THE 25-year-old Jackie de Groot has just qualified as the first female earthmoving machinery operator in the Eastern Cape, most probably also the first in South Africa.
“I used to sit with my husband, Dwayne, when he was working in the big cabin of the earthmoving machines every day. We do not have children, and I loved to pack picnic lunches, and take some fruit and a flask of coffee for us, and we enjoyed being together.”
In time, I realised that I knew exactly what needed to be done. He also showed me what he was doing,” Jackie said excitedly. “This is the best job for me, and I am so happy. I wouldn’t want to change a thing,” she said.
“We realised that Jackie was definitely very interested in earthmoving, and when a vacancy arose, we encouraged her to complete the training,” said Riaan Kolesky of Nuplant, in Jeffreys Bay, who employed her.
“She learnt very quickly and she passed her exams in record time. She is now hired as a TLB operator and she does an excellent job,” he said.
