Open Writing

This was a small process plant about 50 or 60 kms out of town in the Mittag area of the mine. The plant was set up to treat the smaller production of the central mining areas as well as prospecting samples. It could only treat ore at the rate of 25 tonnes per hour, but was small and easy to operate as it only needed one process operator and six Ovambo labourers to operate the plant. After I had been six months at No 4 plant, an operator was needed to work one of the shifts, so I asked to be transferred there.

I worked at 66M process plant for a year and it was a great period of my time spent on the mines, a close second to my time spent at Affenrucken. There was just myself and the six Ovambo labourers. I shared a vehicle with the other operator and picked up the Ovambos en route from the Uubvlei single quarters about 40 kms out of town.

I was basically my own boss, with the foreman only coming out once a day for an hour or so to see how things were going and to have a bit of a chat. Sometimes he would contact me on the radio phone and I wouldn’t see him for a few days.

I loved the drive out to the plant, especially for the night shift which started at 6.00 pm and I would drive out as the sun was setting. It was beautiful and quiet then. We worked 12 hour shifts, but the work was relatively easy with no pressure.

The water for the plant was from a nearby dam which was fed by seepage from the sea. There was a floating platform (on 44 gallon drums) for the pumps that supplied the water to the plant. Not very high tech but it worked. Until one of the drums corroded through, filled with water and capsized the whole damn thing. It took two days to get the pumps back into commission again.

It was here that I got into more trouble and almost got fired. Let me tell you what happened.

Now the process plants were off limits to everyone, and that meant everyone, unless prior advice had been given to whoever was running the plant that someone would be arriving. Often the mine superintendent, area manager or general manager would do a tour of the mine and the correct protocol was to let everyone know that there would be a visit on such and such a day at approximately such and such a time. Usually two or three days notice was given. Just a formality really, but a necessary one, due to the security implications.

On this particular day I was on day shift when around mid morning these two white Landrovers pull into the plant parking area. Now white Landrovers meant only one thing: security or senior staff. Out climbs three guys and they saunter towards the plant, looking very important. I’m watching this from the plant control room on the first floor, so can see everything. They get to the entrance of the plant and I meet them at the bottom of the steps, barring their way.

“Who are you?”

They all looked at me.

“I am the deputy head of security ___ and this is the general manager ___,” one said pointing to one of the others.

“Okay.”

“We’re here to have a look around the plant.”

“Did you let anyone know you were coming?”

“No, but we decided to come have a look since we were passing this way on the way to No 1 plant.”

I looked at these men. I had a serious attitude problem in that I took no crap from anyone.

“Sorry, I can’t allow you on the plant.”

“Are you serious?”

“Damn right I am serious. You all know the rules.”

“This is the general manager. He makes the rules.”

I was getting tired of this bulls---.

“Good for him. When the new rules come out send me a copy. Until then you aren’t allowed here.”

The general manager wasn’t sure that he had heard correctly.
“What?”

“You heard what I said. You just come here and expect me to let you on the plant, breaking the very rules that you made and which you in security say have to be followed. Now p--- off before I throw you off.”

They all looked at me as if I’d gone mad. Here was this 19-year- old telling the general manager where to go and not quite comprehending that I’d spoken to them like that.

They glared at me for a few seconds as I stood smiling gently at them. Finally they returned to the two Landrovers and drove away. Interestingly, the drivers of each Landrover had never gotten out.

Well talk about the s--- hitting the fan. That afternoon the foreman, Barney B_, called me on the radio and said we had a problem and that he had been called by the general manager about what had occurred that morning. Later that afternoon Barney came to the plant and I gave him the full story.

Evidently the GM wanted to fire me immediately, but Barney said I was one of their best operators; that we were short of operators and couldn’t get a replacement in time and the plant would stand idle for half a day, etc until someone was trained to take over, and it would cost thousands of Rand per day.

Barney really stuck his neck out and supported me regarding access to the plant and told the GM that I was only doing my job and couldn’t be penalised for that. So finally they relented and gave me another written warning, which I promptly tore to shreds. Apparently doing one’s job well didn’t seem to matter anymore.

But I stayed on at 66M for a full 12 months and loved it there.