Julie Barker
AT Western Platinum Mine in Mooi Nooi, near the Magaliesberg, a group of mine employees is rehearsing a play. They are putting the final touches on Shortcuts. The group is called Thuto ke Lesedi, which means Education is Light. Formed just over a year ago, Thuto ke Lesedi has, with the help of Shoestring Productions, developed three programmes that have been performed 15 times internally and 13 times at other mines.
Shortcuts is a melding of the safety and team-building programme developed by Thuto ke Lesedi. The play uses a combination of mime, song and performance to illustrate safety issues.
The first programme was developed to promote Abet, an adult basic education programme that mine workers can join, to get anything from standard eight to matric. All people need these school qualifications to progress within the mine hierarchy. Shoestring Productions, an industrial theatre company, was brought in as a consultancy to develop a training group that would operate from within the mine and use theatre techniques as a vehicle with which to educate. A poster advertising for volunteers interested in acting was put up. Twelve people applied and Thuto ke Lesedi was born.
Louis Rathubane, leader of the group and branch secretary for the National Union of Mineworkers, says that the first programme was overwhelmingly successful. Abet attendance grew visibly after the performances. “The power of theatre,” says Rathubane, “is that it can educate people not to become victims. We want to fight apathy; we want to improve communication skills.” he says.
“Theatre becomes a visual form of education, a tool with which to communicate,” agrees David Germond, Shoestring’s project co-ordinator.
The second programme Thuto ke Lesedi developed dealt with safety issues underground. Such was the success of the programme that Western Platinum Mine achieved “the million shift fatality-free” as well as winning the Mclean Shield, the national award for safety, twice. This is an achievement that Thuto ke Lesedi can take major credit for. “Perhaps we could take these issues of safety further, into the community,” says another team mate. The third programme deals with team-building and also enjoyed a high success rate. The group uses the stacking and balancing of brooms to illustrate working together. “Unity is power,” they sing, as they lift their brooms against the backdrop of the mine workshop.
I ask Rathubane if there is a split focus for him. He is working within a management- directed programme. “I believe it is time management and the union join and try to work together,” he replies.
“The plays are a neutral voice for management and the union,” says Germond.” It is Shoestring’s goal that Thuto ke Lesedi become totally self sufficient.” Germond has trained the group to workshop plays and now operates as an adviser. They rehearse three hours a week and the operation is voluntary.
Thuto’s status within the mine is the same as any other of the teams. They have their own T-shirts and baseball caps and provide an added extra-mural activity for the members of the group. These people are strongly committed to their cause and to their teamwork.