Mine and municipality make things happen

Aredirisaneng Agricultural Project in Elandsfontein was officially handed over to the community by Sibanye-Stillwater and the Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) on Tuesday, 22 September.

The project, aimed at alleviating poverty, will now be in the hands of the community for them to use the crops grown on the land and to improve the local economy.

The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and the National Department of Rural Development and Land Reform were also part of the project.

Lucas Moloto, Superintendent for Community Engagement and Development at Sibanye-Stillwater said the project was started in the 2014/ 15 financial year as part of the 2012–2016 Sibanye-Stillwater Social Labour Plan initiative.

“This was a partnership between Sibanye-Stillwater and RWCLM with the sole purpose of eradicating poverty within the rural community of Elandsfontein,” Moloto said.

Moloto added they helped by providing the facilities and training for the unskilled and semiskilled farmers of the project.

We have supplied the equipment, offices and shelters for some of the portions on the farm. This included the irrigation system and even motor vehicles. Everything that you see was installed for the purpose of developing this farm,” Moloto said.

He also thanked the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and the National Department of Rural Development and Land Reform for helping to formalise the project.

“Any revenue that will be generated from this, will be used towards the betterment and uplifting of this community,” Moloto added.

Brenda Mahuma, RWCLM Executive Mayor, who officially handed over the farm, said the project will help the municipality to carry out its social responsibility of transforming the lives of those impoverished.

“This is an intervention project to deal with high levels of poverty in rural areas like this one where people have nothing to sustain their lives. Our partnership with Sibanye-Stillwater aimed at closing that gap,” Mahuma said.

She added the project will allow farmers to grow crops that will be sold in the mainstream market.

As Rand West City, we are part of the Gauteng City Region. Since we are an agricultural hub, we are responsible for coordinating such projects with stakeholders to help make agricultural projects like this one sustainable to assist in eradicating poverty,” Mahuma said.