Tshepo Nkosi is an engineering fabrication student at Ehlanzeni TVET College. He is the first in his family to study at a tertiary institution; a testament to what can be achieved through hard-work, commitment and access to the right education opportunities. Glencore’s R7 million investment into the state-of-the-art Mashishing Campus has created a facility that provides Tshepo and almost 1000 other students, with tuition in engineering and business-related subjects as well the vocational training that will enable them to become the future artisans and engineers of our economy.

And Tshepo has a clear of his future. With his diligent focus he plans to finish his diploma and enrol in university to further his studies in Metallurgical Engineering, making his mother prouder each and every day.

Tebogo Mabelane is Mechanical Engineering Student at Ehlanzeni TVET College. She is studying fitting & machining and she loves it passionately. Tebogo is bridging the divide between male and females in the traditional engineering disciplines. She recounts how, without this opportunity, she would likely be a cashier or a cleaner. But now, she is determined to one day start her own engineering company and to inspire young women that they are able to do any job out there.

Sakhile runs a company called FemiPower Supply at Glencore Lion smelter. It’s a female owned company that collects samples from the plant for delivery to the lab. Sakhile joined Glencores entrepreneurship hub to get the assistance she needed to grow her business. She took part in SMME training programme on finance, marketing, and business management and was assigned a technical mentor to help her. Sakhile has benefited significantly from the hub’s assistance and shares how it has improved her quality of life, her ability to pay school fees and look after her children, and importantly to buy new assets for the business allow it to grow and succeed further.

Dr. Kasongo works at the Bethanie clinic. She is dedicated to her patients and their healthcare needs but was challenged by the ill-condition of the clinic and lack of resources at her disposal. But when Glencore engaged with the community and invested R30million into a brand new state-of-art facility, she now gets to practice in an environment where she feels she is doing what she was born to do,, providing her patients with quality healthcare in a dignified and healthy space.