Shifting gears from learner to diesel mechanic

DIESEL MECHANIC, MTHOBISI MHLONGO

The sound of an engine is like music to Mthobisi Mhlongo’s ears, and after years of work and study, he has no doubts about his career choice. I enjoy being a diesel mechanic because it’s mostly practical. Even when I was young and still in school, I enjoyed practical work,” he says.

A decade ago, Mthobisi walked into the workshop of a popular vehicle brand, and that experience cemented his dream of becoming a diesel mechanic.  He was appointed as a diesel mechanic at Kangra in December 2025 after completing a two-year learnership programme at the mine. Before joining Kangra, he worked as an assistant diesel mechanic at a mine in Witbank. “Kangra trained me, and it was an opportunity of a lifetime,” he says.

During his training, Mthobisi gained underground mining experience for the first time, working alongside senior artisans in both surface and underground workshops. His passion for mechanics started while he was still a learner at Sinethemba Agricultural & Technical Secondary School in Driefontein, where he took up technical subjects.

Mthobisi then furthered his studies at Nkangala TVET College, where he completed his N2 and N3 level diesel mechanic qualifications, as well as N4 in mechanical studies. Mthobisi dreams of becoming an engine specialist and a foreman.