Gugulethu’s Human Resource Administrator Mbali Khumalo has embraced the challenge of helping to build a new team for Canyon Coal’s newest mining operation. Mbali is part of the buzz of the unfolding development, something she regards as a noteworthy career experience. “I am very happy to be part of this process, as hectic as it is. I see a lot of growth for myself.

I am learning a lot of things that I did not know previously. My first day here felt like this is where I should be. We are starting something new” she says. Although she has worked at mining developments before, this is the first time she gets to witness a mine being built from scratch. It’s a unique experience she hopes to grow from. From the onset of Gugulethu’s recruitment drive the team had to sift through hundreds of CVs to identify potential candidates from the local community who can work as ADT operators. With the help of the community forum, the HR department can verify candidates, making sure that locals benefit from employment opportunities created by the mine.

Mbali loves making phone calls to successful candidates to tell them that they got the job and the tone of excitement that comes with the response on the other side of the line. She holds a B-tech qualification and is currently studying toward her honours degree. After eight years cutting her teeth in HR Mbali has learned that emotional intelligence and good communication skills are essential to getting the job done. “I am very passionate about people. I want to see people being the best version of themselves and meeting their greatest potential,” she says.

An interesting journey lies ahead as the mine will require more skilled individuals to meet the needs of every phase of development. First on Mbali’s list of priorities is to set up systems to make the process more efficient. By the beginning of May 2023, Mbali had overseen the successful onboarding of more than 86 new employees including a chief safety officer, environmental officer, Pit foreman as well as ADT, dozer, and grader operators.