Her mentor at DRDGold is the human resource manager, Ashlin Sam, who wants to see her succeed and be integrated into the department full time.
The internship, which started in August 2021, forms part of the company’s efforts and commitment to providing experiential learning opportunities to Merafong community members.
“Lerato will reap the rewards that will add value to the current situation in Merafong and improve the future socio-economic outlook, well beyond the life of the mine. Young people are innovators and entrepreneurs who will find solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow,” said Sam.
“The objectives of our social and labour plan (SLP) are to promote employment and advance the social and economic welfare of the community and also utilise and expand the existing skills base to empower the community,” he concluded.
Ngaka Pitlele, the coordinator of Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) Merafong branch, said DRDGold is doing well in delivering on their projects and reaching their intended goals within Merafong. Macua has been conducting social audits on the SLPs of mining companies based in Merafong. Community members benefit from DRDGold’s poverty alleviation programmes and learnerships like the one Lerato is in. He added that the company needs to focus on increasing employment, but suppliers should try and form partnerships with host business companies like DRDGold.
“All this may reduce the unemployment level and absorb the host communities into the economic sector. FWGR is aware of the socio-economic impacts that mining brings but they are committed to the economic growth and development where they operate,’’ he said. Pitlele added that more could be done to help the Merafong community benefit further from the extraction of minerals in the area, however.
We, as Macua, have seen and experienced the socio-economic benefits and can truly say that FWGR has delivered on some of its commitments to the community. This shows transparency and accountability on their part,’’ he concluded.
