A love for mining and community development

Gugulethu Colliery Mechanical Engineering Intern Nokulunga Masina

Nokulunga Masina’s passion for mining was sparked during a school trip with her matric class. “We visited Kriel Mine and Eskom to see how they operate. At first, I wanted to be a doctor, but after seeing the mine, I fell in love with it,” she recalls. This experience set her on a path to becoming a mechanical engineering intern at Gugulethu.

After completing her matric at Sibongamandla Secondary School in Kriel, Nokulunga pursued her studies at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. She obtained her Diploma, Advanced Diploma, and Postgraduate qualification in Mechanical Engineering. Nokulunga’s first work experience was in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods industry. However, she soon realized that mining was her true calling. “I kept applying for jobs in mining until I got an opportunity, and I never looked back,” she says.

Currently, Nokulunga is pursuing her Government Certificate of Competency (GCC) while interning with Gugulethu. “The experience has been amazing. The support has been very good. I’m learning a lot,” she says. She is completing modules in conveyor maintenance, material handling, and electrical systems, with the goal of qualifying as a GCC engineer by 2027. In addition to her engineering pursuits, Nokulunga gives back to her community through her organisation, Grace-Olutions. She co-founded the organisation in 2020 with her brother, and it provides mathematics tutoring to Grade 10-12 learners. Around 65 matriculants benefit from the programme each year.