Our Directors
Dr Barnard O. Mokwena (PhD)
- Co-Founder & Managing Director
Dr Barnard O. Mokwena is the visionary co-founder and Managing Director of Mech- Industries. With more than two decades of executive leadership in South Africa’s mining industry, he brings extensive operational experience and deep academic expertise in leadership, strategy and organisational development.
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Recognising the need for locally manufactured, world-class screening media, Dr Mokwena co-founded Mech-Industries in 2014 with a clear purpose: to build a South African Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) capable of competing with the world’s leading suppliers and contributing to industrialisation, localisation and job creation.
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Under his leadership, Mech-Industries has evolved from a start-up into a respected manufacturer, supplying innovative polyurethane and rubber screening solutions to mines across South Africa and in international markets.
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His vision continues to drive investment in manufacturing technology, product innovation, skills development and customer partnerships. Dr Mokwena is passionate about building sustainable African industries and believes that manufacturing excellence is fundamental to the continent’s economic future.
Billy van Rooyen
- Co-Founder & Director – Technical & Manufacturing
Billy van Rooyen is a co-founder and Director overseeing the company’s technical and manufacturing operations. With decades of specialised experience in screening media design, manufacturing processes and mineral processing applications, he has been instrumental in developing many of Mech-Industries’ products and manufacturing capabilities.
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Billy’s expertise spans polyurethane and rubber screen panel design, mould development, production optimisation and customer-specific engineering solutions. His practical understanding of screening performance enables Mech-Industries to deliver products that improve efficiency, extend wear life and reduce plant downtime.
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Working closely with customers, he ensures that every solution is engineered to withstand the demanding conditions of modern mineral-processing plants. His commitment to quality, precision and continuous improvement has become a defining characteristic of the Mech-Industries manufacturing philosophy.
Busi Manentsa
- Director – Corporate Services & Governance
Busi provides strategic leadership across corporate governance, finance, administration and stakeholder relations. She plays a critical role in ensuring that Mech-Industries maintains the governance, financial discipline and organisational systems required to support sustainable growth.
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Her leadership strengthens the company’s commitment to sound corporate practices, regulatory compliance and responsible business management. She also oversees initiatives that drive transformation, enterprise development and meaningful partnerships across the mining and manufacturing sectors.
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Busi’s focus on organisational sustainability complements the company’s engineering and manufacturing capabilities, ensuring Mech-Industries continues to grow as a trusted, socially responsible partner to customers across Southern Africa and beyond.
Leadership with a Shared Vision
Together, Dr Barnard O. Mokwena, Billy van Rooyen and Busi Maqungo-Manentsa bring a unique blend of strategic vision, technical expertise and sound corporate governance. Their shared commitment to innovation, quality and local manufacturing continues to position Mech-Industries as one of South Africa’s leading OEM manufacturers of modular screening media and mineral processing solutions, and to uphold the company’s enduring promise to its customers.
- Serenity of Reliable Performance