Making a real difference

MOGALAKWENA – The development of a new mine often breathes new life into the communities it operates in. When Ivanhoe Mines, through its South African subsidiary, Ivanplats, started with the construction of its Platreef Project outside Mokopane in 2015, the surrounding community knew they would benefit.
While the shaft sinking activities continue at Shaft 1, the company has been investing in the community as part of its Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programme. The ESD division is tasked with assisting entrepreneurs to set up and develop existing businesses, providing interest-free loans, training and assistance with market research, case studies, business plans as well as guidance in negotiations with suppliers.
Last week saw the unveiling of four businesses, including the Tlhwekisha Laundry and Cleaning company (an on-site laundry that services Ivanplats and Aveng Mining and has eight employees); Hema Manufacturing Products (a manufacturer of dust masks that produces 4000 units a day); Skhaftin Site Kiosk (a on-site kiost which employes six people); and the Bangwanati/Monkeybiz Beading Project.
The biggest success story is Hema (see staff depicted below) which aims to ramp up its production of dust masks to 6000 per day. Hema employs 20 full-time staff from the project’s host communities and are also the owners of the business. Due to increased demand for the product, two more people have been employed to work at the plant on a casual basis.
The Bangwanati/Monkeybiz Beading Project also makes for an interesting story. The ESD division assisted the Bangwanati Disabled People Project to find a market for beads, introducing the project and its talented beaders to Monkeybiz which has since agreed to source placemats and coasters from Bangwanati. Monkeybiz is part of Carrol Boyes, a leading accessories retailer that supplies stores as far as New York, Londen, Paris and Tokyo. Artists are paid as soon as a pièce is delivered and has passed a basic quality check.
“Ivanplats’ support for local entrepreneurs is a key pillar of our commitment to help residents of our host communities to build sustainable small business,” says Ivanplats M.D. Patricia Makhesha. “Of course, new and sustainable jobs will be created in the process of assisting local businesses to flourish”.