• SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY
EXXARO EXCELS IN
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
By Exxaro , edited by Leon Louw
With Environmental and Social Governance ( ESG ) becoming more and more important for mining companies to consider in their day-to-day activities , Exxaro , one of the top producers of coal in South Africa , has excelled at developing local communities in and around their mining operations .
On 4 December 2020 , Exxaro handed over keys to 143 community members to take ownership of their brand-new resettlement homes in Botleng , 15km from Rietkuil .
Earlier in 2021 Exxaro ’ s Matla Coal handed over two projects to the Emalahleni Local Municipality which form part of the company ’ s Social and Labour Plan commitments to the Department of Minerals and Resources .
The projects are located in Kriel , Ga-Nala , Mpumalanga , and will benefit local communities in this area .
Local SMMEs were contracted to build the facilities , the first being an Enterprise and Supplier Development ( ESD ) centre housed in a repurposed bakery building obtained from the Emalahleni Local Municipality , and it will offer business acumen training as well as personalised business mentorship .
Raizcorp will provide much-needed business development programmes . The centre will also act as a supplier walk-in
28 • African Mining • January 2022 centre where vendors and prospective suppliers can access procurement opportunities available at Matla Coal Mine .
“ We are proud to be handing over these two facilities to the Emalahleni Local Municipality and the Ga-Nala community . We know the community will appreciate these facilities , make use of them for their benefit and also look after them ,” said Matla Coal BU Manager , Stephen Badenhorst .
With support like this , local SMMEs will thrive and become larger role players in the supply chain processes of Exxaro , helping to grow the local economy . Close to R8.8-million has been spent on the community project , with an additional R6.2-million to be spent in the next phase . In addition , 18 temporary job opportunities were created for local community members . www . africanmining . co . za