UXolani ujatshuliswa wukucija intsha

 Umphathi we-shift eBalgarthen, uXolani Mhlophe

Njengoba enamava eminyaka engaphezu kwengu-20 esebenza ezimayini, umphathi we-shift uXolani Mhlophe kade ayethola ithuba lokucathulisa intsha egcine isingabaholi. “Sengicathulise inqwaba yabantu; abanye bangama-miner, abanye bengamele izimayini, sebengidlulile. Ngiyaziqhenya ngabo,” kusho yena.

UXolani ufike eKangra engumsebenzi ojwayelekile elekelela kakhulu lapho kwakhiwa khona ngo-2003. Wangena ohlelweni lokufundela ukumba enezinyanga ezimbalwa efikile ngaphambi kokukhuphukela esigabeni sokuba yinduna emva kweminyaka emibili. “Ngaba nenhlanhla,” kusho yena.  Njengomphathi we-shift ohola ama-shift amabili, ithimba ngalinye elinabantu abawu-11, umsebenzi kaXolani ufaka ukuhlola umgodi kanjalo nokucaba nokuhlela indlela. Indlela aphatha ngayo ihlanganisa ukukhuluma into ayibeke injengoba injalo, ukuba nozwelo nokucacisa kahle akufunayo. “Ngiwumholi okhomba indlela futhi ngikholwa ukuthi kufanele abantu ubanike ithuba lokulungisa amaphutha abo,” kusho uXolani.

Emva kweminyaka esiza ama-miner amancane, uXolani ukubheke ngabomvu ukuthola isitifiketi sakhe sokuba yinduna yemayini, into ayekade efisa ukuyizuza. Uqale ukufunda ngonyaka odlule futhi ulinde isiqiniseko sokuthi uzozibhala nini izivivinyo zakhe.