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Central Energy Fund partners with Africa Energy Indaba 2020

This globally recognised event attracts the highest quality speakers, senior decision-makers including Ministers, heads of National Oil Companies & State Owned Entities in the energy sector with the aim to address Africa’s energy poverty alleviation and to ensure reliable and affordable energy solutions for the continent.

“As the CEF Group of companies, we are proud to be part of this ground breaking energy platform where Africans will provide African energy solutions to African energy problems. The inking of this partnership could not have come at a better time when the CEF Group is embarking on a campaign to drive investments in the energy value chain geared to drive the South African economy and create much needed job opportunities,” says CEF Group Acting Group Executive, Mr Lufuno Makhuba.

“This unique partnership between the CEF and Africa Energy Indaba is to provide the quintessential platform for energy industry players to gain considerable insights into capitalising on the various opportunities presented by the continent’s energy sector,” said, Managing Director of Africa Energy Indaba, Ms Liz Hart.

During the three days’ conference, low carbon alternatives will be explored in-depth along with the associated challenges and solutions thereof. An unrivalled collaboration of this nature is set to empower sectoral stakeholders with prevalent and cutting-edge industry content. Discussions will unearth a plethora of insights for event attendees, ultimately leading the way for a more progressive, prosperous and sustainable energy landscape and economy as a whole.

“We believe that through this partnership the Group will lay a solid foundation to address the challenges that lies ahead in the security of South Africa’s energy future by engaging with various partners and investors in our quest to create shareholder value as well as addressing the triple challenge of unemployment, inequality and energy poverty,” said Makhuba.

Register for the conference

For more information, visit https://www.africaenergyindaba.com/

 

Airlink introduces flights between Johannesburg and East London

The E190 E-jets are configured with 6 business and 92 economy class seats.

Airlink is pleased to announce that it will launch a mid-morning flight between Johannesburg and East London from 16 March 2020, increasing customer convenience, connections and business class.

The key objective of this flight is to provide connections with international and regional flights arriving in the early morning at OR Tambo International.

The flights will depart daily from Johannesburg at 10h10, arriving in East London at 11h45. The return flight will depart East London at 12h15, arriving in Johannesburg at 13h45.

Airlink’s E-jet services will offer an intra-continental style business class service. The cabin layout features expansive business class seats and provides economy class travellers with enhanced comfort by way of a generous seat pitch in a two plus two abreast seating configurations. Each seat offers either a window or an aisle option and ample overhead bin space to accommodate carry-on items. The E190 E-jets are configured with 6 business and 92 economy class seats.

The flight has been timed to maximize connections for International travellers to connect seamlessly with Airlink following their arrival on South African Airways, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Emirates, Qatar, Cathay Pacific and the other global partner flights off their early morning long-haul arrivals at OR Tambo, minimizing time spent in airport transfers.

Airlink flights will operate under the “SA8” flight code until 10 June 2020, after which they will be operated under Airlink’s unique “4Z” code.

“4Z” tickets are already available through travel agents, tour operators and online at www.flyairlink.com

About Airlink

Airlink is a privately-owned BBBEE Level 4 business with strong institutional shareholders and a respectable track record of consistent profitability over the past 28 years.

The regional feeder airline headquartered in Johannesburg has the largest fleet of commercial jetliners in Southern Africa and operates more than 5 600 flights per month on 55 routes to 39 destinations in nine African countries with a better than 95% on time performance.

Last year Airlink carried almost two million passengers on their more than 63 000 flights.

Young Engineers Motor Development Programme launches first car

The College of Cape Town’s Athlone campus launched its first racing car on 8 December 2019 at Killarney International Raceway .

The car was modified and re-built by the college’s Automotive Motor Mechanics Learners Apprenticeship Group, under the Young Engineers Motor Development Programme. The launch coincided with the annual Killarney International Raceway Motor Show, during which hundreds of exhibitors and car enthusiasts show off their vehicles.

