Appointed 1 October 2006
Mapitshana John Makgatho is a mining management professional with more than 27 years of experience in surface mining and metallurgical operations. His work experience includes production of base metals, platinum, uranium, copper, magnetite and vermiculite. John’s experience embraces mine planning, plant design, projects execution and operations management. John ascended through the ranks from Trainee Metallurgist, Commissioning Metallurgist, Extraction Metallurgist, Senior Extraction Metallurgist, Superintendent and Management positions, before stepping on his current position as a Senior Manager for Vermiculite Business.
His previous employers within the mining sector both locally and internationally include Anglo Platinum and Rio Tinto. John joined Palabora Copper in 2006 as a Superintendent for Milling and Flotation and promoted to Manager for Concentrator Operations in 2008 – a position he held until 2011 when he moved to Vermiculite Business as the Manager for Vermiculite Operations.
In 2018, John earned a promotion to his current position as a Senior Manager for Vermiculite Business and by implication a Director at Palabora Asia. He is a council member of the mine metallurgical managers association of South Africa, and an ordinary member of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. His Vermiculite mining team achieved a recognition as the “Best-in-Class” amongst quarries at the MineSafe 2018 Awards.