Glencore takes the responsibility to support the development of the host communities near its operations very seriously. This includes projects that are designed to improve the lives and livelihoods of our local community members. They provide important skills, knowledge, and experience that our community members can use to start their own businesses, find employment with other companies, or work with Glencore. To ensure community participation, Glencore supports the process to appoint the trustees who will establish a board, which will include representatives from the local communities. The Board will be ratified by an Independent Panel.
The allegations regarding a lack of community investment are false. Further details can be found below. Glencore is a proud partner of the communities near the Rhovan Mine.
Almost 70% of employees at the are from local communities. Where the locals do not possess required competencies, this shortfall is made up through training and development and succession planning programs. Skillsets are developed at schools whereby students are supported, which can include extra Maths and Science lessons. When the students’ complete grade 12, opportunities for tertiary education are provided by means of bursaries and scholarships.
The company furthermore confirms that it is awaiting the approval of its fourth Social Labour Plan (SLP) generation (2023 – 2027) the by the Department of Mineral’s Resources and Energy (DMRE). The SLP contains high impactful projects including procurement of ambulances for the local clinic, building multipurpose center, construction of reservoirs to store bulk water, resurface of road, building sports field and upgrading the three existing ones, building high school and administration block.
In developing the SLP, Rhovan worked closely with Organised Labour Traditional Council, Rustenburg Local Municipality, and government departments to identify the socio-economic needs.
Some of the projects that Rhovan supports include:
• Community Health: Building of the R30 million state of the art community clinic in Bethanie that serves 27000 community members from its surrounding communities
which was handed over to the North-West Province Department of Health. The mine continues to maintain the clinic infrastructure, garden, payment of electricity, draining sewer and continuous improvement of the facility.
• Education and School Infrastructure: Provision of maths and science programme (grade 8 – 12), scholarships, bursaries, building ablution facilities at local schools, building classrooms, school maintenance, chairs and tables sponsor to all the nine local schools.
• Skills Development: Community members are skilled to be work ready through training and development programs in the engineering studies by giving locals opportunities to be enrolled in engineering studies through N2 courses, engineering learnerships in fitting, instrumentation, boiler making, diesel mechanics, auto electrician, portal skills and trackless mobile machinery etc.
• Sports and Recreation Facilities: The mine has built three sports field facilities in the host communities in the village of Bethanie, Makolokwe and Berseba. The sports field in Berseba has features that include an athletic track, newly built cricket and netball facilities and outdoor gym. The mine is maintaining the facilities and the plans for the upgrades of the existing sports field has been budgeted for in the fourth SLP.
• Construction of a local Enterprise and Supplier Development (“ESD”) Hub in Bethanie with the aim to help develop small businesses by offering, amongst other initiatives business skills development. This is supported by training provided by the Gordon Institute for Business Science (“GIBS”) in Johannesburg.
• Provision of Water: The mine entered an MOU with Magalies Water and Rustenburg Local Municipality to build a 23km water pipe to transport water from Kortbegrip reservoir to the host communities of Bethanie, Modikoe and Makolokwe. The project is progressing well with 5km pipeline installed and it is estimated that it will be completed in the next 12 months. In the short-term, Rhovan has drilled boreholes to help supply water. It is laboratory tested to ensure that it is fit for human consumption. To ensure that water is accessible to the host communities, the mine erected tanks in the local communities, provided generators and local SMMEs pump water daily.
• Rhovan has commenced construction of a 25MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, and the mine has already consulted with the Bakwena- Ba- Magopa Community so that the community can be further engaged for local small and medium sized enterprises to be contracted to assist in the construction and installation of the solar plant. Further details of the project can be found here: Rhovan 25MW Solar PV Plant to reduce plant emissions.
Glencore Ferroalloys remains committed to socioeconomic upliftment where is matters and our goal is to progress together with our communities.