The College of Cape Town’s race car stole the show and was the talk of the day.

To many of the learners this was just a pipe dream, until MerSETA “the champion SETA” committed to fund the Young Engineers Motor Development Programme. The project officially got off the ground early last year, 2019, in April. Elbows were greased, and the team of apprentice started setting the wheels in motion. The team invested so much time and effort into constructing and modifying a racing car from scratch, using all the knowledge gained in the classroom and workshop.

It was a busy and rewarding year for Senior lecturer Mr. Mogotsi Reuben Mokotedi and learners who worked hand in glove with other stakeholders that assisted them throughout the different phases of the exciting project. “The journery was long and hard, can’t wait to do it all over again. The determination and commitment demonstrated by the learners were remarkeble,” said Mr Mokotedi.

The aim of this project was to create exposure and opportunities for learners to gain valuable experience in the motor racing sector, through the assembling of a GTI Challenge Club formula racing vehicle which include working and learning as part of a motor racing support and mechanical team. This initiative is also aimed at redirecting young people away from illegal street racing and introducing them to professional racing, in a controlled and safe environment.

The venture is educational at the core, as it gives the learners an opportunity to practice their Engineering Theoretical Training, including Physics, Materials Science, Mathematics, Aerodynamics Computer Science and in particular, the Automotive Repair and Maintenance Training. One race car is the product of a various scientific and engineering disciplines.

The contribution of the learners does not end with the complete construction of the car, but as a team they will continue to race, service and maintain the vehicle according to the GTI Challenge Rules and Regulations. Killarney International Raceway has introduced a Driver’s Development Academy for young drivers to nurture their driving skills and expertise, which the learners will be part of.

There is great interest in motor sport amongst the youth, in particular those who have an interest in automobiles, and they are the ideal target market for the College. Most of the students at the Athlone campus are already involved in some form of racing. The campus has used numerous racing occasions as a marketing initiative and has built a sound relationship with the Killarney International Raceway. The college has also been exploring other initiatives to strengthen the association, and the race car will serve as an astounding marketing tool for the college.

Entry into the GTi Challenge Club formula racing will be at Class C, with progression up the classes as the team and driver(s) develop. Student progression will be based on the placement, or employability into other racing teams in different classes, or any other sphere within racing where their experience will be acknowledged, for further development and growth within the sector.

Furthermore, GTi Challenge is about friendships, family and camaraderie. On the track it is every driver for him/her self but off the track great friendships have been formed. It’s about helping a fellow driver work on his car or lending him parts to get his car fixed for the next race of the day, and this type of environment is ideal for student development and learning.

Students get an opportunity to learn from other teams in different classes within the challenge and can even get absorbed as team members, consequently enhancing our main objective for the project, experience, exposure and opportunities.

Visit www.cct.edu.za

Putting the spotlight on investment in transport infrastructure in Maputo this May

Transport infrastructure in Mozambique and its surrounding countries continue to attract attention, particularly the investment in its development or need thereof. If it is the latter, the port, rail and road authorities have to balance long-term needs against short-term project pressures.

Under this year’s theme of Prioritising Investment in Transport Infrastructure, experts in their field will gather at the second annual Transport Evolution Mozambique Forum and Showcase, taking place 13 and 14 May 2020 inside Mozambique’s Port of Maputo.

To identify solutions, which include but are not limited to funding, senior representatives from the private and public sector will highlight some of the top project priorities and what is needed to overcome hurdles that stagger successful project completion.

“Mozambique will soon become one of the largest exporters of LNG in Africa, so there is a massive need for investment in infrastructure development,” says Jeff Blackbeard, who is the Regional Director for Africa and the Middle East at Moore Global.

Hosted by Maputo Port Development Company, the event forms part of dmg events’ Transport Evolution series which this year will also tackle corridor infrastructure and highlight best practice for its management and tools to enhance efficiency in order to increase intra-Africa trade.

