South African Heavy Haul Association
About SAHHA
The South African Heavy Haul Association (SAHHA) is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in heavy haul railway operations, engineering, maintenance and technology. It strives to accomplish this mission through the acquisition of knowledge by organising conferences and technical sessions.
SAHHA is a local chapter of the International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA), a 50-year-old association whose vision is to promote heavy haul excellence globally.
SAHHA Board & Organising Committee
SAHHA is led by a board of dedicated and experienced railway professionals.
SAHHA Chair
Brian Monakali
Mr. Monakali is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of multidisciplinary experience, including 14 years in rail and a decade in executive roles within the mining sector. He has held leadership positions at South32, Transnet Freight Rail, Lonmin Platinum, Unilever and the Municipality of Port Elizabeth.
A respected voice in international rail forums, he served as Global Chairperson of the International Heavy Haul Association, leading the Heavy Haul Vision 2030 – Digital Rail 4.0 initiative, and is a founder and Chairperson of the South African Heavy Haul Association. He is known for his inclusive leadership, ethical governance and passion for operational excellence. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Railway Safety Regulator on 1 August 2025.
Board Member
Prof. Hannes Gräbe
Prof. Hannes Gräbe is an associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology (EBIT) at the University of Pretoria. He holds the Chairs in Railway Engineering and Railway Safety, sponsored by Transnet Freight Rail and the Railway Safety Regulator, respectively. Prof. Gräbe’s research focuses on the behaviour of railway foundation materials subjected to cyclic loading and the characterisation of track component performance and behaviour through field and laboratory experimentation. He combines his experience in track technology, soil mechanics and advanced laboratory testing for the development of novel condition monitoring techniques, maintenance models and numerical analysis of track structures.
He holds a PhD degree from the University of Southampton (UK) in Geotechnical Engineering and is a fellow of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) and registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) as a professional Engineer.
Board Member
Prof. Pilate Moyo
Pilate Moyo is currently Professor of Structural Engineering, Director of the Concrete Materials and Structural Integrity Research Unit, and Head of the Urban & Public Infrastructure Research Initiative at the University of Cape Town. His research is focused on developing structural health monitoring and assessment technologies that integrate finite element modelling, full-scale field testing, and advanced data analysis algorithms. His research seeks to improve infrastructure management and maintenance by providing robust, practical solutions. He has published widely in these areas and regularly acts as a consultant on infrastructure performance assessment.
Prof. Moyo is a registered professional engineer (PrEng), a Fellow of the South African Academy of Engineering, and a Fellow of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering.
Board Member
Nkululeko Gobhozi
Mr. Nkululeko Gobhozi is Chief Engineer: Technology Management at Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM), where he leads engineering teams responsible for technology governance, standards development, and assurance across South Africa’s rail infrastructure network.
A registered Professional Engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), he has over two decades of experience in railway systems engineering, operational technology, and complex operational technology integration. He holds a Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, and a BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town.
He also serves as a board director of the International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) and the South African Heavy Haul Association (SAHHA).
Board Member
Kubendren Naidoo
Mr. Kubendren Naidoo currently serves as the General Manager Asset Management at Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT), where he leads diverse engineering, maintenance and technology teams. He holds a B.Sc. Mechanical Eng. degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Government Certificate of Competency (GCC Factories).
