Modern Mining September 2022

ADVERTORIAL

Mining for a better society

“ W e are committed to contributing to the local economic development of the directly-related mine communities, and have bursary and learnership programmes in place to enable employment generating opportunities,” says Mr Zhiyu Fan, MD and CEO of Nkwe Platinum Limited. Nkwe Platinum Limited is working closely with tribal councils and community members to identify potential opportunities and, following a skills gap analysis and interview screening process, identified four members from the various communities for a skills development programme. Lucky John Mabi lu, of the Garatau Community, Morris Moima (Maandagshoek Community), Mahlatse Phillip Sepalane (Hoepakrantz Community) and Leope Albert Tau (De Kom Community) recently received training in grinding and in use of the mag base drill machine, and the cropper machine. The skills development programme offers unemployed youth an opportunity for employment, and thereby the means to look after their families and contribute to the local economy. According to recently trained Leope Tau, because of the high levels of poverty and unemployment, living conditions in the com munities are dire. “Since Zijin came to our communities,” he says, “there have been several work opportunities which many of our community members were able to take advantage of. I think this is a great ini tiative: equipping our people with the necessary skills and training to empower them. Now that I have the necessary skills-set, I am confident of a better chance of finding work.” Sepalane says “It is tough out there, so getting this training opportunity was a blessing”. “I was unemployed before this chance came along and, follow ing the training, I’m now able to support my family,” says Mabilu. Moima is confident that as the mine develops more training, skills development and employment opportunities will be offered to the community. “Mine development is still in its early stages and, as it progresses more community members will be required to work at the mine and be offered employment opportunities.” Following the completion of the skills development programme, the candidates have been placed in related work contracts on the core shed construction project for the Zijin Garatau Platinum Mine, under the employment of Gears Technology. Women from the communities also approached Nkwe Platinum with training programme proposals, the majority of whom were keen to pursue skills development in clothing and textiles, as well as beauty and care. The company has subsequent ly enrol led them into Along with the development of the Zijin Garatau Plati num Mine, located on the Eastern Limb of the Bushveld Complex, platinum mine developer, Nkwe Platinum Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Zijin Mining Group, continues to advance sustainable community development initiatives, including a training and skills development programme.

Nkwe Platinum continues to progress sustainable community development initiatives.

Leope Albert Tau; Mahlatse Phillip Sepalane; Lucky John Mabilu and Morris Moima received training.

Above: As the mine develops there will be more training, skills development and employment opportunities offered. Right: Training was given in grinding, use of the mag base drill machine and the cropper machine.

SETA-accredited training courses in these two specialisations. A total of 24 women are currently receiving a three-month training programme in the specialisation of their choice. To ensure fairness of access to opportunities for all mine affected communities, a pro-rata system linked to the population size of each community was used. “Nkwe Platinum Limited, under the Zijin Mining Group, contin ues to drive its vision of mining for a better society, adhering to the values of ‘Harmony brings about Wealth’ and improving the livelihoods of the communities surrounding the mine,” concludes Mr Fan. 

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