Saturday saw Exxaro Resources officially open a R36 million Sheep Shearing and Hydroponics Facility in EliXeni Village, Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape, marking another important step in the company’s commitment to creating sustainable economic opportunities and meaningful impact beyond its mining operations.
Developed as part of Exxaro Matla Mine’s Social and Labour Plan (SLP), the facility brings together traditional livestock farming and modern agricultural technology through a Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponics enterprise. The initiative is designed to strengthen local agricultural activity, create employment, support sustainable income generation, and contribute to local food production at EliXeni, eThunzini and Ezingxingweni Villages in Cofimvaba. The facility is a productive agricultural asset that can support sheep farmers and hydroponics beneficiaries in generating sustainable income, while creating the foundations for an agricultural hub that can serve the broader Cofimvaba community.
The project construction includes a site establishment; civil and structural works; a sheep shearing shed; dip infrastructure; equipment procurement; and a packhouse and hydroponics infrastructure. To date, 74 people have benefited through employment opportunities created by the project.
The facility has been designed to project construction includes a site establishment; civil and structural works; a sheep shearing shed; dip infrastructure; equipment procurement; and a packhouse and hydroponics infrastructure. To date, 74 people have benefited through employment opportunities created by the project.
The facility has been designed to provide meaningful production capacity for the surrounding communities. During the annual shearing season, the shearing operation will be able to process up to 500 sheep per day, with an anticipated wool output of approximately 22 418 kg per annum. The hydroponics enterprise comprises two tunnels, with an expected annual production capacity of approximately 90 000 heads of lettuce and spinach.
Ben Magara, CEO of Exxaro, said, “For Exxaro, impact is measured not only by what we extract from the ground, from solar and wind, but by what we help communities build beyond the surface for generations to come. This facility brings together traditional farming and modern agricultural technology to create sustainable economic opportunities, while demonstrating how SLPs can translate mining investment into meaningful socio-economic development. Although Cofimvaba is not a host community to our mining operations, it is part of our broader labour-sending footprint, and we believe our responsibility extends to the communities from which our people originate. By investing in productive infrastructure and sustainable livelihoods, we are helping build stronger, more resilient communities and ensuring that the benefits of mining extend beyond the mine boundary.”
The Cofimvaba project further illustrates the value of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP’s) in advancing sustainable development. Meaningful community development requires multistakeholder collaboration, with each bringing different capabilities and resources to the table. Through such partnerships, financial investment can be combined with technical expertise, institutional support, local knowledge, and community participation to create initiatives with the potential to deliver lasting value.
Gwede Mantashe, Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), said, “We are pleased to hand over the newly constructed sheep-shearing shed to local farmers in Cofimvaba. We thank Exxaro for contributing to the construction of this important facility through its Social and Labour Plan. Named after the late Deputy President of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Crosby Moni, the facility will support local farmers, create sustainable economic opportunities and strengthen agricultural development in the community. This is the transformation we seek to achieve in the mining industry, where mining is not only seen as extractive, but also as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and improved livelihoods. Mining must leave a lasting and positive legacy in both host communities and labour-sending areas”.
For Exxaro, this approach forms part of its broader commitment to sustainable social impact. The company recognises that being a responsible mining company extends beyond compliance and the extraction of mineral resources. It requires meaningful engagement with stakeholders, investment in communities and a long-term view of the social and economic contribution that a company can make.
The opening of the facility is particularly significant as Exxaro celebrates 20 years since its listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on the company’s journey and the value it has sought to create for employees, communities, business partners and South Africa more broadly.
Exxaro will continue to work with government, communities, and other stakeholders to identify opportunities that support sustainable socio-economic development, recognising that the longterm sustainability of the company is closely linked to the resilience and prosperity of the communities within its broader social and economic ecosystem.