Futhi Madide commended for leadership
OCCUPATIONAL health superintendent, Futhi Madide, has been dedicated to ensuring the health and well being of Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) employees while navigating the Covid-19 pandemic.
Futhi's leadership during the pandemic was recently recognised by the Minerals Council of South Africa (MINCOSA), scoring her a Women in Mining Certificate of Excellence.
'Sometimes you work and do not realise you are going the extra mile, and that there are people who recognise and appreciate the work you are doing,' she said.
The 60-year-old has served as a liaison between the mine, the Department of Health, MINCOSA and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy - providing the internal Covid-19 team with valuable information from the legislators.
This was a task she undertook while providing care and support to employees who had tested positive for the virus.
Although it has been challenging, Futhi’s 36 years of experience in the healthcare field have allowed her to remain calm through the storm.
'Telling an employee that they have tested positive for a virus that we knew so little about was the most challenging, stressful and scary task that anyone could take on,' she said.
'But I was able to overcome the challenges through God's protection, and the support, love and respect that I received from RBM employees, the internal Covid-19 team, as well as my family, who all played a huge role.'
Her biggest reward has been seeing employees through their recovery.
'I received messages from employees who suffered from the virus, and each and every one of them said, 'Thank you for calling and checking on me. May God bless you'.
'That really touched my heart and drove me to work even harder in making sure we cared for them.'