Quarry Southern Africa March 2017 | Page 7

southern AFRICA news
PPC subsidiary Ulula Ash partnered with Eskom to donate two high-technology mobile science labs to Sibongamandla Secondary and Kriel High School in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The self-sufficient mobile labs incorporate the technology and science equipment required for the physics and chemistry experiments covered in the high school syllabus, and will be used to teach science to grade 9, 10 and 11 learners at the schools. The handover forms part of a greater countrywide drive by PPC, which aims to impact over 8 500 learners through the initiative, potentially opening up the career paths of South Africa’ s next generation of engineers, scientists and technicians.
South Africa’ s Department of Trade and
Industry( dti) has set aside R216-million to upgrade the infrastructure of five industrial parks located in the Limpopo, Gauteng, North West, and Free State provinces so they can contribute to stimulating industrial development, economic growth, and job creation. The first phase of the revitalisation of Nkowankowa, Ekandustria, Bodirelo, Phuthaditjhaba, and Garankuwa industrial parks follows the approval of their budgets late last year. The dti is applying a holistic approach to the revitalisation initiative to ensure that enterprises based there participate in the mainstream economy to achieve the National Development Plan( NDP) and Industrial Policy Development Plan( IPDP) objectives.

Belabela Quarries funds new building for Botswana school

Babcock has appointed David Vaughan as the new managing director – equipment, effective 1 November 2016. Vaughan, who has been in the industry since 1979 and joined Babcock as a regional general manager in 2005, previously held the position of sales director. Babcock’ s equipment business manages the exclusive distribution and support of leading international equipment brands in southern Africa, including Volvo construction equipment, Terex Trucks, Tadano and Sennebogen cranes, Winget concrete handling equipment, and SDLG construction equipment. Vaughan worked extensively in machine sales for various companies before joining Babcock.“ I have a single goal in mind, and that is to focus on customer service,” says Vaughan.
Belabela Quarries has funded a new building for reception-grade children at Matebele Primary School in Botswana’ s Kgatleng District near the capital Gaborone.
The quarry, started in 2003, was acquired by Raubex company B & E International in 2015, and sales have grown following investment in plant, equipment, and skills. It is now the largest quarry in Botswana, with a production of 70 000 tonnes of aggregate per month. It serves all the major building and civil contractors in the Gaborone area, as well as brick manufacturers and readymix
concrete suppliers. Speaking at the official opening of the reception block in January, Botswana’ s minister of Basic Education, the Honourable Doctor Unity Dow, highlighted the importance of preschool facilities in government schools.“ In other countries, by the time kids sit their final exams in primary school they would have had nine years of schooling and preparation, including preschool,” says Dr Dow.“ In Botswana it is only seven years. This puts our kids at a disadvantage in an increasingly globally competitive environment.”
She says the new block, sponsored by Belabela Quarries, will also ultimately help to improve the pass rate at the school.
Blackie Marole, local non-executive director of Belabela Quarries, says the quarry’ s growth has allowed it to consolidate and expand its corporate social responsibility.“ Belabela is now in a position to contribute more significantly to the community,” Marole says.“ We trust that the reception block will improve the academic performance of the local kids for generations to come.”
Babcock
David Vaughan is Babcock’ s new managing director – equipment, as of 1 November 2016.
All the stone produced at Belabela complies with Botswana Bureau of Standards requirements— as well as those of the South African Bureau of Standards— for road, rail, and building construction.
Belabela Quarries
Belabela Quarries
From left: Matlho J Kgosi( director Belabela Quarries), Redemption Mosala( finance manager Belabela Quarries), Hon. Dr Minister Unity Dow( Minister of Basic Education), Dewald Janse van Rensburg( director Belabela Quarries), Blackie Marole( director Belabela Quarries), and Mrs Mokgadi( school principal).
Early childhood education in Botswana has received a welcome boost in the Kgatleng District near the capital Gaborone, with Belabela Quarries’ funding of a new building for reception-grade children at Matebele Primary School.
QUARRY SA | march 2017 _ 5