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The Kumba West Coast Classic comes to Lamberts Bay

04 April, 2014

The most highly anticipated event on the South African bodyboarding calendar, the Kumba West Coast Classic, will see the country’s top bodyboarders compete for a place in the national championship.

The most highly anticipated event on the South African bodyboarding calendar, the Kumba West Coast Classic, will see the country’s top bodyboarders compete for a place in the national championship. Taking place between 30 April and 3 May in Lamberts Bay, the biggest event on the South African Bodyboarding Association (SABA) circuit is back and bigger than ever before with prize money totalling R90 000.

Kumba Iron Ore, a business unit of Anglo American has made a generous contribution not only by supporting the event and the prize money but the company will be creating a skills transfer and social development platform by supporting a local development team, who in turn will upskill their own community members.

The development initiative started in 2009 where 40 children from the local community of Diazville were trained in the sport of bodyboarding. The developmental team of that time picked up valuable life and water skills from the Boland Bodyboarding team trainers and are now comfortable to independently surf in rough waters.

Boland Bodyboarding has committed itself to continuously train the developmental teams throughout the year and monitor progress in preparation of the final planning for the SA Championships.

Kumba Iron Ore will be sponsoring wetsuits, boards and fins to the value of R320 000 for the development initiative which forms a crucial part of the event.  The development riders attend a bodyboarding school where professionals from the Boland Bodyboarding Association (BBA) teach them how to ride the waves and compete professionally. During a competition at the Kumba West Coast Classic the best development rider will be crowned.

The Kumba West Coast Classic is hosted by the BBA, with Chairman Morne Laubscher noting that the event has been highly anticipated.

"We already had the chance of hosting four national events that form part of the SABA circuit, where riders from all over the country compete for valuable points to determine a SABA champion at the end of each year. The 2014 Kumba West Coast Classic comes eagerly anticipated and we look forward to welcoming sporting fans and the local community to the event."

This relationship is part of Kumba’s continued support and development of its host communities. During 2013, the company invested R253.7 million in various projects aimed at leaving a lasting legacy, which were delivered in consultation with the relevant communities. This support is more than just about sponsorship but rather about being active and responsible corporate citizens who add value to the lives of the local people with whom they work and live.

"As a member of the community and partner in development, Kumba is proud to be associated with projects that strive to contribute to the well-being and prosperity of local communities.  We want to ensure sustainable communities that will thrive even after our mining operations are no longer active in the area. Kumba’s approach to community development follows one rule: South African society, specifically the communities in which we operate, must benefit from our commercial presence. By supporting this event we are not only promoting a national sport but we are also promoting healthy lifestyles for the youth of these communities and developing future local sporting talent," says Yvonne Mfolo executive head of public affairs at Kumba Iron Ore.

Kumba’s involvement is also aimed at stimulating tourism in the local community to create jobs and economic development while also offering participants and the public an opportunity to have fun and enjoy time-out on the beach.

For further information, please contact:

Gert Schoeman
Manager Corporate Communication
[email protected]
+27 (0)12 683 7019
+27 (0)83 259 6843

Notes to editors:
Kumba Iron Ore Limited, a member of the Anglo American plc group, is a leading value-adding supplier of high quality iron ore to the global steel industry. Kumba produces iron ore in South Africa at Sishen mine and its new Kolomela mine in the Northern Cape Province, and at Thabazimbi mine in the Limpopo Province. Kumba exports iron ore to customers in a range of geographical locations around the globe including China, Japan, Korea and a number of countries in Europe and the Middle East.
www.angloamericankumba.com

Anglo American is one of the world’s largest mining companies, is headquartered in the UK and listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges. Our portfolio of mining businesses meets our customers’ changing needs and spans bulk commodities – iron ore and manganese, metallurgical coal and thermal coal; base metals and minerals – copper, nickel, niobium and phosphates; and precious metals and minerals – in which we are a global leader in both platinum and diamonds. At Anglo American, we are committed to working together with our stakeholders – our investors, our partners and our employees – to create sustainable value that makes a real difference, while upholding the highest standards of safety and responsibility across all our businesses and geographies. The company’s mining operations, pipeline of growth projects and exploration activities span southern Africa, South America, Australia, North America, Asia and Europe.
www.angloamerican.com