Keatlaretse Mercy Ketlogetswe never imagined she would one day sit behind the wheel of one of the world’s largest dump trucks. At 54, she now commands the Komatsu 930E-4—known in the pit as the “Yellow Monster”—at Debswana’s Jwaneng Mine, where she is among more than 200 women trained to operate heavy machinery.
Her journey into mining was anything but straightforward. After completing her Junior Certificate, Ketlogetswe worked as a cashier at a bottle store for seven years. From 2007 to 2009, she found work at a small mining company, Bokamoso, before joining Debswana at Jwaneng. At first, she was trained to operate a small dump truck, then a grader. Years later, she was promoted to drive the massive 300-ton haul truck—a milestone she describes as a “dream come true.”
“I was happy because I was motivated by other ladies who I found operating the trucks,” she said. “I was now going to be amongst them and be an inspiration to other younger women.”
Breaking stereotypes
Ketlogetswe is part of Debswana’s broader push to empower women across its operations, from engineering and supply-chain businesses to jobs long considered the preserve of men. She rejects the stereotype that certain jobs are reserved for males.
“We are denying ourselves opportunities as women,” she said firmly.
The financial rewards have also transformed her life. “I was able to easily pay for my children’s school fees, and they have all graduated,” she said. “I have bought myself cars. I have built houses and I have set up several businesses funded by the salary of a dump truck operator.”
Still, she believes more can be done to support women’s advancement in mining. “The industry needs to provide vacancies that encourage women to apply and opportunities once they are working to become shift supervisors and managers—with people willing to coach and support us,” she said. “I am grateful to Debswana for the opportunity they give to us as women.”
Managing fatigue
Operating heavy machinery is often assumed to require brute strength, but Ketlogetswe says technology has made the job easier. The Komatsu 930E-4 is equipped with fatigue management systems that detect drowsiness by monitoring eye movements. If an operator shows signs of fatigue, a signal is sent to a control center, and the driver is allowed time to rest.
“The system ensures we work safely, even during long shifts,” she said.
The truck is also fitted with a collision-avoidance system that alerts operators to nearby obstacles and communicates digitally with shovels and loaders during operations.
The “yellow monster”
The Komatsu 930E-4 is an ultra-class haul truck designed in the United States and considered the flagship of Komatsu’s fleet. At Debswana, each truck costs about P67 million, excluding tyres, which are purchased separately at P585,000 each and last eight months. The trucks require daily fueling of their 5,500-litre tanks, and monthly maintenance costs run to about P1.3 million.
Jwaneng Mine operates more than 60 of these trucks as part of its around-the-clock production, which delivers about 101 million tonnes of ore annually. At present, 42 women operate haul trucks at the mine, alongside another 150 women trained to drive supporting equipment.
The 930E-4, powered by a 2,500-horsepower engine, carries a payload of 291 tonnes and is designed for deep-pit mining. Its systems are engineered for reliability and ease of maintenance, ensuring the trucks remain efficient in the demanding mining environment.
For Ketlogetswe, sitting high above the pit in the “Yellow Monster” is more than a job—it is proof that women, given the opportunity, can thrive in any field.
