1. SCHONKEN, MARK GREGORY 1
Curriculum vitae: Mr MG SCHONKEN
Name : SCHONKEN, MARK GREGORY
Date of Birth : 25 August 1971
Profession/Specialisation : Civil Technician Transport
Years with Firm : 4
Nationality : South African
Years experience : 25
Key qualifications
Mark is a qualified civil technician with more than two decades of experience. He has been involved in rail
design, drainage and capital expenditure (CAPEX) costs for heavy haul lines, and is proficient in the geometric
design of interchanges, taxi ranks, airport design and visual condition road assessments. He has also gained
valuable experience in the supervision and administration of civil and structural construction projects.
He is well versed in Inroads, Civil design, Microstation and Autocad Map3D computer packages to produce
engineering designs and drawings. Mark has experience in the preparation of the schedule of quantities for
inclusion in contract documentation and has been involved in submissions of tenders and proposals.
Mark holds an NDip Civil Engineering (T3) from the Technikon Pretoria in South Africa.
Employment record
2011 - Date Aurecon, Civil Technician
2007 - 2011 SSI Engineers and Environmental Consultants (Pty) Ltd, Civil Technician and
Associate
2006 - 2007 Arcuss Gibb, Technician
1998 - 2006 Stewart Scott International, Technician
1997 - 1998 ACE/Van Straten Associates, Technician
1996 - 1997 Tri-Net, Trainee Contracts Manager
1993 - 1996 Endumeni Local Municipality (Dundee), Technical Assistant
1993 Terrikor Civils, Foreman
1990 - 1993 Con Roux Construction, Technician
Experience record
Transnet Overvaal Tunnel FEL3 & FEL 4 09/2015 – 03/2016. Technician. The Overvaal Tunnel is a single
track line with no alternative route for train’s en-route to or from Richards Bay on the Coal Line, the tunnel has
inherent structural deficiencies, the introduction of an additional double track tunnel will mitigate the current
operational risks and increase the throughput capacity through this single section of the coal line. A new tunnel
is required to accommodate a double, electrified and signalled track. The 3695 km long tunnel is required to
be completely waterproof and have walkways on either side of the tunnel. The tunnel should be ventilated and
have cross passages linking it to the existing tunnel for safety purposes. The existing coal line needs to be
diverted through the new tunnel. The scope further includes the road and drainage design for service and
access roads at the works. Aurecon was appointed by Transnet to conduct a FEL-3 (Feasibility) Study, as well
as the detailed engineering of the implementation phase (FEL-4). Responsible for the road and drainage
design for the service and access roads on the project, Bill of Quantities (BOQ’s) and amendments to the
COLTO specifications. Project involvement 6 person-months. (Transnet).
Project Raptor IPS Engineering (Northern Cape) 02/2015 – 09/2015. Technician. Project Raptor is an
Identification Phase Study (IPS) which was initiated by BHP Billiton Hotazel Manganese Mines South Africa
(HMM). The study aims to investigate various options for optimisation of loading facilities for both Mamatwan
and Wessels mines to line up with the proposed Manganese Expansion Project currently being implemented
by Transnet. Responsible for the rail option design, rail operations analysis and reporting. Involved for 6 person
– months (HMM)
Tororo Pakwach – Gulu Nimule Rail (Uganda) 12/2014- 03/2015. Technician. The project is a Preliminary
Engineering Design of the Tororo-Pakwach/Gulu-Nimule Standard Gauge of approximate 667 km standard
gauge railway running from Tororo to Pakwach, with links to Nimule (border with South Sudan) and Goli,
(border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC), the line is expected to transport passengers and

2. SCHONKEN, MARK GREGORY 2
freight at speeds of up to 120 kph. Responsible for rail design on a section of the route, capital expenditure
(CAPEX) costing and reporting. Projected involvement 8 person – months (MOWT Uganda)
RB Tippler 5 FEL 2, Richards Bay (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) 2013 - Date. Technician. Installation of
a new Rotaside Wagon Tippler. Responsible for the rail option design, capital expenditure (CAPEX) costing
and reporting. Involved for 3 person-months. (Transnet).
