By: Dr. Lindi Mokwena & Team

In the heart of Mpumalanga’s coal belt, the hum of machinery meets the heartbeat of resilience. For thousands of mineworkers, every sunrise brings both promise and peril — dust in the lungs, fatigue in the muscles, and the quiet fear of what the future may hold.
Yet amidst that reality, the Kriel Occupational Health Centre (KOHC) stands as a symbol of purpose, courage, and humility — redefining occupational health as more than compliance, but as compassion in motion. With over a decade of dedicated service, KOHC has built bridges between the workplace and the wider community. Through mobile clinics, gender-sensitive wellness programmes, and ex-miner empowerment, the centre shows that caring for people is not just a profession — it’s a calling rooted in humanity.

The Woman Who Chose Courage Underground

Thandeka Dube was one of the few older women on her mining crew — proud, capable, but silent about her struggles with fatigue and menopause symptoms. In a world where vulnerability can be mistaken for weakness, it took courage to attend KOHC’s 'Women’s Wellness in Mining' workshop. There, she found knowledge, empathy, and sisterhood. Supervisors were trained to support women’s health without stigma, and Thandeka found the strength to lead. “We stopped whispering about our bodies,” she says with pride. “KOHC reminded us that courage isn’t loud — it’s honest.”

The Young Athlete Who Found Her Voice

When KOHC extended its outreach to youth sports, Nomvula, a shy 16-year-old Soccer player, attended reluctantly. She was constantly fatigued, unaware of the anemia affecting her performance. After KOHC’s intervention — treatment, nutrition counselling, and mentorship — she regained her strength and her self-belief. Months later, she made the provincial netball trials. “They saw something in me before I saw it in myself,” she says. “That’s courage — to dream again.”

Beyond the Mines: The Heart of KOHC

KOHC’s mission extends beyond Health screening. It’s about inspiring purpose, nurturing courage, and practicing humility in every act of service. Whether it’s restoring an ex-miner’s confidence, empowering women to lead, or helping a child to dream freely, KOHC proves that true occupational health begins with the heart.