Thulasizwe finds joy in a yellow machine

Khanye ADT Operator, Thulasizwe Perfect Mthethwa

Thulasizwe Perfect Mthethwa, from Sokhulumi near Bronkhorstspruit, never imagined he would become an ADT operator, especially having only seen the massive yellow machines from a distance. But a spark of curiosity led him to apply for Canyon Coal’s Khanye Skills Development Programme. “I applied and got accepted, then received training on how to operate the ADT machine,” he recalls. 

After completing the training, Thulasizwe was called for an interview and successfully secured a position at Khanye. Though intimidated at first, he adapted and found joy in operating the machine. After matriculating from Mahlenga Secondary School, he began studying Adventure Tourism Management at Tshwane University of Technology in 2016 but had to abandon his studies due to a lack of finances. He later worked as a data capturer at a local clinic under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), where his duties included administrative work. 

While working there, he saw the opportunity with Canyon Coal on social media. “I had long been following Canyon Coal and applying for opportunities,” he says. Thulasizwe hopes to build a long-term career in mining.