Schutte has been with the company since 2015, and will leave immediately.

CoAL will finish the December quarter with no permanent CFO because Berlin starts on March 1, 2018.

She has been CFO at Implats since 2011 and joined the company in 2004, working under CoAL Africa CEO David Brown in his time as CEO there.

Berlin announced last week she was leaving Implats, and will finish on February 28, a day before starting at the new company.

Brown said her input would be valuable as CoAL works out how to fund the Makhado project.

"On behalf of the board of directors, I'm delighted to have Brenda join the company, in what will be vital period over the next 12 months," he said.

"Brenda is highly regarded in the sector and brings a wealth of financial and mining experience, having been CFO of Impala, one of the world's largest platinum miners, for the past six years." 

CoAL will soon change its name to MC Mining and finalise a share consolidation.

The move will be a step down in scale for Berlin, as it was for Brown.

CoAL said Schutte would "pursue personal endeavours" after leaving.