Machine operator basks in the beauty of being multiskilled

Sibusiso Sithole, Khanye multiskilled operator

Sibusiso Sithole can move swiftly from one yellow machine to the next without any hassles. Whether it is an ADT, grader, excavator, or dozer, Sibusiso effortlessly shifts between machines based on what is required on-site each day. A multiskilled machine operator at Khanye, he joined the mine in October 2024. He believes that his ability to operate various yellow machines is an advantage, as it enables him to be more resourceful and assist with a range of tasks at the mine. Sibusiso from Witbank joined the mining industry in 2018 as an excavator operator after a short-lived military training career at the Air Defence Artillery School. He got his second job in the same role a year later, where he received further training in operating other machines through his employer at the time. Sibusiso says it was his uncle who laid the foundation by showing him how to operate machines like TLBs. “My uncle worked at the farms in Nkomazi, a village just outside Komatipoort, and they had all these machines,” he explains.

By the time he completed his training at the mine, Sibusiso was focused on refining his skills and obtaining certification. Seeking greater opportunities for growth, he made the decision to resign from his previous position after Khanye offered him a new role. “I was looking at greener pastures or a place to develop myself more,” he remarks. Sibusiso is interested in studying mining engineering and possibly becoming an engineer or a mine manager in the future. “There are many opportunities in the mining industry. I believe I’m just going to be a miner for the rest of my life,” he says