Page 65 - SAPREF 50 year

Danny Thesan, Main Fuels
Scheduler: 1978-2012
“I started at SAPREF’s Island View installation
in a part-time capacity, thinking that I would
not like the shift work. But then I came to see
SAPREF was a good company to work for, I was
learning and growing and developing myself,
and this was important to me. Yes, there were
changes, especially when a new Managing
Director came, but generally they were positive
changes. The company always looked after its people, but I also stayed for the benefits, the good management and the high morale in the workplace. I always found the actual work very interesting, increasing my knowledge about hydrocarbons and oil refining, and I also enjoyed working in teams.”
Elmaree Landers, Instrument
Artisan
“In the short time I have been at SAPREF — three years apprenticeship and six months
as an artisan — I have found it to be a real learning environment. I learn every day, and that is important to me. I have also noticed my more experienced colleagues are willing to share their expertise with us younger ones.
“I also appreciate what SAPREF does for the
surrounding communities. I come from one of them, Wentworth, and when I was at school there was no science lab. And now, thanks to SAPREF, there is, which makes learning more practical. Sponsoring education initiatives is very empowering, much better than hand-outs.”
Lisa Klopper, Office Services
Administrator
“I have appreciated a number of positive developments recently. One was the provision of Halaal meals for our Muslim colleagues
in the staff canteen. It’s also great see how Enterprise Development is growing at SAPREF. I am proud to work for a company that is developing entrepreneurs.”
Bo Shabangu, Production
Team Leader
After fourteen years at the refinery, Bo says,
“I look for excellence from myself and my
colleagues, which is a good fit with a company
that likes to develop its people and wants us
to excel. We are a quite a diverse bunch, but
when we are working we work with a single- mindedness that allows us to achieve our goals. Further, we do not learn just about our jobs,
but also about how to live and we grow as individuals!”
Bunny Pillay, Systems
Administrator
“The fact that I have been at SAPREF for 35 years speaks volumes. I find the work fulfilling, and a highlight was flying to Singapore to do factory acceptance testing on the upgraded Pacer maintenance management system, back in 2004.
“When you have children, as I do,
educational benefits take on great importance,
and I am delighted with SAPREF’s tertiary
education policy. I had the opportunity of sending three of my sons to university, SAPREF having paid half the costs. I have also appreciated the vehicle benefits, but more than that, it is most rewarding to be able to look out into the community and see the support that SAPREF provides to schools, crèches, hospitals and NGOs — SAPREF is changing lives in these communities.”
Baba Mthembu: 1978-2012
Baba retired as Running Equipment Technician and is now happily farming pigs at Adams Mission. He says: “I am proud to have worked at SAPREF. I particularly enjoyed working in
a group to solve problems with the running equipment, and all the talking and joking, and spending time at the Clubhouse after work. I really miss all that.”
Nombasa Hewana, ICT
Applications Manager
“I have gained a lot of experience and grown significantly during these last ten years. I find it rewarding to know that as a company we are contributing to something bigger, that
our products are used across the region. It is also encouraging to see our focus on social responsibility and team work. SAPREF does a lot to raise our awareness of the environment and safety, and I am happy to notice this spills over into my life outside of work.”
‘MX’ Mchunu, Maintenance Services Focal Point, Island View
“Eight years ago I was a Refinery Trainee. SAPREF has since given me the opportunity to train and develop into a supervisor position, an opportunity to grow, and that is just great.”
COMMEMORATING 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
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