PMC extends Selwana road with further 3km
Palabora Mining Company (PMC) has announced that they will be extending the three kilometres tar road built in Selwana by another 3km. “It is a drive to demonstrate that the mine genuinely cares about those living within this mining town,” the company said in a media statement.
The stretchy 60km undeveloped provincial road leading to Giyani is a thorny issue and as a responsible corporate citizen, PMC is actively participating in bringing about positive social change, the mining company said in a press release. The company is investing a hefty sum of money to resolve a significant challenge in the village. “Constructing a road will impact the farm-orientated villagers in a multilayered way enabling them to diversify the economy, and limit reliance on the mine for employment,” they said.
“PMC has a firm understanding of local context. An initiative such as this forges a bridge of collaboration between multiple stakeholders namely: PMC, Selwana residents, tribal authorities, and local and national government. PMC has through this investment, successfully managed to create a platform for Road Agency Limpopo (RAL) and the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality to work together, delivering the fair expectations of the locals in Selwana – who has a fair demand for service delivery.”
Also read: PMC’s trains do not wait with new railway upgrade
The investment to extend the road by a further 3kms is beyond compliance or an effort to retain a mining license. “It is PMC’s response to the locals’ call seeking service delivery and social sustainability. It is a drive to demonstrate that the mine genuinely cares about those living within this mining town.” To this end, the socio-economic impact of constructing the first 3km road proved to be a positive return on investment. Extending the road will benefit such as; • issuing of work to local contractors, • sub-contracting of local talent, • general employment for the local workforce, especially women, youth, and the disabled,
• skills transfer, • sudden economic activity, and alleviation of poverty in Selwana, • easy access to town and nearby communities, • reduced travel time to the city markets for emerging crop farmers in the Selwana, • reduced wear and tear on vehicles, and • timely arrival. “It is the mine’s conviction that is noting the tangible social impact the project has on the community, the government will also make strides to provide the necessary resources to continue with the project,” they concluded in the media statement.