Part of this discussion will be confirmed speaker Mbahupu Hippy Tjivikua the CEO of Walvis Bay Corridor Group, which is considered a corridor best practice for being instrumental in enhancing continental trade with a clear focus on positioning the port of Walvis Bay as an alternative trade route to and from landlocked SADC countries. It is evident that this year’s two-day forum will not simply be a discussion of challenges, but a learning experience for all those attending.

“Supported by Mozambique’s new Minister of Transport and Communication, Transport Evolution Mozambique allows leaders from the regional and international transport community to accelerate new business opportunities in the port, rail and road sectors,” says Daniel Bloch, Transport Evolution’s Portfolio Director. “This year, we are excited to introduce the exhibition showcase at Mozambique’s most important event in the transport calendar.”

With over 15 countries represented, those attending the forum and showcase will experience a deep dive into the Southern and Eastern region’s infrastructure needs, strategy and issues (not to mention gas in Mozambique and what it means for the traditional transport sector).

“We look forward to engaging in mutually beneficial discussions that will contribute to the exciting growth planned for the region,” says Bloch.

For more information, or to secure attendance, visit www.transportevolutionmz.com

Transport Evolution Mozambique Forum and Showcase dates and location:

  • Two-day conference and exhibition: 13 – 14 May 2020
  • MPDC welcome networking reception: 12 May 2020
  • Venue: Port of Maputo, Mozambique

Complimentary workshops at AEI to unveil energy insights to attendees

The Africa Energy Indaba is set to host an energy theater programme at the Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC) consisting of various workshops open to the public. The workshops will focus on briefing attendees regarding the potential for growth within Africa’s solar energy sector as a possible market for investment by entrepreneurs and international organisations.

Sessions are set to discuss the rising costs of fossil fuels and non-renewable energy sources across Africa, which have created a burden on the collective economies of the African continent as the development of requisite infrastructures for the delivery of non-renewable energy sources such as coal and fossil fuels is expensive and time-consuming. Furthermore, the lack of infrastructure in remote and rural regions of the African continent has inspired a revolution towards the large-scale adoption of clean and renewable energy sources such as hydro and solar energy by the African people.

The workshops will present an overview of the increasing challenges being faced by the African continent in view of the growing rate of climate change and its adverse effects on agriculture, industry and commerce in Africa. The availability of easily accessible solar energy systems to the African population will be discussed as a highly beneficial step for the overall growth of the African industries.

Turnkey Solar Solutions is to host a workshop that will underpin the joint efforts of the African nations in developing innovative ways to establish clean energy systems, especially in remote locations where alternative energy means are scarce. A case study will be presented related to a community school that has fulfilled up to 70% of its energy needs by the use of solar energy systems which have helped cut electricity costs by half. Other such installations of solar energy infrastructures across the African continent for the benefit of the community at schools, hospitals, residences and community centers will also be discussed which have helped revolutionize the lifestyle of the African people without adding undue financial burdens on the population.

A unique session will be based on the initiation of the development of the African Special Economic Zone, which will provide incentives for investment in the energy sector for national and international organisations with a special interest in the green industry development. Entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector has proved to be the most rewarding venture for many small firms and businesses and local communities are merging to bring solar energy systems to their homes and small businesses. The operational costs of developing and running industries across the African continent shall be unpacked, which are expected to be halved through the adoption of clean energy initiatives.

The workshop will include an overview of the solar renewable energy sector in Africa, which has grown from total of 18% market share in 2016 to approximately 35% market share in 2018. This rapid growth has been possible due to the development of innovative small-scale mobile technologies that have assisted in bringing solar energy systems to rural and remote communities in Africa, thereby empowering them to participate in trade and commerce on a larger scale due to access to computer systems, mobile devices and communication systems all being powered by renewable energy systems in areas where traditional energy infrastructures are difficult and highly costly to develop.

