Plant Laboratory Chemist Lethokuhle Nkwanyana

Usokhemisi weGumbi lokuHlola iziTshalo uLethokuhle Nkwanyana

From contractor to plant laboratory chemist – charting Letho’s rise up the ranks

Plant Laboratory Chemist Lethokuhle Nkwanyana (33) originally from Kwambonambi, in KZN, recently celebrated her seventh work anniversary at ZAC, having started working at the mine on a permanent basis in October 2012.

Previously, she had worked as a laboratory contractor at the mine since 2010, until she resigned from the contracting company in September 2012, but was then offered a permanent position at ZAC owing to the good quality of her work and the value that she brought to the department.

On her appointment, ZAC sent Lethokuhle to the Colliery Training College (CTC) in Emalahleni, to do a Basic Lump Ore Beneficiation course - a three-month course - which she passed with flying colours.

Lethokuhle is currently responsible for the plant’s laboratory, which includes issuing analysis reports and maintaining high quality standards on all anthracite tests run - which is crucial to ensuring the right quality and specification of products are delivered to customers. She works closely with and reports to Quality and Logistics Manager Okkie Schoeman, particularly if there are any quality discrepancies that may have occurred at the plant or between the plant and the siding.

Lethokuhle is responsible for supervising the 21 staff members that comprise the plant laboratory team. She enjoys mentoring people and aiding them in their career paths, which is an essential attribute of being a good manager.

Since working at the laboratory from 2011, her major achievement has been ensuring that the lab received and retained its ISO 17025:2005 certification. Lethokuhle elaborates that this certification is important as it means that the laboratory is accredited to carry out tests and/or calibrations, including coal sampling. It covers testing and calibration performed using standard methods, non-standard methods, and laboratory-developed methods, she adds.

“Making sure every load of anthracite is sent out according to quality specification brings a great sense of pride and joy to me.

“Moreover, at ZAC we are encouraged to further our knowledge, which is why the mine is supporting my studies. I am currently doing an Advanced Minerals Processing course, which I aim to complete by the end of 2019. The course has to date enhanced my understanding and knowledge of mineral chemical analysis techniques and methodologies, which I am putting to use in the lab. I am very appreciative of all the opportunities that ZAC has provided me and support and guidance that I have received over the years,” Lethokuhle concludes.

Kude lapho esuka khona uLetho osewusokhemisi wasegunjini lokucwaninga

USokhemisi weGumbi lokuCwaninga iziTshalo uLethokuhle Nkwanyana, ono-33, odabuka KwaMbonambi, eKZN usanda kuhlanganisa iminyaka eyisikhombisa e-ZAC, njengoba aqala ukusebenza emayini ngokugcwele kusukela ngo-Okthoba 2012.

Phambilini wayeyitoho egunjini lokucwaninga lasemayini kusukela ngo-2010, wagcina esulile enkampanini eyayenza umsebenzi wesikhashana e-ZAC ngoSepthemba 2012. Wathola umsebenzi ngokugcwele ngenxa yomsebenzi wakhe omuhle neqhaza lakhe emnyangweni.

Ngemva kokuqashwa kwakhe, i-ZAC yathumela uLethokuhle e-Colliery Training College (e-CTC) Emalahleni ukuthi ayokwenza izifundo ze-Basic Lump Ore Beneficiation, okuyizifundo ezinziwa izinyanga ezintathu, aziphasa ngamalengiso.

ULethokuhle ubhekene nomsebenzi wegumbi lokucwaninga, lapho ehlaziya khona imibiko nokuqinisekisa ukuthi izinga lamalahle lihlale liphezulu okumqoka ukuqinisekisa ukuthi umkhiqizo odingwa ngamakhasimende yilowo ofanele. Usebenzisana kakhulu noOkkie Schoeman, oyimenenja yakhe, ikakhulukazi uma kukhona okungahambi kahle embonini yomkhiqizo nalapho kulayishwa khona.

ULethokuhle ubheke umsebenzi wabasebenzi abawu-21 abayithimba lasegunjini lokucwaninga. Uyathanda ukufundisa abantu nokubasiza bakhule emsebenzini yabo, okuyinto edingekayo ekubeni yimenenja enhle.

Kusukela aqala ukusebenza egunjini lokucwaninga ngo-2011, umsebenzi omkhulu awenzile wukuqinisekisa ukuthi igumbi lathalo njalo lilokhu ligcine isitifiketi se-IS0 17025: 2005. ULethokuhle uthi lesi sitifiketi simqoka ngoba sisho ukuthi igumbi ligunyaziwe ukwenza ukuhlola nokucubungula imiphumela okukhona namasampula amalahle kuyona. Uqhuba uthi lapha kuhlolwa kuqhathaniswe imiphumela kusetshenziswa izindlela ezivunyelwe zasegunjini lokucwaninga.

“Kungijabulisa kakhulu ukuqinisekisa ukuthi wonke umthamo wamalahle anelangabi nentuthu okuncane uphuma usezingeni elifanele.”

“Ngaphezu kwaloko, e-ZAC siyakhuthazwa ukuthi sithuthukise ulwazi lwethu, yingakho imayini ingisiza ukuthi ngifunde. Kumanje ngenza izifundo ze-Advanced Minerals Processing, engihlose ukuziqeda ungakapheli u-2019. Lezi zifundo zingisize ngaqonda kangcono ngekhono nezindlela zokuhlaziya amaminerali akumakhemikhali, okungisiza uma ngisebenza egunjini lokucwaninga. Ngibonga ngawo wonke amathuba engiwathola e-ZAC, nokwesekwa nokuchushiswa kuyo yonke le minyaka,” kuphetha uLethokuhle.