Beira-Chirodzi Corridor feasibility study (Mozambique) 03/2013 - 12/2013. Technician. The project
comprised of a feasibility study to support the full export activity of the Chirodzi mine, a coal mine close to the
town of Tete in Mozambique. Responsible for rail design of various route alignments, design optimization,
capital expenditure (CAPEX) costing and reporting. Involved for 6 person-months. (Jindal Africa).
Geometric design of runways (South Africa) 2011 - 2012. Technician. The project entailed the assessment
of runways and runway end safety areas (RESA) for Airports Company of South Africa Limited (ACSA) airports
against the geometric criteria provided in ICAO Annex 14. Responsible for geometric design of the runways to
check compliance with ICAO Annex 14. Involved for 6 person-months. (Airports Company of South Africa
Limited (ACSA)).
Detailed design (FEL 4) of the Nacala Railway Corridor (Mozambique) 05/2011 - 11/2013. Technician.
The Nacala Railway Corridor Project will transport approximately 18 million tons of coal, derived from the
expansion of Moatize Mine (Mozambique) through a railway system connecting the existing mine in Moatize
to a new coal terminal in Nacala Velha (Mozambique). The project was funded by Vale, and has the potential
of being developed into a transport corridor for Mozambique's Tete Province, and potentially Zambia and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Assisted with the rail design and drainage of section 3C mass haul
design and quantity optimization. Involved for 15 person-months. (Vale).
Road network design for Pietersburg Ext. 40 (Limpopo Province, South Africa) 2011. The project
involved the provision of roads, stormwater infrastructure, water supply, sewer reticulation and electrification
for Pietersburg Ext. 40. Responsible for the geometric roads design. Involved for 8 person-months.
(Polokwane Rural Development and Land Reform).
Design and construction of Tshwane Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system line 1 - 4 (Gauteng Province,
South Africa) 2010 - 2011. Civil Technician. The project comprised engineering services for the proposed
Tshwane Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, proposal for the design and for the construction of projects for
section 1 - 4. Responsible for section 2 geometric designs, services and drainage. Involved for 12 person -
months. (South African National Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL)).
Julius Nyerere International Airport (Tanzania) 2008 - 2009. Civil Technician. The project entailed the
upgrade of existing taxiways to serve ICAO code E aircrafts. The scope of work included the design and
construction of new taxiway links, the improvement to existing pavements, widening of existing taxiways and
the geometric design of new taxiways. Responsible for the geometric design and drawings. Involved for 6
person-months. (Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA)).
Gauteng Freeway improvements (Route N1 and N3) (Gauteng Province, South Africa) 2007 - 2011.
Technician and Draughtsman. The project entailed major upgrading and improvement of 40 kilometres of
urban freeway, north and east of Johannesburg. The project involved substantial improvements to concrete
and asphalt freeway pavements. Widening of the freeway and bridges, to provide additional lanes to improve
road capacity. A major part of the assignment entailed improvements to 10 traffic interchanges to provide
additional capacity congested access to the freeways. Responsible for the preliminary design of a portion of
the Rivonia interchange. Involved for 12 person-months. (South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL)).
Consultancy services for an axle load study (Nigeria) 2007. Technician. The Ministry of Transportation is
implementing a Federal Roads Development project and requires the development of a sustainable heavy
vehicle axle load control and enforcement system. In order to formulate a strategy for this initiative it is
necessary to establish the extent of overloading on the main network in the context of cost to the country. This
determination will be the basis of formulating and introducing an axle load control programme countrywide. In
parallel there is a need to update the Federal Roads Design Manual consistent with current internationally
expected norms as the current standards were prepared in 1973. The scope of work included a study, review
and update of design standards for federal roads. Responsible for drawings. Involved for 6 person-months.
(Bureau of Public Enterprises).
Braamhoek Pumped Storage Scheme (Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) 2007. Technician
and Draughtsman. The project involved a detailed design of a pumped storage hydro electricity generation

3. SCHONKEN, MARK GREGORY 3
scheme (1332 Mega Watt capacity). Responsible for the design of a portion of the internal tunnel network and
access roads. Involved for 12 person-months. (Eskom).