Access to the workshops is free and visitors keen to attend, need only to register at the exhibition entrance and are welcome to attend.

Learn more: https://www.africaenergyindaba.com/

South African managers turn to Guernsey funds

A scene from Guernsey's east coast

Guernsey, the specialist global centre for investment funds, has made significant gains in the numbers of funds domiciled in the island registered to be sold to retail investors in South Africa.

Figures from the online register of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa showed that at the end of January 2020, Guernsey was the domicile for 17 structures and 59 funds or sub-funds of umbrella funds, moving the island into the top three of foreign markets for South African managers for sale back into their domestic market.

Over the past three years Guernsey has claimed a near 25% share of the market for new fund portfolios, established by leading South African investment houses including Momentum, PSG and Peregrine.

James Crawford

During that period the number of structures established in Guernsey has risen by 21%, and associated portfolios by 73%.

South African managers also make significant use of Guernsey’s pioneering protected cell and incorporated cell structures for their offshore funds.

The growth in South African business in the island, which is situated between the UK and France, reflects the strong historical links between South African fund managers and wealth managers, and the island’s growing appeal for all sectors of financial management, including investment funds, private wealth, banking and pensions.

“There are a lot of long-term connections between Guernsey and South Africa and a lot of business coming to the island over the past few years,” says Christopher Jehan, Chairman of the Guernsey Investment and Funds Association (GIFA) and Principal of the funds consultancy Midshore, who analysed the FCA register.

“Guernsey is recognised in South Africa as being a quality jurisdiction, well regulated and well managed, with significant substance behind businesses, and offering tax neutrality.

“The South African market is also seeing that Guernsey fund are real competitors to the standard European UCITS model, highly competitive on cost to set up and service, time to establish, and ability to market where the managers are looking to raise capital.”

Guernsey delegations of investment funds experts have made regular visits to South Africa in recent years, the most recent at the end of February, to promote the island’s investment funds capabilities and strengths compared to other offshore jurisdictions.

South Africans often invest their offshore allowance into mutual funds operated by the same fund managers who manage their money at home, but domiciled in an offshore finance centre such as Guernsey.

Following relaxation of exchange controls, investment managers in South Africa have realised not only the opportunity to reinvest client money outside of the country, but also to encourage capital from overseas institutions and high net worth individuals into the country.

Guernsey funds offer comfort of stability, security, sustainability and substance for the South African market, and this is reflected in the growth which Guernsey is seeing.

Learn more about Guernsey’s investment strengths here: https://www.weareguernsey.com/business-in-guernsey/strengths/

South Africa Funds Roadshow heading to South Africa in February

A delegation from Guernsey is heading to South Africa from 24-28 February to promote Guernsey fund services and structures for private clients across the country.

The roadshow will be led by Guernsey Finance Director of International Business Development, James Crawford, who will be joined by representatives from Collas Crill, Intertrust Group, Grant Thornton and Midshore Consulting. While James and the delegation are in South Africa, they will be attending the SAVCA Conference in Stellenbosch.

See the delegation

Breakfast Briefings

The delegation from Guernsey will also be hosting two organised breakfast briefings, one in Johannesburg and one in Cape Town.

Johannesburg Breakfast Briefing
  • When: Monday 24 February, 7.30am – 10am
  • Where: Citadel Auditorium, 5th Floor, Katherine Towers, 1 Park Lane (entrance on 39 Weirda Road West), Weirda Valley, Sandton
Cape Town Breakfast Briefing
  • When: Friday 28 February, 7.30am- 10am
  • Where: Park Inn by Radisson, 10 Hemlock Street, Newlands
Learn more or register here

 

Africa Biomass Company: World leaders in the wood chipping industry

Since 2004, Africa Biomass Company has been at the forefront of the development of biomass processing such as wood chips, biofuels and more in Southern Africa.

