André Van den Heever: Dieselwerktuigkundige
"Dit is ‘n baie mooi omgewing en lekker naby die see. Ons was bietjie moeg vir al die mynstof,”sê André. Hy is in Springbok gebore en was op Hoër Tegniese skool Namakwaland. Hy het begin werk as fitter assistent by die Blackmountain myn op Agenys en toe gekwalifiseer as dieselwerktuigkundige. Hy het op Springbok gewerk waarna hy diens aanvaar het by Murray & Roberts op Groblersdal. Hy is daarna verplaas na Wessels myn op Kuruman voor hy in 2015 Patensie toe getrek het en by Endulini begin werk het.
"Ek geniet die werk by die GBR baie. Ek werk met ‘n lekker span en almal is vriendelik,”sê André. Behalwe die algemene herstel en diens van die GBR se voertuie, onder andere trekker, trokke, bakkies en die "spinnekop", is hulle ook verantwoordelik vir die diens en herstel van die outomatiese en meganiese sluise. André se gunsteling deel van sy werk is om aan die trokke te werk. "Die lekkerste is vir my om ‘n taak aan te pak en dan met sukses te voltooi.”
Andre se span:
SAMUEL JANTJIES is die ou gryse in die werkswinkel aangesien hy al 13 jaar daar werk as ‘n handlanger.
DANNY JACOBS (ligte hoedjie) is André se regterhand met meganiese werk. Hy werk al 7 jaar in die werkswinkel en sy gunsteling deel is sluiswerk en om probleme uit te sorteer.
JOEY PRINS is ‘n gekwalifiseerde sweiser en is nou 3 jaar al by GBR se werkswinkel. Hy sweis al vandat hy 12 jaar oud is en het by sy oupa, ook Joey wat ‘n waterfiskaal by GBR was, geleer sweis. Hy het voorheen by Mimosa gewerk. "Ek werk baie lekker en leer elke dag ‘n nuwe ding. ‘n Mens is nooit te oud om te leer nie," sê hy.
AMOS DICHABE (hoed en bril) werk al 2 jaar in die werkswinkel as handlanger. Hy het voorheen by die Links gholfbaan by St Francis gewerk. "Ons is ‘n goeie span. Ons werk soos broers saam,”sê hy.
André van den Heever: Diesel Mechanic
"We love our new town. It is beautiful and the sea is just around the corner,” he says. André was born in Springbok and went to Namakwaland Technical High School. He started working as a fitter assistant at Blackmountain mine in Agenys and qualified as diesel mechanic. He worked in Springbok and then worked for Murray & Roberts in Groblersdal at a platinum mine. After that he worked at the Wessels mine in Kuruman and then moved to Patensie in 2015.
"I enjoy my work very much. I love working in the team and everyone is very friendly,” he says.
Except for the general service and repair of the GIB fleet, like tractors, bakkies, trucks and the "Spinnekop", it is also their responsibility to service and repair the automatic and mechanical water sluices in the irrigation canal. André’s favourite part is working with the trucks. "I enjoy it to tackle a project and finish it successfully.”
SAMUEL JANTJIES is the most experienced in the workshop and worked here for 13 years as a workshop assistant.
DANNY JACOBS is André’s right-hand man. He has been in the workshop for 7 years and his favourite part of the job is working with the sluices.
JOEY PRINS is a qualified welder and was 12 years old when his grandfather, also Joey, taught him to weld. His grandfather also worked for the Irrigation Board. Joey worked at Mimosa Pack house previously and enjoys working in a team at GIB. "I learn something new every day. You are never too old to learn.” he says.
AMOS DICHABE is a workshop assistant for two years. He worked at the links golf course previously in St Francis Bay. "I enjoy working in a team. We are like brothers”.
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