane

“It’s not just about compliance. It’s about commitment, to people, to community, to the future.”

 

For Fortunate Ngomane, ESG isn’t a checklist, it’s a calling. With 15 years at Barberton Mines, she’s helped shape the company’s Social and Labour Plan strategy and community impact model from the ground up, without external consultants, and always with the future in mind. She led the drafting and execution of both the 2014 and 2019 SLPs, embedded monitoring frameworks, and rolled out a bursary programme that helped dozens of underprivileged students not just study, but start careers.

 

“Stakeholder trust isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s part of operational delivery.”

 

Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies. Driven. Deeply respected. And proudly known by many as “Bosslady”, not for bravado, but for getting the job done right.

 

“Mining for a Future means responsible mining without compromising what comes next.”

Zanele Mathebula

Artisan (Fitter & Turner)

“In this line of work, your hands have to be smart, and your head has to be steady.”

 

Zanele Mathebula is a Fitter & Turner at Barberton Mines, and one of a small but growing number of women working as qualified artisans in the gold sector. Her job is technical, physical, and often underground. But she shows up with pride and calm confidence, knowing she’s not just fixing faults, she’s helping operations run safely and smoothly for everyone around her.

 

“You have to trust your tools. But mostly, you have to trust your team.”

Zanele believes in mentorship, in pushing through, and in proving that women belong in mining, not just in support roles, but on the tools, leading by example.

 

“Mining for a Future means showing young girls that the trades are for them too.”

Oriel Shikwambana

“Leadership is about presence. If your people don’t see you, they won’t trust the plan.”

 

As General Manager of the Mogale Tailings Retreatment (MTR) operation, Oriel Shikwambana is responsible for one of the group’s most important surface operations. MTR isn’t just a plant, it’s a symbol of PAR’s strategy in action: modern, modular, and made to deliver. Oriel leads with calm authority and operational sharpness. He knows what’s at stake, every ton processed, every ounce recovered, and every person going home safe. What makes him different is his mindset. He’s not transactional, he’s transformational. He doesn’t just push for output. He builds teams that believe in the process and the purpose.

 

“Mining for a Future means treating people like partners in performance. When you lead with respect, the results follow.”

Antonio Zecane José

“My job is to make sure we mine safely, productively, and with pride.”

 

At Sheba, one of the oldest operational gold mines in the world, Antonio Zecane José carries history on his shoulders. But he doesn’t romanticise it. He focuses on what matters: running a safe, high-performing section, with a team that trusts each other underground and respects the work. With over a decade of mining experience and a reputation for being calm under pressure, Antonio is known for how he builds his team, through fairness, firm guidance, and an open-door mindset.

 

“You can’t lead if you’re not willing to listen. That’s how you earn trust down here.”

 

“Mining for a Future means leaving a legacy that’s not just measured in gold, but in people who’ve grown stronger because of the work.”