Mahene Benzane

CEO SmartOps Solutions

Mahene is a certified director, and a leading Technology Strategist, Digital Transformation Leader, and SafetyTech Innovator shaping the future of Africa’s digital economy in the mining industry. He is the CEO and Founder of SmartOps, a South African digital transformation and management consulting company delivering practical, high-impact solutions across the mining value chain, energy, and mobility sectors. Under his leadership, SmartOps has built pioneering platforms, including Thiba Ingozi, a first-of-its-kind community-driven safety solution redefining personal and mobility safety across the country. Mahene’s career spans digital innovation roles across mining and advanced operations, grounded in his early experience as a geologist, mining professional, and business optimisation. Apart from his honours in Geology and other mining and finance related qualifications, he holds a Master of Management in Digital Business & Digital Technologies from Wits Business School and is widely recognised as a visionary leader committed to technology-enabled safety, productivity, and human development within the mining industry.