Francois Dauth Email & Phone Number

After graduating high school, the options for employment were very limited. It is then when I enrolled in an engineering apprenticeship program with BHP Billiton at their underground coal mine, Khutala Colliery.I had the choice of enrolling in different tradesman programs but I ultimately chose to take the Auto-Electrical pathway in 2014.I completed the program in June of 2016 when I successfully passed the “Trade Test” phase of the program and was awarded with a Red Seal Automotive Electrical Trade certificate. Unfortunately, there were no vacant auto-electrical positions within the company at Khutala at that time so to prevent loss of employment, I started to work as a “Maintenance Belt Attendant”.This was a temporary role created for all newly qualified tradesmen who have not secured a role in their respective field but for all intents and purposes, we were working as one would in our fields. Fortunately this role was superseded in December of that same year when I was formally employed as a “Underground Auto Electrician” on Seam no.2.I worked in this role within multiple smaller focused departments within the wider “Engineering Department”. Employee transport, Road Building and Heavy Diesel to name a few. My main focus during this time was the repair and maintenance of electrical components and systems of both flame proof and non flame proof vehicles and underground earth moving equipment.In 2022 job insecurity had become a more common topic at Khutala, so I made the decision to apply for a VSP (Voluntary Separation Package) to mitigate the less favourable possibility of being forcibly retrenched. And in May of that year it was approved, ending my employment with then Seriti Resources on the 30th of May 2022.Finding new employment proved exceptionally difficult due to the weakened economy in South Africa at that time. But in November of that year, I was invited to apply for a position within my field at NZ Bus in New Zealand. A month later I had received the news that I was successful and had to make arrangements to leave South Africa to start in the role of “Automotive Electrician” and NZ Bus’ Onehunga Depot.I arrived in Auckland and after a few days of managing jet lag, I started work.

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  Ctc Witbank

  Red Seal