Innovators Resources (Pty) Ltd was founded in 2016 by Arnot Coal Mine retrenched employees (with a combined experience of over 80 years), with the intension of reopening the closed Exxaro Arnot Colliery after the Coal Supply Agreement (CSA) from Eskom expired and operating coal mines as a black economic empowered mining company.
Our mining approach uses innovation, academic and industry experience, together with the latest computer aided design and analysis tools to provide the most reliable and efficient turnkey mining solutions. Innovators Resources consists of a team with combined professional skills covering Mining, Engineering, Finance, Business Improvement, Geology, Human Resources, Physical Asset Management, Procurement and Project Management.
Our commitment to continuous growth and improvement provides advanced value –added and cost effective solutions for our clients and the mining industry as a whole
Rectification programme to optimise operational readiness, compliance, and mine-to-market reliability at Arnot.
Selected work done by the directors of Innovators Resources (Pty) Ltd
Relocation and recommissioning of Mine 1 shaft infrastructure to ensure safe access, continuity of production, and compliance with engineering standards.
Deployment of PDS across mobile mining equipment to improve operator safety, site traffic control, and collision avoidance.
End-to-end management of opencast production, including planning, HME utilisation, pit control, and cost performance.
Underground section management: production scheduling, ventilation control, legal compliance, and maintenance coordination.
Multi-shaft operational leadership focusing on output stability, safety systems, labour planning, and quality assurance.
Leaders driving safe, innovative and efficient mining solutions
Chief Executive Officer
Veteran coal-operations leader across underground and opencast, focused on compliance, governance, load & haul, blasting, risk, environment and cost management and mine planning. Presently executive director focused onto organizational governance, operation strategy and compliance.
Mr Paul Kasongo holds the role of CEO for Innovators Resources (Pty) Ltd. He has extensive experience managing coal mining operations, responsible for compliance, governance and assurance across underground and opencast environments. Paul specializes in load and haul management, top soiling, drilling and blasting, risk management, contracts and procurement, cost and talent management, business improvement, mining capital projects, mine planning and mineral resources throughput management.
He worked on exploration and mine planning that informed the 5 seam project at Matla Coal being classified as potential resources for future extraction. Academically, he holds a postgraduate degree in Mining Engineering (University of Lubumbashi), the MDP (Stellenbosch Business School), a Project Management certificate (University of Pretoria), and a Winter School certificate in Mineral Resource Throughput Management (University of the Free State). He holds a Mine Manager’s Certificate of Competency (DMRE) and is a Certificated Professional Engineer registered with ECSA. He is preparing to enrol for an MBA at Stellenbosch Business School.
Operations Director (Pr.Eng., GCC)
Results-oriented Electrical Engineer with deep project leadership across mineral processing, coal and hard-rock mining—scope, design, RCA, maintenance, energy and risk.
Ms Bontle Aphane is an innovative Operations Director with technical breadth and significant project management experience. At Exxaro Resources, she gained extensive exposure to mineral processing, coal mining and hard-rock mining across: scope development, engineering design/specification, root-cause failure analysis, maintenance strategy, energy management, project/contractor/risk/quality/cost management, and compliance, governance and assurance. She has executed projects from single-discipline to large multi-disciplinary, and led the Mine Closure Project with an overall budget of R2.6 billion.
Bontle is a professionally registered Electrical Engineer (Pr.Eng., ECSA) and holds a GCC (DMRE). She earned an Honours in Engineering (University of Pretoria) and is pursuing a Master’s focused on energy optimisation in mining ventilation systems (University of Pretoria).
Stakeholder Relations Director
From operator to industry leader—NUM branch official, seasoned stakeholder engager, board member on Mine Workers Provident Fund, and transformation advocate.
Mr Mxolisi Hoboyi began as a mining machinery operator at Arnot Coal Mine and brings firsthand operational insight. He was elected as a full-time NUM branch official—re-elected every three years—engaging stakeholders including Exxaro Resources, DMRE, the Chamber of Mines and organised labour to advance labour interests and transformation in mining.
His leadership led to a board appointment at the Mine Workers Provident Fund, overseeing assets over R28 billion. He founded the Mhlontlo Local Municipality Trust Fund (launched by Dr Blade Nzimande in 2013) to identify top students and award bursaries, supporting education and empowerment.
At Innovators Resources (Pty) Ltd, we are driven by a vision of sustainable mining that empowers communities, embraces innovation, and ensures responsible resource management. Our passion for excellence fuels every project, guiding us to deliver solutions that balance growth, safety, and environmental stewardship.