Page 44 - 25 Reasons

JEREMIAH HLAHLA:
WATER SCIENTIST

f it wasn’t for an Anglo American THE NEXT GENERATION OF
scholarship, Jeremiah Hlahla has no idea
what he would be doing now. Hlahla was
ECO
orphaned at a young age, and grew up
in a children’s home on the outskirts of
IEmalahleni in Mpumalanga. He attended
Phillip Ndimande Secondary School in
Hlalanikahle, which is where he heard about the ECO
Anglo American scholarship.
“From Grade 9, I wanted to be a scientist. I
loved science. I grew up in Witbank [Emalahleni],
so the environment wasn’t great. There are lots
of mining companies in the area. They are doing
well, but aren’t managing the environment. There
PIONEERS
is lots of air pollution and the water quality isn’t
good. At the end of the day, these environmental PIONEERS
impacts affect humans, and I wanted to help the
environment and the people.”
But Hlahla had no idea how he could make
his dream a reality. And then he went to a career
exhibition and heard about Anglo American’s
Coal South Africa business’ scholarship.
“We had to present our Grade 11 results to
apply, but I didn’t qualify for an Anglo American
bursary because my physical science marks
weren’t up to standard. So I worked hard in
Grade 12. The opportunity came around again –
someone from Anglo American came to the
school with application forms. She only had
about five and had come for the better-
performing students. I applied and, after two
weeks, I was invited to an interview. Eventually,
they offered me the scholarship. I was so excited,”
Hlahla says.
He went on to study life and environmental
science at the University of Johannesburg, and
the scholarship covered everything.
“I was really excited – the scholarship opened
doors of opportunity for me. It was my only
hope of going to university because I had
nothing ... I had lived in a children’s home since
2008 with my younger sister. So if it wasn’t for
the scholarship, I have no idea what I would
have done after matric.”
Hlahla is now completing an internship as a
water specialist at a company in Lynnwood,
Pretoria. One of the company’s areas of
expertise is managing water treatment for the
mining environment – an area close to his heart.
He would like to continue his studies and
complete a master’s degree one day.
“My aim is to be involved in South Africa in
terms of solving issues in the field of water.”
But his sister, now 17, is still in school. Jeremiah Hlahla understands how important it is to have easy access to fresh water
“Right now, I’m pushing to find a permanent
job. I want to help her. I feel like it’s my duty to From the hot, dusty streets of
help her.”
Mhluzi to the snow and wind of Antarctica;
DINEO MOGASHOA:
ECOLOGICAL WARRIOR from growing up in a children’s home to

ineo Mogashoa recently becoming a water whiz – recipients of Anglo American
returned from Marion Island,
where she worked as an bursaries are making their mark on the world
assistant researcher. It was
freezing and wet – literally miles in a way that is closely linked to the way
Dapart from the streets of Mhluzi
in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, where she grew up. they were raised, writes Alison Visser
44 ANGLO AMERICAN 25 REASONS TO BELIEVE