Against the Odds
The SAIW has announced the three winners of its Gauteng NDT Bursary that will see the students enjoying world-class training at the institute starting in October this year. SAIW Executive Director John Tarboton explains that initially only one bursary was offered but he says; “the standard of the entrants was so high that we only felt it fair to award three bursaries, as it was impossible to choose and we managed to secure funding for an additional three bursaries.” To highlight the incredible winners take a look at out here profiles below which clearly illustrate the calibre of South African welding students and their strong desire to succeed against the odds…
PROFILE 1: Lerato Ruth Mokgawa
Q. How did you hear about the SAIW regional bursary and why is it something you were interested in?
A. I saw it on the SAIW Facebook page. I’ve been following up on the giveaways, and this isn’t my first time applying for one of the bursaries and here I am now. The reason I was interested was I was looking for a career enhancement and I heard about NDT, and I immediately fell in love with what it entailed and wanted to learn more about it.
Q. Please give a brief outline of your education and work experience so far in your life?
I went to a technical college where I studied mechanical engineering and I obtained my N2-N5. I am currently awaiting my N6 certification in mechanical engineering. Upon completion of my studies, I was awarded an apprenticeship at Eskom Rotek Industries where I trained for four years (2017-2021. I am now a qualified Mechanical Fitter.
Q. Where do you live and what are you currently doing?
A. I currently live in Noordwyk, Midrand. I’m job hunting and I’m also a part-time student at UNISA-registered BCom Supply Chain and Project Management.
Q. What is the best life lesson someone has ever given you and how do you apply it to your professional and/or personal life?
A. The best life lesson would be “Don’t hesitate when you should act”. A Roman proverb” Carpe Diem” means “Seize the day”
We often fail to act due to a lack of confidence, motivation or courage. This hesitation keeps us from moving forward and puts us in a cage of wondering what might have been. Whenever I feel like it’s time to act, I take action, because no matter the outcome, I’ll always end up smarter than before, after all, life is the best teacher.
Thought I should also share…I’m currently a living testimony of that lesson, as I was very hesitant on the morning of the SAIW Open Day. I kept doubting myself and was thinking ‘what chance do I stand in 100 people and there’s just 1 bursary and I swear 90% of us will be there because of the bursary”
But a few moments later I put myself together and I showed up and look at me now.
Q. What is one of the biggest challenges personal or professional you have ever faced and how did you overcome them?
A. The biggest challenge would be being unemployed for the past year. I just didn’t know what to do with my life at that point and I always said to myself that you are still young, there’s just so much to do out there but even furthering my studies needs money so that was a huge stumbling block for me. I kept job hunting and decided to apply for bursaries to further my studies because I knew studying was the best way to keep myself busy, and it seemed like the best way forward in my current situation.
Q.What do you hope to achieve out of this bursary i.e. what are your career goals once you have completed your bursary training?
A.I hope I get a technical job in any of the industries such as oil and gas, energy, electricity, nuclear, chemical power plants, automobiles, and transportation so I can be able to gain practical knowledge to pair it with my qualification. Over time I’ll be able to further my qualifications and certifications in NDT which will open up new opportunities.
PROFILE 2: Marvin Mitchell
Q. How did you hear about the SAIW regional bursary and why is it something you were interested in?
A.I saw the post from a friend of mine. It has always been a dream of mine to be a quality controller and do NDT. I am a boiler maker by trade and have been in the industry for about 9 to 10 years now and have worked with various people who have already done their levels 1 & 2. I would also like to progress in my studies.
Q. Please give a brief outline of your education and work experience so far in your life?
A. During my secondary school years, I attended Highschool Park in Secunda. I continued my studies and got an apprenticeship at a company called Steinmuller in 2011 and qualified in 2013. Briefly, after this, I worked at 2 power stations, which is the Sasol synfuels and the Kusile power station. Then after Kusile I went into the mining environment and worked for Balindi Mining at a mine called Forzando South.
Q. Where do you live and what are you currently doing?
A. I live with my dad in Benoni, Crystal Park. I am not doing anything at the moment. I was busy looking for work when I came across the SAIW bursary.
Q. What is the best life lesson someone has ever given you and how do you apply it to your professional and/or personal life?
A. Not to give up in life. I apply this to my life by trying every day to progress and better myself. I have been in and out of jobs and have not had a permanent job yet, every job has been temporary. Up until now, I have never given up, and now I have this bursary. Always keep the faith.
Q. What is one of the biggest challenges personal or professional you have ever faced and how did you overcome them?
A. I would say losing my last job. It is very temperamental to my life and my loved ones as I am the breadwinner in the home. It has been hard and has affected us negatively. I have been dealing with it by praying and kept on applying as I did with the bursary, hoping something good would come out of this (fortunately it did), and just keeping the faith every day.
Q. What do you hope to achieve out of this bursary i.e. what are your career goals once you have completed your bursary training?
A. My number 1 dream would be to become a Welding Engineer. What I am hoping to achieve is to further my studies not just through the NDTs but branch out to Welding practitioner up until Welding Engineer.
PROFILE 3: Shaan Mokgwadi
Q. How did you hear about the SAIW regional bursary and why is it something you were interested in?
A. I came across the bursary giveaway on LinkedIn as I follow SAIW on LinkedIn. When I saw the bursary post I became much more interested because I already have my red seal in welding and was looking into furthering my education.
Q. Please give a brief outline of your education and work experience so far in your life?
A. I matriculated in 2017 at Khutlo-Tharo Secondary School in Sebokeng. In early 2018 I got a mining learnership and in late December 2018, I left the mining sector for a welding apprenticeship.
Q. Where do you live and what are you currently doing?
A. I live in Zone 3 Sebokeng, Vereeniging. After I finished my apprenticeship, I was unemployed, and I still am unemployed until I came across the SAIW bursary.
Q. What is the best life lesson someone has ever given you and how do you apply it to your professional and/or personal life?
A. I think for me being a female welder in a male dominating world, you have to prove yourself so much more as a female welder and it is so much harder doing that.
Q. What is one of the biggest challenges personal or professional you have ever faced and how did you overcome them?
A. After qualifying as a female welder, you are seen as a threat. Most men want to pin you down. But you just have to move out of your comfort zone to find more and better opportunities for yourself. I won the bursary, and I am one of the happiest people ever. Always dream big.
Q. What do you hope to achieve out of this bursary i.e. what are your career goals once you have completed your bursary training?
A. My end goal is to eventually start my own company and empower other women to do the same.
