While 2019 continues at a fast and steady pace, so do Exxaro’s Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) initiatives and Social Labour Plans (SLPs); particularly those focused on the development of SMMEs.

As a company, we acknowledge and appreciate the role SMMEs play when it comes to propelling South Africa’s economic growth. It’s for this very reason that we have, and will continue, skewing our investments towards a cause that positively impacts economic transformation.

The term transformation is often defined as an ongoing process that tends to appear ordinary, when, in fact, something extraordinary is taking place. As reported in our 1H19 financial results ending 31 August 2019, Exxaro created 178 permanent jobs through our social investments. A number we will continue working to improve on over the next year.

Here are the SMMEs that have been impacted by Exxaro’s efforts to invest in non-financial and financial business support programmes:

Siyathuthuka on the (paved) internet highway

On 12 July 2019, Emakhazeni Local Municipality officially opened the newly constructed road paving project and launched free community Wi-Fi to the community of Siyathuthuka Township in Belfast.

Executive Mayor Councillor TD Ngwenya applauded Belfast Coal for its community empowerment. “The municipality welcomes the support that Exxaro is showing towards socio-economic empowerment and we encourage other mining companies to follow suit in the quest to better our communities.”

Road paving was done between Japtha, Mvubu and Sithuthufane streets at a total value of R6m. Local Small Micro Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) were used to execute the project. Over 118 short-term jobs were offered to community members and 18 sub-contracting opportunities valued at 2.5 million were created for local SMMEs.

Community Wi-Fi

Belfast Coal partnered with Nashua Mpumalanga to provide Emakhazeni Local Municipality with free Community Wi-Fi. The offer of 10 Gigabytes is limited to two devices per person for a period of thirty-six (36) months. Hotspots are available at the Municipal Hall, Exxaro Business Enterprise Development Centre (BEDC), Belfast Taxi Rank, Belfast Clinic, the community hall, U Save Shopping Centre, and the 4 Ways Take Away as well as Kayalami High School.

The project is valued at R400 000 per month throughout the rollout phase. “Our vision at Exxaro has always been to power possibilities. These are not empty words, but manifest in the way we do things, and how we respond to our communities’ needs,” said Lazarus Ramashilabele, Business Unit Manager at Belfast Coal.

Exxaro is committed to local economic development and improving the quality of life for host communities through building trusting relationships with stakeholders and empowering communities to positively contribute to the Emakhazeni eco-system and beyond.

Flashing Lites

Flashing Lites is a black-owned production studio whose core service offerings are corporate films, live streaming, animation and photography. Founder, Hlekulani Maluleke initially battled to find clients willing to pay what his work was worth. Combine that with high rental fees and poor cashflow, and they found themselves in a bind.

Through our Enterprise and Supplier Development programme, we were able to assist Hlekulani with the funding he needed to take the business to new heights and make planning and dreaming a whole lot easier.

Hlekulani believes the company is now well-equipped to start creating their own exciting content, and have already begun working on documentaries which they’re selling to various buyers.

While these are only two examples of entrepreneurs who have greatly benefitted from our ESD initiatives, they serve as proof that nothing is off-limits with regards to the fields and/or sectors these SMMEs have chosen to operate in.

We’re making major steps towards positively impacting the South African economy while powering better lives in Africa and beyond.