Giving Back To Communities Brings Simo Great Joy

Born and raised in Saul Mkhizeville (previously known as Driefontein), the town in which Kangra is located, Simo Yende (37) attended Vukubone/ Qedela Secondary School. “It was very heart warming and meaningful for me to have participated in Kangra’s previous social labour plan (SLP) about five years ago that entailed improving safety standards at the school,” he states.

Simo joined Kangra in March 2004 as a general worker in the underground section of the operation and later that same year became a machine operator. By 2006 he had attained certifications to operate large underground machinery such as continuous miners. Within the space of just a few years he had become a multiskilled machine operator and attained the position of machine assessor by 2008. During this time, he also worked in Kangra’s training centre doing machinery inductions for new operators and assessing machines at the mine.

In 2013 Simo joined Kangra’s Stakeholder Relation Department and was appointed to the position of Community Liaison Officer, which is the position he still holds and cherishes greatly. He reports directly to Kangra Stakeholder Manager Nelly Mantshintshi.

Simo’s role encompasses many aspects of community engagement including, but not limited to, making the community aware of employment opportunities, local business opportunities, responding to requests for information and general community enquiries.

“I spend a lot of time placing notices in the community on dedicated notice boards which is our primary way of communicating news and opportunities to local residents,” he points out.

Furthering Educational Endeavours

Simo is in the second year of studying a Bachelors of Public Administration (BPA) through MANCOSA, which is funded by a bursary he received from Kangra.

“I decided to study the BPA as it closely aligns to the work that I am doing in my department. It is adding so much value to my work,” he says with much enthusiasm.

Simo adds that he is grateful to Kangra for investing in him to further his studies. “What I am learning is useful to not only my current position, but can be applied to future ventures after mining,” he states.

He concludes by noting that continuous learning forms a necessary part in acquiring critical thinking skills and discovering new ways of relating to people from different cultures, which is crucial to fulfilling his daily work needs.