Mining over military for budding auto electrician

Minenhle Mahlangu, auto electrician learner

Fresh out of high school with a hunger for success, 19-year-old Minenhle Mahlangu considered joining the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) before she got a learnership at Khanye. “This learnership has inspired me to dream big and made me realise that I can achieve anything I set my mind on,” says Minenhle. She is currently enrolled in an auto electrical learnership programme within the engineering department at Khanye in Bronkhorstspruit.

Minenhle commenced her three-year learnership in April after discovering this opportunity through a community group. She explains that she has learnt a lot since starting the learnership. “We deal with electrical components in cars, diagnostics, and troubleshooting,” Minenhle says. This includes working on various components for yellow machine, LDV bakkies, lighting plants and generators among others.

based in Ekangala, Bronkhorstspruit, Minenhle applied for various opportunities and while waiting for feedback, she decided to pursue her Nated Studies in Electrical Engineering at Technicol SA College. “Luckily I got a call from Canyon Coal and got this opportunity,” she says. Minenhle’s studies have complemented her learnership, allowing her to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Driven by her inclination to dream big, Minenhle has her eyes set on obtaining her electrical engineering degree, becoming certified in the trade, gaining extensive experience, and one day establishing her own company. She expresses deep gratitude towards the company for granting her this opportunity and acknowledges the invaluable support and guidance from her mentor and artisan, Gugu Mahlangu.