O.R. Tambo International Airport 03L/21R shoulders (Gauteng Province, South Africa) 2006.
Technician. The project involved construction of rapid exit taxiways along runways 03R/21L and 03/21R, and
holding bay at 21R. Responsible for drawings. Involved for 6 person-months. (Airports Company South Africa
(ACSA)).
Upgrading of gravel roads to surface roads in Ivory Park (Gauteng Province, South Africa) 2006 - 2007.
CAD Operator. The project entailed the upgrade of gravel roads to surface roads in Ivory Park. Responsible
for drawings. Involved for 6 person-months. (Johannesburg Roads Agency (Pty) Ltd).
Upgrading of gravel road from Nwamitwa to Molototsi River (Limpopo Province, South Africa) 2005 -
2006. Technician. Upgrading of roads D3246, D3186, D3187, from Nwamitwa to Gamokgwathi, in the Mopani
District of Limpopo Province from gravel road to surfaced road. This project involved the design, tender
documentation and site monitoring of the upgrading of gravel roads. Responsible for the investigation of the
gravel and the drainage structures, scoping report compilation, design, documentation and construction
supervision. Also responsible for quality control and ensure compliance with standards. Involved for 6 person -
months. (Northern Province Roads Agency).
Preliminary design of National Route 17 between Nasrec Road and Soweto (Gauteng Province, South
Africa) 2005 - 2007. Technician. Preliminary design of the N17 freeway between Nasrec Road and Soweto
(approximately 5km). The route passes through and adjacent to three mine tailings dams and over an
undermined area. The brief included the preliminary design and preparation of tender documentation for design
and construction. Assisted with design and drawings. Involved for 8 person-months. (Johannesburg Roads
Agency (Pty) Ltd).
Swartklip design 2 (North West Province, South Africa) 2005 - 2006. Technician. The project comprised
the upgrade of 32 km of rural roads around the Swartklip Mine at Pilanesburg in the North West Province. The
project involved the design, tender documentation and sitemonitoring of the upgrading of the roads from gravel
to tar. Involved for 3 person-months. (North West Department of Roads and Transport).
Durban International Airport: Alpha Apron configuration (KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa) 2005.
Technician. The project involved the configuration of apron Alpha. Responsible for drawings. Involved for 3
person-months. (Airports Company South Africa (ACSA)).
George Airport design and supervision (Western Cape Province, South Africa) 2005. Technician. The
project comprised aircraft accommodation during the construction phase using Autotun. Responsible for
drawings and quantities. Involved for 3 person-months. (Airports Company South Africa (ACSA)).
Knysna Airport Study (Western Cape Province, South Africa) 2004 - 2005. Technician. As part of the
Knysna Spatial Development Framework and Sector Studies, a study was undertaken to establish the need
for facilities for fixed wing, helicopter, micro light and glider operation. The scope of work included consulting
on size and location of facilities as well as legislative requirements on establishment and operation.
Responsible for draughting. Involved for 3 person-months. (Knysna Municipality).
Gautrans roads (Gauteng Province, South Africa) 2004 - 2005. Technician. Rehabilitation of road D31
and P106 in the Tshwane District north of Pretoria. The length of the road is about 30 km and the project
involved assessment of the road with material testing, the rehabilitation design, tender process and
construction supervision. Assisted with design. Involved for 3 person-months. (Gauteng Department of Public
Transport, Roads and Works).
Braamhoek pumped storage scheme (Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) 2004. Technician.
The project entailed the detailed design of a pumped storage hydro electricity generation scheme (1332 Mega
Watt capacity). Responsible for the design of portion of the internal tunnel network and access roads for the
scheme. Involved for 12 person-months. (Eskom).
Site supervision of access roads (Gauteng Province, South Africa) 2004. Technician. The project
comprised the supervision of the upgrading of local access roads for the Independent Electoral Commission
(IEC). Responsible for site supervision. Involved for 6 person-months. (Independent Electoral Commission
(IEC)).
