Menar MD Vuslat Bayoglu alongside ZAC Proto team captain Sizwe Mbata, Zamambo Mbatha and Mines Rescue Services CEO Mannas Fourie during the awards ceremony

Umqondisi wase-Menar uVuslat Bayoglu,ukaputeni wethimba lase-ZAC iProto uSizwe Mbata, uZamambo Mbatha nesikhulu esiphezulu se-Mine Rescue Services uMannas Fourie emcimbini wemiklomelo

ZAC Proto members recognised for long service

Despite the risks associated with mine rescue and recovery missions, Proto members across the South Africa remain devoted to saving lives and providing exceptional service to the industry. The Proto teams respond to emergencies such as fire outbreaks and search and rescue missions. ZAC Proto team captain Sizwe Mbatha along with his colleagues Rudi Soll and Zimisele Mazibuko were amongst those awarded for long service at the 2023 Proto Gala dinner hosted by the Mine Rescue Services South Africa (MRS). The MRS, a member of the International Mines Rescue Body (IMRB), has Proto teams across various underground mines in South Africa.

Mbatha, a general engineering superintendent stationed at the mine’s Ngwabe Shaft, received recognition for 15 years of service. He has responded to a total of 16 call outs throughout his career. “I was inspired to join Proto because I wanted to help save lives. It means a lot for me to have stayed 15 years in the service” said Mbatha. A typical team on a mine consists of at least 5 people and members also attend refresher courses to upskill.

Soll, who is vice-captain of the ZAC team, said he was honoured to have served for 10 years. “Being a part of Mine Rescue Services is a great honour and a dream come true for me,” he remarked. The role played by Proto members is captured by the words ‘voluntate servio,’ or ‘voluntarily we serve’ inscribed on the organisation’s badge. Mazibuko, Mechanical Foreman at the Maye B shaft says the skills gained during the training are invaluable, adding that Proto was also based on the comradery shared with teammates. “As you go through the rescue and recovery missions, you start to appreciate life even more,” said Mazibuko.

Amalungu e-ZAC Proto aklonyeliswe ngokudonsa emsebenzini

Nakuba kunezingozi ezihambisana nomsebenzi wokuhlenga abantu ezimayini, amalungu e-Proto eNingizimu Afrika yonke ahlale ezinikele ekuhlengeni izimpilo zabantu nokwenza umsebenzi omuhle kulo mkhakha. Amalungu e-Proto asukumela izimo eziphuthumayo njengokubheduka komlilo nokuhlwaya nokuhlenga abantu. Ukaputeni wethimba i-ZAC Proto uSizwe Mbatha nabalingani bakhe o-Rudi Soll noZimisele Mazibuko bangabanye babantu abaklonyeliswe ngokuba nesikhathi eside emsebenzini emcimbini wesidlo sakusihlwa i-2023 Proto Gala, ebihlelwe yi-Mine Rescue Services South Africa (i-MRS). I-MRS, eyilungu le-International Mines Rescue Body (i-IMRB), enamathimba e-Proto ezindaweni ezihlukene ezimayini eNingizimu Afrika.

USizwe, ongunsumpa wobunjiniyela jikelele emgodini iNgwabe, uklonyeliswe ngeminyaka engu-15 esebenza. Usenze imisebenzi yokuhlenga engu-16 iyonke empilweni yakhe. “Ngaba nothando lokungena kwi-Proto ngoba ngithanda ukuhlenga izimpilo zabantu. Kusho lukhulu kimina ukuba neminyaka engu-15 ngisebenza,” kusho uSizwe. Ithimba elijwayelekile emayini linabantu abahlanu, kanti amalungu avame ukuqeqeshwa ukuphucula amakhono awo.

U-Soll, oyiphini likakaputeni lethimba le-ZAC, uthe uthakasile ngokusebenza iminyaka emihlanu. “Ukuba yingxenye ye-Mine Rescue Services yinto enkulu nokufezeka kwesifiso sami,” kuphawula yena. Iqhaza elibanjwa ngamalungu e-Proto liqukethwe ngamagama aqoshwe ebhejeni layo athi ‘voluntate servio’, okusho ukuthi ‘ngokuvoluntiya siyasebenza’. UMazibuko, Imfolomane yoMakhenikha esemgodini iMaye B uthi amakhono abawathola ngenkathi beqeqeshwa abaluleke kakhulu, wengeza ngokuthi i-Proto isekelwe ebunganini bamalungu ethimba. “Ngenkathi wenza imisebenzi yokuhlwaya nokuhlenga abantu, uqala ukwazisa impilo kakhulu,” kusho uMazibuko.