Contracting

  • Orchard
  • Windbreak recycling
  • River rehabilitation
  • Recycling of waste wood
  • Tree (orchard) replanting (Eastern Cape)
  • Mulch spreading
  • Land clearing and land preparation (Môreson)

Woodchip mulch and biomass sales

  • Bandit agency (Southern Africa)
  • Dezzi equipment (Western Cape)
  • Workshop and field services
  • Part sales
  • Manufacturing
  • Training facilities

Orchard and windbreak recycling

With the use of excavators with specialised attachments and three-wheel loggers, old orchards can be removed from root to top and fed into a horizontal grinder.

The horizontal grinder processes the waste wood according to specifications discussed and agreed upon with the landowner or project manager. Processing of waste wood into a viable product, that if applied correctly, could have a 30% increase in water conservation as well as many other advantages.

Land clearing services

Africa Biomass Company is an expert at land clearing. We have an extensive range of highly specialised wood recycling machinery that will do the job quickly and efficiently.

  • Tree shears which cut and stack trees of up to 550 mm in diameter
  • Loggers to handle the timber rapidly and effectively
  • Well-trained teams of chainsaw operators.

Mulch and biofuel sales

Woodchip according to specification, collected in mass trailers or in bags and transported to end user, where it can be used as woochip mulch or biofuel.

Wood chips best practice

It is excellent practice to apply compost and mulch in existing, as well as newly established orchards.

The best results are obtained by spreading compost in the orchards or vineyards before covering it with mulch. Wood chips can also be used as a base to produce compost.

You can buy or rent these unique, patented, designed mulch spreaders from ABC.

Massive water savings

In 2017 Africa Biomass Company was involved in many projects such as the removal of invasive eucalyptus trees in the Breede River and Berg River systems.

The removal and recycling of these alien trees, old or unwanted orchards, vineyards or windbreaks can be used as mulch which are spread in new and old orchards and vineyards. This has led to a massive water saving equal to the water usage of 50 000 households for one year.

Workshop and field services

With an intimate understanding of the operational challenges of wood recycling in South Africa, we established state-of-the-art facilities to service, repair and rebuild wood chipping equipment of any make and size.

This facility is manned by a remarkable team of experienced and suitably qualified engineers, technicians and artisans.

An equally remarkable team of field service technicians delivers repairs, maintenance and spares to your site to optimise uptime and efficiency.

Parts

We have been widely commended as the company in South Africa stocking the largest range of industry-related spare parts.

Optimal production and uptime require quality components when needed. Understanding the industry through experience sets us apart from other suppliers.

Delivering quality components on time is essential for running a successful operation. Our more than 2 500 line items is made up of quality components sourced worldwide to meet requirements of our customers and our own fleet.

Manufacturing

Our legacy of innovation has been built on more than 80 000 hours of operational experience. This enabled us to develop and adapt machines for waste wood recycling in South Africa which truly adds value to the customer’s operation.

A wide range of wood chipping, grinding and spreading equipment is manufactured locally to specification, as required for South African conditions.

Bandit Industries, Inc

Not only has Africa Biomass Company built up a substantial fleet of Bandit wood chippers for their own use as part of our wood recycling services we provide, but also offers a whole range of Bandit wood chippers to clients who want to invest in the Bandit range.

We are privileged to serve our customers as the authorised dealer for Bandit Industries in Southern Africa.

Bandit chippers are designed with quality, production and longevity in mind. Hand-fed chippers are mounted on custom-built, SABS-approved trailers. Owning a Bandit wood chipper will always put you in the front seat of reliable wood chipping operations.

In many cases, the Bandit wood chipper sets the benchmark for other brands in the wood chipping industry. We are ready to supply the right Bandit wood chipping solution with advice and aftercare to your doorstep.

Become an owner of a Bandit chipper

All existing and new customers are welcome to contact us if they want to become the owner of the top-class range of Bandit equipment. Bandit Industries have delivered successful recycling solutions to basically every corner of the planet.

