Black empowered and diversified resources company Exxaro Resources, continues to work towards improving the lives of its host communities by committing to the growth of its host communities.
Exxaro has invested an estimated R1.5 billion in social investments in the Mpumalanga Province through skills development, enterprise and supplier development (ESD) and local spend from 2018 to date.
Lazarus Ramashilabele, Business Unit Manager for Exxaro’s Mpumalanga Coal mines and FerroAlloys says, “Growing and positively impacting our communities is part of our DNA. With the country’ first ever – digital and connected mine, our Belfast operation developed projects that not only benefit the communities but ensured that they are involved and have a significant role in the country’s fourth Industrial Revolution and the opportunities it presents.”
One of the projects which Exxaro implemented was the Belfast Resettlement programme. This program saw 32 households and 195 people move into their new homes in Zoekop and Leeuwbank, to Phumulani Agri Village. As these families are avid farmers, their homes were built on sizable agricultural plots to allow for each household to either grow, produce or keep their animals.
Another significant relocation project was when Exxaro handed over keys to 143 community members to take ownership of their brand-new resettlement homes in Delmas- Botleng township, 15km from Rietkuil.
The project affected a farm called Rietkuil, where a small community of 143 people had been living in 20 separate households. The resettlement project was initiated following extensive consultations with the community. Exxaro bought stands in close proximity to ensure that the sense of community among the people of Rietkuil would be carried over to Botleng.
Through these projects, many local businesses and youth were able to get employment. Vusi Mahlangu, one of Exxaro’s ESD beneficiaries, says “In 2011 – I got the opportunity to tender with Exxaro and then I was awarded this project – to help build the houses. What I appreciate about Exxaro is how they care about employment creation and reducing poverty. They always want to make a positive change for their host communities.”
Mzila Mthenjane, Executive Head Stakeholder Affairs at Exxaro explained, “For us, assisting to solve any human development issues is part of our Sustainable Growth and Impact Strategy goal. It’s not something that we are doing as a ‘by the way’. But rather what we do because it is how we grow with our communities. As a company, it’s so pleasing to see families and small businesses thrive due to our commitments”.
Since the onset of Covid-19 in March 2020, Exxaro has donated over R3 334 000 in relief aid to local schools, clinics, hospitals and host communities’ members in partnership with business partners in the Mpumalanga Province. These provisions included PPE, food parcels, Covid-19 relief programmes, community outreach programmes, septic tanks for hygiene and clinic infrastructure repairs. In addition, the company recently donated a water bowser worth R1.3 million to the Emakhazeni local municipality.
Mthenjane concluded that “Everything for us is about how we are able to address the critical challenges that face our communities and country. We will always find sustainable and impactful ways to power better lives in Africa and beyond”.
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