Phumlile Mlaba, Boiler making vac-work apprentice

UPhumlile Mlaba, ithwasa le-boiler making

Childhood dream to get mine experience manifests

Growing up in the Mlaba area, one of ZAC’s host communities, meant that the mine was a constant feature in Phumlile Mlaba’s environment. Phumlile, a boiler making Vacation Student at ZAC, says she has always wanted to work at the mine. “I grew up knowing about the mine because it is so close to home and I wanted to work here one day,” she says. She was initially interested in becoming an electrical engineer but switched her focus to boiler making.

After passing matric at Masibumbane High School Phumlile enrolled for a boiler making qualification at Majuba FET College which she completed in 2022 She started her training at ZAC almost two years ago and is under the tutelage of experienced artisan Vincent Mvelase. Phumlile first started working at the mine’s surface workshop where experience in boiler making expanded. Phumlile looks forward to attending the Colliery Training College once she completes the programme at ZAC.

Kufezeka iphupho lasebunganeni lamava asezimayini

Ekhula KwaMlaba, esinye sezigodi esakhelwe yi-ZAC, isithombe semayini emehlweni kaPhumlile Mlaba, isitshudeni esiyithwasa le-boiler making, yinto eyayingasuki, othi seloku kwathi nhlo wayefisa ukusebenza emayini.

“Ngakhula ngazi ukuthi kunemayini ngoba iseduze kakhulu kunasekhaya futhi ngangifisa ukusebenza khona ngelinye ilanga,” kusho yena. Waqale wafisa ukuba wunjiniyela kagesi kodwa wabuye washintshela ekubeni yi-boiler maker. Ngemva kokuphasa umatikuletsheni eMasibumbane High School.

UPhumlile wabhalisela i-boiler making eeMajuba FET College, ayiqeda ngo-2022. Waqala ukuqeqeshwa e-ZAC eminyakeni emibili edlule ngaphansi kweso elibukhali lika-Vincent Mvelase. UPhumlile waqala ukusebenza e-workshop, lapho kwanda khona ulwazi lwakhe lwe-boiler making. UPhumlile ukubheka ngamehlo abomvu ukuyofunda e-Colliery Training College uma eseqede izifundo zase-ZAC.