Peet taps into his creativity to inspire others

Peet’s creation, a flowerpot made from an old bathtub

Khanye’s maintenance foreman, Peet Schoeman, has crafted a career in mining, spanning over 40 years of solid experience. Starting as an apprentice in 1984, he qualified as a boilermaker in 1988 and worked his way up from shaft boilermaker to plant foreman and shaft foreman at various companies, including Babcock and Delkraal Gold Mine.

After a stint in entrepreneurship with a coal-hauling and sand-washing business, Peet joined Diesel Power before coming to Canyon Coal in 2019. “I joined Canyon Coal in 2019 as a plant supervisor, then transitioned to a boilermaker. That experience led to my current promotion as a maintenance foreman,” Peet explains. In his new role, he manages a team of 13 and is responsible for overseeing safety, environmental projects, and compliance protocols.

Peet’s creativity has inspired him to find unique ways to tackle challenges and solve problems. “I am skilled at creating something from nothing; I think outside the box, and I try to save costs by being creative and recycling old items around the mine. For example, I turned an old bathtub into a flowerpot for the main office,” he says.

He also initiated an “Employee of the Month” programme to address time management and attendance challenges faced by his team. “This programme is a way to recognise employees who perform well and give them the acknowledgement they deserve. It also helps boost team spirit and keep everyone motivated,” Peet adds. He believes perseverance and adaptability lead to success and is grateful for the opportunity to lead and share his knowledge.