“We are proud of what has been achieved through this partnership.”
Anglo American Platinum’s senior social performance manager at Amandelbult, Tshepo Kgasago, said that the successful partnership between Zizwe Opencast Mining and the Baphalane Community Trust proves that communities can benefit from core business activities and contracts.
“We are proud of what has been achieved through this partnership. It is a model on how communities can be included to benefit sustainably from procurement opportunities,” Kgasago said.
In line with Anglo American’s sustainability strategy, Kgasago also said that the company is looking at a number of interventions across many other communities.
“We have built schools, clinics, houses, roads, orphanages and old age homes for our communities. We also provide small business and artisan training to build skills such as welding, brick making and painting.
Kgasago said they train over 500 young people every season.
“We want to equip people with the skills to stand on their own feet. From our training programmes alone, we assist over 500 young people at a time,” Kgasago said.
Anglo American Platinum’s broader work on skills development provides opportunities for 18 to 35-year-old young unemployed people so that they can form part of the workforce in local mining projects such as this one.
“We train welders so they can work in the community and start their own businesses. We also offer bursaries to youth to further their education and other study opportunities for adults.
The local contractors we have assisted through our training programmes are now building houses for orphans and child-headed families, as part of our programme to improve living conditions for vulnerable people.
The programme is part of Anglo American Social Way, a project to address inclusive socio-economic challenges.
“They are really inspiring and we encourage them to persevere,” Kgasago added.