Community

Crocodile River

The Crocodile River Mine (CRM) is in the Madibeng Local Municipality (LM) and within the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality on the western limb of the Bushveld complex and within South Africa’s North West Province. The operation was under care and maintenance between 2013 and 2018. In December 2018 the retreatment project was successfully commissioned, giving rise to the restart, in 2019, of several local economic development projects. 

We are of the view that meaningful contributions to local economic development in the communities surrounding our operation, irrespective of their size, hold the most promise in stimulating sustainable change. While agriculture and manufacturing are major industries around this municipality, the biggest contributor in terms of Gross Value Added and employment is Mining. It is, therefore, logical to expect that many look to mining companies to fulfil their expectations for economic empowerment and upliftment.

Despite having been under care and maintenance, the mine has maintained delivery on its commitment to SLP responsibilities. CRM commits to the allocation of resources to local economic development projects as identified in the SLP plan; to ensure consistent reporting to all stakeholders (on the progress achieved in these projects; to revise the type and/or nature of LED projects where necessitated through consultation with the communities and the local municipality; and to ensure that the ultimate deliverables these projects were set out to achieve, are actually realised.

Kennedy’s Vale and Spitzkop

Both eastern limb operations have been under care and maintenance since 2012. However, we continue to engage with and support the communities in their vicinity. Our HRD programmes currently provide learnerships and bursaries for the development of local residents, helping to equip them with relevant skills that will allow them to seek employment from currently operational mines in the area.

Our community and economic development initiatives are integrated with the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality’s Integrated Development Plan, and Eastplats participates in the municipality’s Local Economic and Development Forum. These initiatives are mainly focused on the provision of income generation through employment, supply chain initiatives, basic infrastructure, education and health-related initiatives.

PROJECT CASE STUDIES

At Eastplats we believe that education is a key driver of sustainable development within communities and therefore we prioritise projects that support this goal. From January to May 2023 Eastplats renovated two classroom blocks at the Polonia Primary School in Mmakau located in Brits. This extended to the donation of new chairs and tables for the learners.

To promote infrastructure development and improve safety within the Ga Phasha, Ga-Mampuru and Tukakgomo Villages in Steelpoort, Limpopo communities, Eastplats provided high-quality High Mast Lights in a project that was completed in June 2023.

Access to clean water is a fundamental human right, yet access to water remains a concern, particularly in water-stressed areas in Sub-Saharan Africa. To assist our communities in improving their access to clean and safe water Eastplats supplied a water tank and purified water to the Checkersville community in Brits in 2022.

In July as part of Eastplats Mandela Day celebration, 67 packages were donated to disabled members across seven communities to assist with the cold winter weather. The packages included thick fleece blankets, warm socks, gloves, scarves, beanies, a pack of oranges, a pack of noodles, soup packets,  and body lotion.