MARULA MINE HAS KEEN FOCUS ON EDUCATION AS SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DRIVER

Marula mine, part of the Implats Group, is located within the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality on four farms where its local communities reside, being Clapham, Driekop, Forest Hill and Winnaarshoek in the Limpopo province.

The mine is in a rural area characterised by limited formal economic activity, high levels of youth unemployment, inadequate provision of infrastructure and poor service delivery. Social interventions are designed as far as possible to address these issues while operating according to an agreed social and labour plan (SLP) as required by every mining operation in South Africa.

Now in the final stages of implementing its third SLP, Marula mine has spent in excess of R1 billion thus far on projects that advance social development. These projects fit into one of six categories: employment equity, human resource development, mine community development, enterprise and supplier development, preferential procurement and housing and living conditions.

A key element that stretches across most of these areas is education and skills development, which are key to unlocking economic development and improving social conditions. Marula mine’s goal is to deliver education and skills development programmes that open employment opportunities with initiatives ranging from early childhood development to higher levels of schooling and include adult education and continuous skills development.

In 2021, four blocks of classrooms were constructed at four local schools as part of Marula’s SLP commitments to help reduce over-crowding and improve overall learning outcomes.

These included the Ntoshang Primary School, Mosedi Secondary School, Manyaka Primary School and Dihlabakela Secondary School. The latter was also provided with two mobile classrooms that can accommodate a total of 80 learners. The new blocks as well as the two mobile classrooms were handed over fully furnished.

The Makgamathu Secondary School science laboratory is a partnership between the Mashishi Community Trust and Marula mine and paid for by Makgomo Chrome dividends. The Mashishi Community Trust initiated a project to build a science laboratory at Makgamathu Secondary School and the mine was approached to provide the laboratory with furniture, apparatus, learning materials and chemicals.

The mine will also assist with teacher training on the use of the laboratory apparatus. With the implementation of the project, a total of 2 877 learners from six local secondary schools will benefit from the R1.9 million facility which will provide a solid foundation for those wishing to study in the mathematics and science fields.

The laboratory is registered with the Department of Education, which will also assist with the maintenance. During construction, 13 jobs were created in the local community and the facility will require four additional educators. In addition, the operation continues to support matriculants enrolling in maths and physical science at six local secondary schools. Marula’s School Enrichment Programme, which assists teachers and students through stipends and transportation to hold weekend and vacation classes focusing on maths and science, benefited 407 learners.

Marula also supported 15 bursaries and 15 learnerships during the year. Some of the other key projects undertaken and completed by the mine have a strong focus on infrastructure development and which consider the basic human rights of local communities.

Over 50km of main access community roads have been maintained or upgraded. Over 4 300 households have benefitted thus far from the minesponsored electrification project in local communities and over 10 500 beneficiaries now have household access to potable water.

Marula mine goes beyond compliance to deliver a lasting positive contribution to all those affected by the mining operations.