Rehabilitation of National Route N12/19 (Gauteng Province, South Africa) 2004. Technician. Preliminary

4. SCHONKEN, MARK GREGORY 4
and detailed design of rehabilitation works and road widening for the N12 between Gillooly's Interchange and
the R21 Interchange. This project included a detailed design review of the existing drainage system, and design
of new drainage. Involved for 12 person-months. (South African National Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL)).
Gautrain (Gauteng Province, South Africa) 2003. Technician. The project involved the alignment of the
Gauteng Rapid Rail Link from Marlboro to Salvokop. Assisted with the design and the preparation of plans.
Involved for 12 person-months. (Gauteng Provincial Government).
Nokeng emergency pipeline (Gauteng Province, South Africa) 2004. Technician. Assisted with the plan
production for the piping drawing. Involved for 6 person-months. (Nokeng tsa Taemane Local Municipality).
N1 Potgietersrus weighbridge (Limpopo Province, South Africa) 2004. Technician. This project involved
preliminary design of a new weighbridge for the N1 at Modimolle (Potgietersrus) and required a flood line
determination study for the Nyl River adjacent to the proposed site. Assisted with design and drawing
production. Involved for 6 person-months. (N1 Traffic Control Joint Venture).
N2 Wild Coast (Mtentu - Mtamvuna) (KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa) 2003. Technician. The
project comprised of 32 km of road alignment from Mtentu to Mtamvuna. Assisted with the design and the
preparation of plans. Involved for 12 person-months. (National Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL)).
Johannesburg and Durban International Airports (Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces, South
Africa) 2002 - 2003. Technician. The project entailed the widening of various taxiways and included rapid
exits holding bays. Assisted with the design and the preparation of plans. Involved for 6 person-months.
(Airports Company South Africa (ACSA)).
Mandena Mine weir - water and sewerage (Madagascar) 2002. Technician. Professional engineering
services for the investigation and design of water supply and wastewater infrastructure for the proposed
Mandena Mine in Madagascar. The scope of work included feasibility and detailed design and extensive
investigation and design for the Anony River 130 m long salinity exclusion weir in an estuarine river to assist
in providing 20000 m3/d of freshwater for the limonite mining process. Responsible for draughting. Involved
for 6 person-months. (Hatch Africa (Pty) Limited).
Bakwena Consortium Platinum Toll Highway (Gauteng and North West Provinces, South Africa) 2000
- 2002. Technician. The project entailed the design of 300 km of road and the rehabilitation of a single and
dual carriageway. Assistedwith the design and preparation of plans. Involved for 24 person-months. (National
Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL)).
N3-12 Asphalt and repair overlay project (Gauteng Province, South Africa) 1999 - 2000. Assessor
Draughtsman. The project entailed the detailed visual assessment and rehabilitation of National Route N3
from the Geldenhuys to the Modderfontein Interchange. Responsible for the detailed visual assessments and
preparation of plans. Involved for 12 person-months. (National Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL)).
K15 -1 between Roads K198 and PWV 16 (Gauteng Province, South Africa) 1999 - 2000. Technician.
The project involved the rehabilitation of a 12 km dual carriageway road. Responsible for assisting with the
drainage and preparation of plans. Involved for 9 person-months. (National Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL)).
Education
1993 : NDip Civil Engineering (T3), Technikon Pretoria, South Africa
Career enhancing courses
2013 : InRoads - Bently Road infrastructure design package, Graphic Engineering Solutions and
Services (GESS)
2011 : Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoDesk (CAD)
2008 : Project Management, Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA)
2003 : Urban Road Stormwater Drainage, South African Road Federation (SARF)
2002 : Geometric design of urban and rural roads, South African Road Federation (SARF)
1999 : MS Projects, Supima Computers (Pty) Ltd
Languages

5. SCHONKEN, MARK GREGORY 5
Reading Writing Speaking
English Excellent Excellent Excellent
Afrikaans Excellent Good Excellent
Referees
Company Contact Person Telephone nr.
SSI/Royal Haskoning DHV Innocent +27 82 331 8670
SSI/Royal Haskoning DHV Vuyiso +27 83 585 7917
By my signature below I certify the correctness of the information above and my availability to undertake this
assignment.
_____________________ ______________
Signature of Staff Member Date