A commitment to support

Africa Biomass Company is fully equipped and stocked to service and repair any Bandit machine anywhere in South Africa.

We own a fully-equipped parts warehouse (650 m²), manufacturing department as well as field services to ensure that parts are always readily available and our own, as well as our clients’ Bandit wood chippers are not out of commission longer than they have to be.

For more information: www.abc.co.za 

Inspiring Mondi people for long-term success

Mondi’s significant activities in a number of key areas reflect a strong commitment to transformation and B-BBEE. This is confirmed by Mondi’s Level One contributor status under the under the Forestry Sector Broad Based Economic Empowerment codes, as verified by an independent assessment.

Enterprise development

Mondi Zimele, established in 2007, is our small business development organisation. Its initial focus was on accelerating black economic empowerment in the forestry value chain. In 2012 the focus expanded to incorporate support for community-based small businesses around Mondi’s operations. This was enabled through the establishment of the Mondi Zimele Jobs Fund, an enterprise development initiative co-funded by the Jobs Fund.

Since 2012, Mondi Zimele has provided approximately R100-million in loan funding to assist over 200 local businesses in the creation of more than 2 800 jobs. Mondi Zimele has also been instrumental in the establishment of several land claimant community contractors where we continue to emphasise productivity improvement, business administration and compliance as the key to success for these SMEs.

The Mondi Zimele and Department of Trade and Industry (dti) Forestry Contractor Incubator Programme has over 30 contractors as enrolled small businesses, with a focus on growing skills, management capability and improving their operational know-how.

We are able to maintain a steady supply of high-quality fibre from a network of small forest enterprises with on average 87 000 tonnes of the timber supplied to our Richards Bay mill coming from these suppliers.

Land claims

An innovative sale and leaseback model has been developed with a successful mechanism for settling claims with and supporting land-claimant communities. Following a successful land-claims process, communities have ownership of the land and associated rental revenues but also receive assistance to develop sustainable forestry enterprises and forestry-related skills.

In this way communities immediately derive a rental income from their land but also develop the know-how to potentially farm timber for themselves into the future. Approaching land reform in this developmental and inclusive way means we are able to retain a sustainable source of wood supply into the future.

Skills and people development

We invest significantly in skills and leadership development, offering talented individuals interesting careers as part of a global group. We are particularly proud of the progress women are making in Mondi South Africa, holding positions such as CFO, Procurement Director, Head of Mondi Zimele and as artisans, foresters, safety managers, nursery manager and in the fields of engineering, finance, human resources and more.

R8-billion investment over five years

At the President’s Investment Summit in 2018, Viv McMenamin, CEO Mondi South Africa, announced, “We focus on investing in our world-class assets to maintain our cost advantage. Over the next five years we will be investing a total of around R8-billion in our South African operations, which includes ongoing investment in our forestry assets and the modernisation of our pulp, containerboard and paper assets, subject to approval by the Mondi boards.”

Community development

Our well-established approach is focused on investing in communities living on our land or near operations. A leading community development initiative is the Mkondo Development Project (Piet Retief), a pioneering public-private partnership focused on improving the living conditions of people in isolated villages on forestry land, and to find sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty and offering security of tenure. The pilot Jabulani Agri-village has been completed and eight other Agri-villages are in progress.

The commitment to education is widespread and the recently expanded Ligbron E-learning system is now operational in a further three rural schools. Each e-learning classroom has an e-Boxx with a SMART interactive whiteboard, a digital camera, sound system and alarm system. This technology facilitates the weekly live streaming of mathematics and science lessons that are shared by using video conferencing and desktop sharing. During live streaming, the image of the teachers/learners from linked schools is visible on the SMART board. The SMART boards display the presentation and any student and teacher can write on the SMART board and ask questions from their own school.

Mondi believes strongly that by working in partnerships with government, communities and NGOs we will be able to find sustainable land reform solutions.

