Multi-talented man works hard with a song in his heart
'Nick' is a man for all seasons
THE first thing that strikes you about the Specialist Stakeholder Relations and Public Affairs at Tronox KZN Sands, Nicholas Sibongiseni Bulunga is his immaculate sense of dress and his fluency in the Queen’s language.
Affectionately known as Nick, Bulunga is a man of many talents.
Born and bread in the rural KwaMbonambi, under Mbuyazi Traditional Authority, Bulunga is a down to earth, streetwise and soft spoken – yet possesses a no nonsense approach when it comes to service delivery.
He speaks passionately about the love of his job at Tronox, which gives him time to interact directly with different communities on development issues.
‘Yes I love my job, but I’m also one person who demands instant results. Once I commit myself to a certain project, I expect the same commitment from those working with me,’ he says.
Career moves
Bulunga is a teacher by profession who was trained at the then eSikhawini College of Education, after completing his matric at Manqamu High School in 1982.
‘I got a bursary from RBM to study as Maths and Science teacher, since my family could not afford to send to an institution of higher learning.
‘I come from a poor family. I taught at Sbonokuhle High School for two years, went to Mlokothwa High School in Nongoma, where we were producing excellent results, before going to Mgitshwa High School in Ndlangubo, which was my last school as a teacher.
‘I guess I was more ambitious than what teaching offered me. So I quit the profession and join insurance companies such as Old Mutual as Financial Advisor, Southern Life as Advisor and Empangeni Branch Manager and Sanlam as Branch Manager for four years.’
Bulunga ventured into business in 2004, to form his company Mthangala Multiservice, which he named after his grandfather.
In 2006 he went into a partnership with other business leaders to form Cable Recyclers SA, where he served as CEO.
‘We were sourcing copper cables and selling it abroad, but our biggest threat was copper theft, as a result we could not continue the operation.’
When an opportunity to join Tronox in 2012 presented itself, Bulunga grabbed it with both hands.
‘I’m happy with what I’m doing.
‘The biggest part of my portfolio is to serve as a link between the company and our stakeholders comprising uMlalazi Municipality, City of uMhlathuze, Mandeni Municipality and our seven host communities, which are Somopho Traditional Authority, Madlebe, KwaDube, Mkhwanazi, Ogagwini-Obanjeni, KwaNzuza and Macambini Traditional Authority.
‘From time to time we have a forum where we meet with these municipalities and discuss their Integrated Development Plans (IDP) and check if they address the needs of the people, and if not we intervene right there as a company.
‘So far we have trained 210 unemployed youth on skills development; after that we send them to various companies for practical experience and also pay them stipends.
Projects
‘In Somopho alone we have built a basketball/netball combo court, a community hall, market stalls and a state of the art créche. We are also building Somopho Industrial Park.
‘We have fenced Zakhekahle High School in Sangoyana and provided a mobile science laboratory at Qhamuka High School.
‘In Madlebe Traditional Authority we have built four classrooms for Mevamhlophe High School, painted the school and provided a mobile science laboratory.
‘At Ziphozonke High School we have built three classrooms with furniture and a mobile science laboratory. We have started building a fully-fledged admin block,’ he says.
Music
Bulunga is also known in musical circles as a chorister, choir conductor who co-founded Cantata Choral Adult Choir with Dr Sipho Nzimande, who is now the Head of TVET Colleges in KZN.
‘I come from a musical family. I also hold a Grade 5 Theory of Music qualification through Trinity College in London. I’m also untouchable when it comes to classic music, jazz and gospel,’ said the devout member of the Richards Bay Assemblies of God church, who has been married to his wife Charlotte Penelope Duduzile for 25 years.
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