21 Feb 2023

Ten women from Ghanzi District have been trained and certified as truck drivers, courtesy of African Mining Services.

Speaking at their graduation dinner in Ghanzi recently, African Mining Services project manager, Mr Caster Mothibedi said he was happy to see the women graduating as they were recruited without any experience.

He said the mining company was committed to improving the livelihoods of communities within their area of operation. 

African Mining Services is operating an open-pit copper mine in Ghanzi

Mr Mothibedi said they aim to empower local communities and that training the women was a milestone. 

He noted that the women went through six months of training in both theory and practicals, adding that the trainees were hard workers and ‘we are blessed to have them on our organisation’.

Mr Mothibedi also said the company had a graduate trainee programme and that they had seven mining engineering graduates under the initiative.  

He said the aim was to prepare them to become future managers and directors. 

He also said their company would soon start an apprentice programme.

The trainer, Mr Boikhutso Pitlagano was also proud that the graduates could confidently operate a truck with a payload of 157 tonnes. He said the graduates were inducted on operational techniques and taught how to deal with the pressure of mining as well as mining hazards.

He noted that their machines were the height of a double story building. For his part, Ghanzi District Council secretary, Mr Dick Kalantle said the company had surpassed their expectations and that their gesture was evidence of their commitment towards empowering local communities.

He urged the graduates to continue working as a team. 

He was also happy that the graduates displayed responsibility and accountability during training. 

Ghanzi District Council chairperson, Mr Jeremiah Tibi said the mining company’s gesture was a step towards realising social inclusion, adding that ‘a journey of a thousands miles begins with one step’.

Giving a word of encouragement, Kgosi Annah Rankho of Ghanzi encouraged the graduates to buy their own trucks and operate them as a business. 

She also praised African Mining Services for promoting gender equity and equality. ENDS