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MASUP AGM
FUTURE OF MINING ENGINEERS INDUSTRY EXPOSURE NIGHT
An online webinar was hosted by the Tuks Mining Society (TMS) to focus on the future of mining engineers in the mines of the future. Several speakers, including some of the Department’s alumni, were invited to deliver presentations. The event also included a speaker from Sanlam, who shared advice regarding financial management issues.
FIRST-YEAR MENTORSHIP
TMS Chairperson, John Phetla, and the Academic and Wellbeing Officer, Manchanato Tsheola, organised the mentorship of first-year students in 2021. The programme involved a peer-to-peer approach to mentorship. A variety of students from different years of study were allocated a student from the firstyear class. The first-year students were also encouraged to create study groups for modules that they found difficult to understand.
WOMEN AND MEN IN MINING
TMS Committee member for Media and Marketing, Kelies Lekala, and Secretary, Buhle Skhosana, spearheaded a social media campaign to encourage and motivate current mining engineering students, as well as those in industry, to continue to make their mark. Students and alumni were interviewed, and a profile of each participant was posted on TMS’s social media platforms. Mondays were dedicated to posting #MenInMining and Wednesdays were dedicated to posting #WomenInMining.
EBIT MANDELA DAY CELEBRATION
Under the Community Outreach portfolio, TMS joined the online celebration of Mandela Day, hosted by the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology. TMS created a video to encourage fellow students and the UP community. Nompumelelo Funde, firstyear student in the Department, was selected to represent TMS. She chose the topic “Never give up”. She unfolded her presentation by quoting the words of the late Nelson Mandela: “A winner is a dreamer who never gives up!” The video was posted on EBIT House’s social media platforms.
MINING ENGINEERING STUDENT COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA (MESCOSA)
TMS Chairperson, John Phetla, and Vice-Chairperson, Kwena Mabitsela, have both undertaken several meetings with leaders from other mining schools in South Africa. This includes students from the University of Johannesburg, the University of South Africa (Unisa) and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). The meetings are meant to establish a body to will represent all mining engineering students of South Africa at a national level called MESCOSA. This will serve to create a harmonic relationship between all mining engineering students across different universities, and address some of the challenges currently faced by students.
TMS COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2020/2021
John Phetla Chairperson and Community Outreach Kwena Mabitsela Vice-Chairperson and Transformation Buhle Skhosana Secretary Christiaan Janse van Rensburg Treasurer Kelies Lekala Media and Marketing Ernest Machete Industry Exposure
