About Us

Near Surface Exploration & Drilling (Pty) Ltd was founded in 2017 by Dr. Mpafane Deyi, a water science and engineering professional whose career has been shaped by both personal experience and technical expertise. Growing up in a rural village without reliable access to potable water, Dr. Deyi witnessed firsthand the profound challenges water scarcity poses to communities. This early exposure, combined with his work in rural water supply projects, inspired his vision: to harness groundwater as a reliable, affordable, and sustainable source of drinking water.

Dr. Deyi recognized that groundwater is often located closer to the communities that need it most and generally requires less treatment than surface water. By focusing on this often-overlooked resource, he sought to close the water gap for underserved populations, providing timely water security while large-scale surface water projects—often costly and slow to implement—were still in planning or construction stages.

Dr. Deyi holds a Master of Science in Municipal Water Infrastructure (Water Supply Engineering) from Delft, UNESCO-IHE in the Netherlands, and a PhD in Geohydrology from the University of the Free State. His doctoral research introduced a groundbreaking model for groundwater transport in dual media, and he has contributed to international scholarship with five co-authored chapters in the textbook Mathematical Analysis of Groundwater Flows.

Before founding Near Surface, Dr. Deyi developed extensive leadership and technical experience. He served as Senior Engineer in the Municipal Infrastructure Cluster at iOCO (formerly EOH), a JSE-listed company, and led the national water management turnaround team at the National Department of Public Works, overseeing water infrastructure across South Africa.

Today, Near Surface operates primarily in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, providing groundwater development, treatment, and distribution solutions, as well as geotechnical engineering and mining exploration services. Guided by science, innovation, and a commitment to community impact, Near Surface continues to advance sustainable water solutions for those who need them most.

At Near Surface, our greatest asset is the people behind the business. Our team is a diverse group of dedicated professionals, bringing together expertise in groundwater exploration, geotechnical engineering, geology, water infrastructure, and project management. Each member contributes a unique skill set and shares a commitment to delivering innovative, reliable, and sustainable solutions to the communities we serve.

All our professional team members are registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), demonstrating our unwavering commitment to the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and technical excellence.