We believe that being part of the solution to global challenges will secure the long-term success of our business and the well-being of our communities and other stakeholders.

Part of the solution

Viv McMenamin, CEO Mondi South Africa, adds: “Our South African business continues to be a strong contributor to Mondi’s success story. From our sustainably managed forests, to our world-class pulp and containerboard operation in Richards Bay, to being the number one office paper producer in South Africa. We believe in the value of being part of the solution to global and local sustainability challenges and I am proud of the work we are doing in partnership with our communities, government and other key stakeholders. This gives me great confidence in the future of Mondi South Africa!”

www.mondigroup.com

Voorspoed Mine donates clinics and empowers youth

Free State Health MEC Montseng Tsiu and De Beers Managed Operations Head of Corporate Affairs, Innocent Mabusela.

De Beers Group’s Voorspoed Mine has donated two mobile clinics in Kroonstad to serve the local communities of Moqhaka Municipality and surrounding farms in the Fezile Dabi District.

The Boitumelo Regional Hospital was the site of the donation of the mobile clinics on 26 March 2019. The clinics form part of Voorspoed Mine’s Social and Labour Plan, specifically its Community Development Programme, which aims to uplift communities of the Free State Province and develop a working partnership with the Department of Health. In 2018, De Beers Group implemented a Social Performance Strategy with health and wellness being one of the strategic pillars.

The mobile clinics will provide a comprehensive primary healthcare service, with a dedicated team consisting of a professional nurse, nursing assistant and a driver. Health services offered will include treatment of minor acute ailments, cholesterol, tuberculosis, diabetes and blood pressure screenings and immunisation for infants.

Montseng Tsiu, Free State Health MEC, said, “It is indeed through companies like De Beers Group, which is demonstrating its commitment to investing in the healthcare system, that we as a country shall further improve. The government cannot achieve its objective to maintain the general welfare of its citizens on its own. We need business to partner with us in order to enhance a healthy nation.”

De Beers Group has a long-standing relationship with the communities of Moqhaka and Ngwathe Municipalities. Through its Social and Labour Plan, Voorspoed Mine spent R5.5-million in supporting educational projects and healthcare services in 2018.

Training programmes in the Fezile Dabi District Municipality are equipping young people with skills

Young people in the area around the Voorspoed Mine have opportunities to train in relevant skills.

De Beers Voorspoed Mine has partnered with the Department of Labour and the National Youth Development Agency on a community development programme in the Fezile Dabi District to equip the young people in the area with skills in plumbing, welding and water treatment with the aim to strengthen their employability and boost economic development in the communities in which they reside.

Since the programme’s inception in 2017, 64 trainees have successfully completed the programme, 40 of which were females and 24 males. This year, the programme intake comprises 22 females out of a total of 28 participants.

In September 2019, Voorspoed Mine hosted 58 past and present trainees at an event aimed to uplift and encourage the youth to take the skills that they have acquired during the programme and put them to economic use.

Thabo Mofokeng and Hope Moleleki, who completed the programme in 2017, shared their experience with the group and how the programme has transformed their lives. Both expressed their immense gratitude towards De Beers Group. Thabo, who started an apprenticeship in 2019, encouraged the group to work hard and to never give up. Hope shared that on completion of her programme, she applied for a job in welding. However, since she was a woman, her skills were questioned. She then decided to start her own small business instead and is now running her own steel and wood business.

Upon listening to the trainees share their personal accounts of how De Beers Group has enriched their lives, an emotional Lungile Zimu, Voorspoed Mine Human Resource Business Partner, said, “I don’t cry easily, but this is what De Beers Group is all about, this is what excites me. Listening to these young people share how De Beers Group has changed their lives just affirms once again that I joined the right company.”

PJ Jordaan, Voorspoed Mine Closure Manager, stated, “We have been running these programmes for 10 years and although we closed the mine in December 2018, we still have a commitment to the community, and we will not walk away until we are done.”

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