Exxaro Tshikondeni Mine continues to champion sustainable development projects in Limpopo.

This time, the mine has funded seven unemployed community members to an amount of R430 000 for the establishment of Pafuri Cultural village. The beneficiaries come from a remote rural village of Bennde-Mutale. Construction has already started and it is at an advanced stage.

As South Africa’s largest black-controlled and empowered mining group, Exxaro is the fourth-largest coal producer in South Africa. It is also the largest supplier of coal to Eskom and South Africa’s largest producer of metallurgical coal. Exxaro operates in South Africa, Namibia, Australia and China.

Exxaro Tshikondeni Mine Manager Adrie Conradie said: "As a mining group, the challenge we have is to demonstrate that the way we approach business contributes to sustainable development projects in the province. We are engaged in several projects that demonstrate our commitment to responsible mining and its sustainability strategy. This tourism project will create jobs and develop a marketable cultural accommodation attraction on the border of the Kruger National Park."

Conradie added that the mine has a responsibility of eradicating poverty and improving the lives of the communities they serve. "Although there is still much to be done to eradicate poverty, we are doing our best to develop the community so that they can create their own jobs. We have already engaged ourselves in different poverty alleviation projects and we still have more in the pipeline."

Exxaro Tshikondeni Mine Local Economic Development Manager Lufuno Kone said the sponsorship is part of the mine’s social and labour plan. "Every five years, we draw up a commitment plan which guides us on how to implement poverty alleviation in our communities. The business plan for these youths from Bennde Mutale has met all our requirements for funding and that is why we did not hesitate to help them. It is also our obligation to give back to the communities because they are the ones that contributed towards our development."

The chairperson of the Pafuri Cultural Village Project, Azwitamisi Siphuga, has praised Exxaro Tshikondeni Mine for coming to their rescue. "We do not have enough words to thank them because we have been victimized by poverty for a long time. We will now be able to put something on our tables upon completion of the cultural village."