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Alice Mandiwana is a top-performing female operator for De Beers at Venetia Mine, with an average rate of 237 tonnes hauled per operating hour. She drives one of the largest trucks at Venetia Mine and seems to believe that ‘bigger is better.’

Trainee firefighter a top operator

 

Alice Mandiwana is a top-performing female operator for De Beers at Venetia Mine, with an average rate of 237 tonnes hauled per operating hour.

She ranks in the top seven operators on the mine and is the female operator with the highest net operating hours (NOH) at the time of publication. This means that she is highly efficient and only spends the minimum amount of time idling the earth moving vehicle (EMV) as a result of standbys and delays. Whereas the average operator at Venetia has moved approximately 78 loads to date this year, Alice has hauled 113 loads.

Alice loves working in the mining industry. She enjoys the diverse environment and is energised by the many opportunities for development and leadership. However, mining was not always her dream. She started out as a trainee firefighter desperate for a job and a chance to put bread on the table. After months of unsuccessful job hunting, she made application for the position of operator at De Beers and has never looked back.

Alice’s role sees her responsible for the loading and hauling of kimberlite ore and waste and its offloading at either the waste dumps or the primary crusher. “When I tell people that I drive a CAT 793 truck that can hold up to 234 tonnes, they are disbelieving. They ask me if it is difficult for a woman to control a large machine like that, but I tell them, it’s not hard - it’s easy!”

The first time Alice entered a mine was after her operator training. She was unprepared for the sheer scale of operations, and admits that she was shocked by the size of the tyres and a little intimidated to think that she would be driving such enormous equipment. Two years later, Alice drives one of the largest trucks at Venetia Mine and seems to believe that ‘bigger is better.’ Not one to shy away from a challenge, Alice is eager for training and enjoys learning how to operate other machines. In an environment where people can be superstitious around which roles a woman should and should not undertake, Alice chooses to ignore these folk tales. She says, “As women we need to believe in ourselves and to take every opportunity to be trained”.

As the primary breadwinner in her family, Alice takes her career very seriously and is passionate about providing for her husband, son (3) and daughter (8).  “I never would have dreamt that my husband would lose his job. He is the man I love and the father of my children, and it is a privilege to have the kind of job where I can take care of him and my family until he gets back on his feet,” says Alice. (Article and photo: Tarryn Genis, Senior Corporate Affairs Officer:

Venetia Mine)

SIDEBAR (OPTIONAL): Alice’s advice for other women considering a career in mining:

* Go to school. Education is important for anyone who wants to take up a career in mining.

* Mining is a very demanding career path. There is a lot of pressure and you are required to work with a variety of people from different backgrounds. You need to be mentally strong and have a solid character.

* There is a lot of opportunity in the mining industry and many different jobs to choose from. If you are looking for an environment that will hold your interest and give you room to grow – mining is the industry for you!

 

Date:19 September 2014

By: News Correspondent

Correspondent journalists from all over the region supply us with news and sport articles. 

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