Female drill rig operators pave the way at Kumba Iron Ore
 | Female drill rig operators pave the way at Kumba Iron Ore_approved | 24.87 KB | Download |
 Preview | Bolokang Mere in action on the next-generation Rosond drill rig | 1.27 MB | Download |
 Preview | Bolokang Mere is the first female grade control operator at Rosond | 1.78 MB | Download |
 Preview | Bolokang Mere supervises a team of four at Kumba Iron Ore | 1.51 MB | Download |
 Preview | Veronica De Koker is one of the first female drill rig operators to be trained by Rosond | 4.01 MB | Download |
 Preview | Rosond MD Ricardo Ribeiro | 1.1 MB | Download |
The concept of Generation Equality is a global campaign linking South Africa to global efforts to achieve gender equality by 2030. According to UN Women, this involves adopting and strengthening sound policies and enforceable legislation to promote gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.
“The fact that I was the first has allowed others to follow,” says Veronica, whose drill rig crew is deployed by Rosond at Anglo American’s Kumba Iron Ore Mine in the Northern Cape. She adds that this has fulfilled her lifelong ambition to pursue a career in the predominantly male-dominated mining industry, where women continue to face numerous challenges related to their gender, capabilities, and expertise.
Following in the footsteps of Veronica as a trailblazer is Bolokang Mere, who started out as a grade control drill assistant and two years down the line is Rosond’s first female grade control operator. She has received OEM training and operator skills training for her specific position. “You have to be focused, a strategic thinker, committed, and able to cope under pressure,” says Bolokang.
Her responsibility is to ensure that the many metres drilled are done so safely and meets both quality and production targets. She also supervises a team of four throughout the workday, starting out with an inspection and pre-shift check list on the drill rig itself.
This is followed by a SLAM assessment (Stop…Look… Assess…Manage) to identify any potential risks before work commences. Drilling is carried out to end-of-hole, and then moves to the next hole and drill rig setup. At the end of the shift, the drill rig is shut off for a period of about 30 minutes before housekeeping is carried out to ensure a neat and safe site at the end of the day.
“Working for Rosond has been great and has given me so many chances to grow and learn more about drilling,” says Bolokang. “To my fellow women, I strongly encourage you to consider careers rarely occupied by us.” One of those fields is the mining industry, which is currently highly supportive of women in key technical and managerial roles.
“We have the skills, strength, and potential to be leaders in our society and an example to our children, who are the future leaders of our beautiful south Africa. Let us all rise and fly high,” says Bolokang.
Being a drill rig operator traditionally required brute strength to handle and load the drill rods and heavy equipment, making it a difficult environment for women to make their mark in. Rosond’s next-generation drill rigs are fully remote controlled, with operators working in an air-conditioned control room. Much of the work that previously had to be done manually is now automated.
“In addition to our latest technology, the opportunity also arose to train various female drill-rig crew at Kumba Iron Ore, an idea that our client was highly responsive to. We are pleased it has been a resounding success and are very proud of our female operators and crews and how they continue to excel,” concludes Rosond MD Ricardo Ribeiro.
Pull quote
“We have the skills, strength, and potential to be leaders in our society and an example to our children.” – Bolokang Mere, Grade Control Operator, Rosond
Social media
Veronica De Koker and Bolokang are paving the way as female drill rig operators at #Kumba. #Rosond #WomensDay2022
Ends
Notes to the editor
To download hi-res images for this release, please visit http://media.ngage.co.za and click on the Rosond link to view the company’s press office.
About Rosond
Rosond provides fast, efficient, safe, and cost-effective drilling and grouting services to mining and exploration industries throughout Africa. For over 65 years, Rosond has applied advanced design and engineering disciplines to create client-specific solutions. State-of-the-art, in-house manufacturing facilities provide products designed and engineered to meet clients’ specific demands, while an experienced team of engineers and artisans ensure a solution in keeping with global best practice.
Rosond Contact
Ricardo Ribeiro
Phone: (011) 310 1040
Email: rick [at] rosond [dot] com
Web: www.rosond.com
Media Contact
Anais Strauss
Account Executive
NGAGE Public Relations
Phone: (011) 867-7763
Fax: 086 512 3352
Cell: 071 673 8059
Email: anais [at] ngage [dot] co [dot] za
Web: www.ngage.co.za
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