Sibusisiwe Sithole, ZAC Geologist

USibusisiwe Sithole, oyi-Geologist e-ZAC

Exploring ground – a passion for Sibusisiwe

Exploration possesses a special charm for ZAC geologist Sibusisiwe Sithole. The possibility of extending the life-of-mine through new discoveries keeps Sibusisiwe invested in her work. “A definite highlight for me is knowing that when I am out there drilling, the exploration projects I work on could add more years to the mine,” says Sibusisiwe

After completing her geology degree at the University of the Free State, Sibusisiwe did her graduate programme at ZAC, which entailed underground visits, identification of rock types and geological structures, mapping, and underground sampling for coal quality control, among other things. She then worked a further two years at the mine as a junior geologist before getting another job at the Tendele anthracite mine.

Sibusisiwe made her return to ZAC recently and has various responsibilities, including exploration and geological data management. While still in high school, Sibusisiwe attended a Mining Career Week event in George, in the Western Cape province, which influenced her decision to study geology. At the event, there was only one woman who got up to speak about mining and the need for more women to take up careers in the industry. “I immediately knew that I wanted to be in mining,” Sibusisiwe states.

For now, her focus is completing her Masters thesis which is based on the ZAC mine. Sibusisiwe’s ultimate goal is to document the Nongoma coalfields. She notes it is important for geological data to be captured so that future geologists can have better insight of the region. But currently, there is little to no literature published on the Nongoma coalfields. “I intend to document the amazing geology found in this region as I have done a lot of work on the area,” she says. Sibusisiwe also looks forward to climbing the corporate ladder and hopes to become a technical manager at some point in her career.

Ukucwaninga emajukujukwini wuthando lukaSibusisiwe

Iyazifela ngokuphenya nokucwaninga i-geologist yase-ZAC, uSibusisiwe Sithole. Ukwazi ukuthi kungenzeka alule isikhathi sokusetshenziswa kwemayini kwenza uSibusisiwe ahlale ezimisela emsebenzini wakhe. “Into engiyithandayo ukwazi ukuthi uma ngigqoma ngisebenza, umsebenzi wami kungenzeka wengeze iminyaka yemayini,” kusho uSibusisiwe.

Uqale eyithwasa e-ZAC emva kokuphothula iziqu zakhe zeminyaka emithathu e-University of the Free State, eshona phansi emgodini, ebheka izinhlobo ezihlukene zamadwala, ebheka ukuma kwemayini futhi ehlola ukuthi amalahle anohlonze kangakanani. Usebenze eminye iminyaka emibili eyi-geologist encane ngaphambi kokuqashwa emayini iTendele Anthracite.

Usanda kubuya e-ZAC lapho enemisebenzi emininig khona okukhona kuyo ukuphenya nokwengamela ulwazi abaluqoqayo ophikweni lwakhe. Esafunda esikoleni samabanga aphezulu, uSibusisiwe wahambela umbukiso waya embukisweni okwakufundiswa kuwo ngemisebenzini embonini yezimayini i-Mining Career Week eGeorge, eNtshonalanga Kapa, okwamenza wanquma ukwenza izifundo ze-geology.

Kulowo mbukiso, uyedwa vo owesifazane owasukuma wakhuluma ngezimayini nanokuthi kudingeka abanye abantu besifazane bakhethe imisebenzi ekhona embonini. “Ngazi ngaso leso sikhathi ukuthi ngifuna ukusebenza ezimayini,” kusho uSibusisiwe.

Okwamanje ugxile ekuphothuleni ucwaningo lwesikole oluhambisana neziqu i-Master’s alwenzayo nge-ZAC. Inhloso yakhe wukuqopha umlando ngamalahle akwaNongoma, uthi kubalulekile ukuqoqa ulwazi ukuze ama-geologist angomuso ezoba nolwazi olungcono ngendawo. Nokho okwamanje, akukho okutheni okubhaliwe ngamalahle alesi siyingi.

“Ngizimisele ngokuqopha umlando omuhle ngamatshe. Nesihlabathi esitholakala kulesi siyingi ngoba muningi umsebenzi esengiwenzile kule ndawo,” kusho uSibusisiwe. Uthe ukubheke ngabomvu nokukhula emsebenzini abe ngomunye wabaphathi ngelinye ilanga.