Sakhiseni Simelane

CFO Council for Geoscience

Sakhiseni Simelane currently pursuing MCom Accounting, University of the Witwatersrand; MBA, Regenesys Business School) is a seasoned executive, financial strategist, and governance leader, currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer of the Council for Geoscience (CGS), South Africa’s national geoscience scientific research council. CGS is mandated to promote scientific research, expand national geoscience knowledge, and provide specialised geoscientific services, including mineral exploration, in support of sustainable development and informed public policy. With more than 15 years of experience at executive and board level, Sakhi has built a distinguished career across the minerals, energy, and broader public-sector landscape. He is recognised for strengthening governance and financial management frameworks, stabilising complex institutions, and aligning financial and operational resources to long-term strategic and developmental objectives. Among his key leadership roles, Sakhi served as Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Minerals and Energy, where he was directly involved in minerals governance, regulatory compliance, and public financial management within the mining sector. He also held the position of Chief Financial Officer and Group Executive for Corporate Functions and Acting Chief Executive Officer at Mintek. At the CGS, he has been actively involved in the execution and implementation of the Junior Mining Exploration Fund (JMEF) as a Steering Committee member and leads organizational investment into critical geological and technical assets at the CGS, strengthening the institution’s capacity to support mineral exploration, resource mapping, and datadriven decision-making. His work bridges financial strategy with operational realities, ensuring that capital allocation, governance, and technology investment effectively supports exploration, long-term resource development, and Africa’s role in the global mineral industry.