Author: Mbuyelo Coal Administrator

ABET(AET )

One of the stories to share with everyone, is the certificate handover of ABET (AET).
Ntshovelo employees, including its contractors passed their current levels and were awarded their National Certificates in the first quarter, 2022. ABET classes are conducted on site on a weekly basis, and are run by a service provider by the name of Triple E.

Mining of pillars

Anyone that is well informed about the mine, knows that Ntshovelo’s life of mine was supposed to come to an end mid 2019, but that did not deter this Mbuyelo team! A project to extend the life mine for another 5 years has been undertaken. Authorisations by DMR were obtained around June 2019 and it appears it’s all systems go for this Mbuyelo offspring.

This project involves responsible mining of pillars in previously mined underground areas, that were mined around 1940. It has been no stroll in the park, as it has necessitated the change in mining layout- with two box cuts from the east and the west of mine; dewatering of underground flooded pillars, and training of employees on new mining methods amongst other things.

This is a monumental milestone for Ntshovelo (- for Mbuyelo Coal as a whole), not to mention a continuous learning curve for all involved.

Mbuyelo applauds Ntshovelo for running with the motto “hard work pays off”!

Mavungwani Colliery had a handful of learnerships for the youth in the areas surrounding the mine. The learnerships in question involved the creative skill of welding, and were completed in January of 2022. The great news is that two out of the ten learners were absorbed by the company for which they were doing their on-the-job-training. For the rest, the sky is the limit as the skills attained equips them inherently.

Graduation announcements

We always encourage our Mbuyelo team members to do all they can to grow into the best they can, and as a means of support, we go so far as to offer bursaries to all our members. Masungi Mthombeni, Chief Safety Officer at MMC has completed a Management Development Programme with distinctions at GIPS and Benjamin Sekgobela, Workshop Manager at Mavungwani Colliery is a proud owner of a Bachelor of Business Administration with Mancosa, and is currently studying for his Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practices through Regent Business School. “Mbuyelo for me is a second home, and I am eager to create many more new memories,” Sekgobela says.

Still at Mavungwani, but under the wings of Mbuyelo Mining Contractors (Pty) Ltd, interns Nhlonipho Mzila, Musawenkosi Mathonsi and Vela Mnguni, were offered an opportunity to gain practical work experience in the Engineering and Human Resources fields respectively.

A huge congratulations to all!

The 10th of March was a particularly special day as Manungu Colliery celebrated their Safety and Wellness Day for the year 2022. The hall was packed with proud Mbuyelo members, all adorned in their uniform attire, beaming from ear-to-ear.

The program was filled with wholesome speakers who each had plenty to contribute to this brilliant event. After the ever so zealous Mr. Sello Monnanyana, Manungu GM, handed the microphone over to pastor Mokatu who blessed the event, it was fireworks from then on with presentations and speeches from all sectors of the mining industry- including DMRE’s own Mr. Coetzee.

Program director Jenny Modise hyped the team up and kept them entertained with her amazing people skills; Chief Safety Officer Council Gumede congratulated everyone on a job well done; SAPS’s own constable Masuku spoke frankly on the topic of GBV, and Ms. Phumelele Ndumo made ‘money talk’ a pleasantly easy topic for all. Just when we thought the day could not get better, Mbuyelo Group CEO, Mr. Rirhandzu Owner Siweya, graced the event with heartwarmingly motivational words that had the crowd in awe as they listened attentively at his every word. “It’s a great honour to be standing before you all today, as we give special focus and pay special respect to wellness, health and safety in a mining environment,” Mr. Siweya told the dedicated Manungu team. He shared memories of when Manungu was nothing but a pipe dream, to what it is today. The Manungu team were beyond inspired by Mr. Siweya’s humble approach to life, despite his visibly mounting success. Nyathela Arts Work had the crowd in stitches as they drove the message of safety home in a way that will have it etched in their memories forever.

Sometimes it takes getting away from the workplace to press the reset button and get motivated again about your job. Events such as these bring individuals together and remind them what a valuable asset they are to the Company.

There are plenty of projects Manungu is busy with- both for the community and for its own members- most not even mentioned publicly. We are super proud of our members and are assured that the initiative will have a far-reaching effect in promoting wellness, health and safety within the Manungu Colliery working environment.