ZAC acting surface engineer, Kwanele Buthelezi

Obambe ukuba wunjiniyela wangaphezulu e-ZAC uKwanele Buthelezi

GCC success elevates Kwanele to fully qualified engineer

Hard work has paid off for ZAC Engineer Kwanele Buthelezi after he passed the Mines and Works Government Competency Certificate (GCC) examination. Kwanele had to juggle preparing for the exam while studying towards his Masters degree in engineering and tackling his duties at the mine. Elated after getting his GCC results, Kwanele now looks forward to gaining more experience in the field. The GCC Mines & Works license allows individuals to operate as certified engineers and supervise machinery in line with the Minerals Act Regulation.

“It took me three years of practical training before I could be accepted to write the examination by the DMRE, so it was a long journey for me” Kwanele says. He obtained a B-Tech degree in electrical engineering from Unisa and is currently awaiting his results after submitting his Masters dissertation at the Durban University of Technology. Kwanele says his line manager Howard Atkison and other members of team at ZAC have been supportive of his academic pursuits. “The support I got from my line supervisor and the engineering department is invaluable. I am grateful for that,” he says.

The challenging environment that requires one to be a proactive problem solver attracted Kwanele to engineering. “You are constantly learning and constantly finding new ways to solve challenges. You will never be bored because there is always something to do,” he remarks. Kwanele is also a proponent of introducing Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields to young people who are still at school. Recently he gave a talk at the Masibumbane High School in Ulundi to share information about the profession with Grade 12 learners. Currently he is acting in the position of surface engineer and plans to use the opportunity to reinforce his capabilities. “Our head of Engineering, Ernest Mandere is highly experienced so I am looking to get as much guidance from him as possible,” he says.

I-GCC iphakamise uKwanele osengunjiniyela ngokugcwele

Ukuzikhandla kumsebenzele unjiniyela waseZAC uKwanele Buthelezi ophase izivivinyo ze-Mines and Works Government Competency Certificate (iGCC). Ukwanele ubelungiselela lezi zivivinyo ngesikhathi eqhubeka neziqu ze-Master’s yobunjiniyela futhi eqhuba nomsebenzi wakhe wasemayini.

UKwanele ojabulile ngokuphumelela usebheke manje ukwandisa isipiliyoni sakhe embonini. Ilayisensi yse-GCC Mines & Works igunyaza umuntu ukuthi asebenze njengonjiniyela ngokugcwele futhi engamele imishini njengokusho komthetho wokumbiwa phansi, i-Minerals Act Regulation.

“Ngisebenzile ngiqeqeshwa iminyaka emithathu ngaphambi kokuvunyelwa ukubhala izivivinyo zoMnyango wokuMbiwa Phansi namaNdla, ngakho kube wuhambo olude,” kusho uKwanele. Une-BTech in Electrical Engineering yase-Unisa kanti manje ulinde umphumela we-Master’s e-Durban University of Technology. Ukwanele uthe imenenja yakhe uHoward Atkinson namanye amalungu eZAC amesekile efunda. “Ukuxhaswa umphathi wami nethimba lonke lonjiniyela lungisize kakhulu. Ngiyabonga kakhulu,” kusho yena.

Yindawo eyinselelo futhi edinga umuntu ukuthi azisukumele kuxazulula inkinga yiyona eyahehela uLwazi ebunjiniyeleni. “Uhlale ufunda futhi uthola izindlela ezintsha zokuxazulula izinselelo. Awusoze waba nesithukuthezi ngoba kuhlale kukhona okwenziwayo,” kuphawula yena. UButhelezi ugqugquzela ukuthi kwethulwe imisebenzi yeSayensi, ubuChwepheshe, ubuNjiniyela neZibalo entsheni isesesikoleni. Usanda kwethula inkulumo eMasibumbane High School oLundi eyocobelela ulwazi ngomsebenzi awenzayo kubafundi beBanga 12. Okwamanje ubambe njengonjiniyela wangaphezulu kanti uzimisele ukusebenzisa leli thuba ukutshengisa ukuthi uyawazi umsebenzi. “Inhloko yonjiniyela yethu uErnest Mandere unamava kakhulu, ngakho ngizimisele ukuchushiswa ngokuningi nguyena,” kusho yena.