Anglo American’s coal business in South Africa, today announced its R28 million investment in the strengthening of institutional and human capacity for improved service delivery in the eMalahleni Local Municipality where nine of its ten mines are situated.
The company unveiled a service delivery package valued at R17 million comprising the installation and implementation of call centre (hardware and software) and of electrical switchgear, 20 light delivery vehicles and a crane truck and aerial platform vehicle.
This donation complements Anglo American’s existing national municipal capacity-building programme undertaken in partnership with the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the Investment Climate Facility for Africa. This initiative aims to create fully functioning and sustainable municipalities capable of delivering quality basic services in an efficient and cost effective manner. Anglo American’s coal business has contributed R11 million to the R120 million municipal capacity-building programme, specifically aimed at assisting the eMalahleni Local Municipality with the development of human capacity and the strengthening of revenue collection systems.
Commenting on the donation, eMalahleni executive mayor Councillor Salome Sithole said: “This infrastructure will greatly assist us in achieving improved response times in the delivery of essential services for the people living in our area while the state-of-the-art call centre will be instrumental in providing an important link with them. On behalf of the municipality, we would like to thank Anglo American for this crucial and most welcome support.”
“The creation of a better South Africa can only be realised through teamwork, partnership and collaboration, which is why we continue to work hand-in-hand with our many stakeholders – including local government. By strengthening institutional capacity for the delivery of improved services, we believe that we are making a positive contribution to the health of local economies and are promoting the sustainability of our host communities,” said Themba Mkhwanazi, CEO of the South African-based coal business.
The handover took place at a gathering of mining industry stakeholders who held discussions around the formulation of a holistic approach for sustainable growth and the continued wellbeing of communities situated close to mining sites.
Over the past five years, Anglo American’s coal business has spent R400 million on social investment in its host communities in Mpumalanga and the Free State provinces. This ceremony was the second by Anglo American this week in eMalahleni, following the handover of a school infrastructure project at Kriel’s Sbongamandla Secondary School on Tuesday 24 March.