Floating into his future – Proud Mkhize

July 5, 2010

By Camilla Bath

Proud Mkhize lives up to his name, talking about his job as a boat operator with a broad smile on his gentle face. He describes his first day on the job back in 2005, a year after completing his Level One Field Guiding course, as “exciting, and the start of a new part of my life.”

Proud is the man who sends visitors on their way on the underground boat ride at Maropeng, which takes those brave enough on a trip back through time, retracing the various stages of the creation of our earth.

He clearly enjoys interacting with the myriad visitors who take the ride: “I see people getting very excited, they even scream sometimes!”

Does he hop on the boat himself sometimes? “Oh yes, I have done the ride a LOT! My favourite part is the tectonic plates – every day they tell me what is happening underneath the earth.”

According to Mark Fouche, Maropeng’s Maintenance Manager, “Proud is a conscientious worker and a devoted family man. He does anything he’s been asked to do with enthusiasm and a broad smile. He is a great team player and one of many stars in my Maintenance Team.”

“Previously a boat ride operator, he has fitted in very well with the other technicians and has seized the opportunity he has been given. I have no doubt that Proud will make a great success of his new position as Learner Junior Technician,” added Mark.

Proud was born in Zimbabwe and came to South Africa in 1996, where he’s been ever since. He now supports not only himself, but also his parents and family who still live in Zimbabwe. But it doesn’t seem he plans to go back for good any time soon: “I really like South Africa, I like working here.”

He’s adamant that family comes first though, “especially my wife and my little daughter, who is four.”

Proud is far from complacent in his job, saying, “I want to do courses that will help my company, like electrics. That will also help me get promotions.”

“I’m so happy to be here [at Maropeng], everybody is so friendly and very understanding. There is nothing I don’t like about my job!”

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