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150 students from Anglo American’s mining communities are ready to take on the world with new Google skills

30 March, 2022

More than 150 students from Anglo American’s mining communities across the country are ready to take up information and communications technology (ICT) jobs and opportunities after successfully completing a series of Google certificate courses.

The students who belonged to the class of 2021 matriculants, completed the courses in IT Support, UX/UI Design, Project Management, and Data Analytics through the Anglo American Google IT sprint in 2021.

The Google IT Sprint forms part of the Anglo American SA Education Program contained in Anglo American’s Sustainable Mining Plan, which aims to create skills and economic prosperity in the communities in which it operates.

This month, the students received their certifications, with the top 4 students winning additional cash prizes and a device. The top achievers included Fatima Milazi from Mpumalanga; Mudumani Rhulani and Mohlabya Matlakala both from Limpopo; and Gorataona Dikwidi from the Northern Cape. Having completed the courses while still writing matric exams, they now have the chance to get their feet into a local ICT industry which is constantly looking for skills.

“The opportunity helped me with career development and gaining IT skills and to get a better idea of what career I want to follow. The discipline of the course also helped me do better in my schoolwork,” said Rhulani.

“I learnt a lot from the course. It gave me a chance to explore more of the IT world, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds,” said Milazi.

“ICT skills and career opportunities are a big part of our Education Programmes and journey in our communities. It’s important that our learners not only get access to post-schooling opportunities in this field but also build foundational ICT skills to thrive in their communities and workplace,” said Zaheera Soomar, Anglo American’s Head of Education and Community Skills.

Apart from providing a laptop and data to the students, 130 of the company’s employees volunteered to spend at least one hour of their own time a month, to guide the students through the courses.

Oswell Muzanenhama, an IT technician in Anglo American’s Global IM division, said information technology was opening a world of opportunities for young people in fields like software development, networking, and hardware.

“We’re living in a digital age, where everything revolves around technology. IT is not just impacting the mining industry: it’s literally changing lives and communities. I want students to know how marvellous the world of IT is. These courses can open their minds to greater possibilities in medical advancement, machine learning, and any field of study you might think of,” said Muzanenhama.

Jayne Wagner, a systems enablement advisor in Anglo American’s supply chain division, said her passion for education saw her volunteer ‘almost instantly’. “One of the best investments we can make in our country is to give our kids an education. I did most of my post-school studies by correspondence while working and raising a family. I know how difficult it can be, and I know the benefits those extra qualifications bring. These learners are our future, and we need to equip them to face the challenges they will encounter,” she said.

About the Anglo American Education programme

The Anglo American South Africa Education Programme aims to improve learners’ educational outcomes and quality passes through addressing some of the underlying reasons for poor education outcomes by supporting school management teams, governing bodies, principals, and teaching staff. The programme forms part of Anglo American’s Sustainable Mining Plan, and one of its pillars is to create thriving communities close to its operations, with education as a key building block.

The programme has set ambitious learner-focussed targets, including:

  • 90% of learners aged five meeting the minimum requirements for school readiness
  • 90% of grade 3 learners passing with at least 50% in Numeracy and Literacy
  • 75% of grade 6 learners passing with at least 50% in Mathematics and English First Additional Language
  • 90% matriculation pass rate, with a 50% university entrance
  • 65% of grade 12 learners passing with at least 50% in Mathematics

For further information, please contact:

Media Investors
UK UK
James Wyatt-Tilby Paul Galloway
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8759 Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8718
Marcelo Esquivel Emma Waterworth
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8891 Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8574
Katie Ryall Juliet Newth
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8935 Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8830
South Africa Michelle Jarman
Nevashnee Naicker Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 1494
Tel: +27 (0)11 638 3189  
Sibusiso Tshabalala  
Email: [email protected]  
Tel: +27 (0)11 638 2175

Notes to editors:

Anglo American is a leading global mining company and our products are the essential ingredients in almost every aspect of modern life. Our portfolio of world-class competitive operations, with a broad range of future development options, provides many of the future-enabling metals and minerals for a cleaner, greener, more sustainable world and that meet the fast growing every day demands of billions of consumers. With our people at the heart of our business, we use innovative practices and the latest technologies to discover new resources and to mine, process, move and market our products to our customers – safely and sustainably.

As a responsible producer of diamonds (through De Beers), copper, platinum group metals, premium quality iron ore and metallurgical coal for steelmaking, and nickel – with crop nutrients in development – we are committed to being carbon neutral across our operations by 2040. More broadly, our Sustainable Mining Plan commits us to a series of stretching goals to ensure we work towards a healthy environment, creating thriving communities and building trust as a corporate leader. We work together with our business partners and diverse stakeholders to unlock enduring value from precious natural resources for the benefit of the communities and countries in which we operate, for society as a whole, and for our shareholders. Anglo American is re-imagining mining to improve people’s lives.

www.angloamerican.com

Forward-looking statements:

This document includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document, including, without limitation, those regarding Anglo American’s financial position, business, acquisition and divestment strategy, dividend policy, plans and objectives of management for future operations (including development plans and objectives relating to Anglo American’s products, production forecasts and Ore Reserve and Mineral Resource positions) and environmental, social and corporate governance goals and aspirations, are forward-looking statements. By their nature, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Anglo American or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Anglo American’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which Anglo American will operate in the future. Important factors that could cause Anglo American’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, levels of actual production during any period, levels of global demand and commodity market prices, mineral resource exploration and development capabilities, recovery rates and other operational capabilities, safety, health or environmental incidents, the effects of global pandemics and outbreaks of infectious diseases, the outcome of litigation or regulatory proceedings, the availability of mining and processing equipment, the ability to produce and transport products profitably, the availability of transport infrastructure, the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on market prices and operating costs, the availability of sufficient credit, the effects of inflation, political uncertainty and economic conditions in relevant areas of the world, the actions of competitors, activities by courts, regulators and governmental authorities such as in relation to permitting or forcing closure of mines and ceasing of operations or maintenance of Anglo American’s assets and changes in taxation or safety, health, environmental or other types of regulation in the countries where Anglo American operates, conflicts over land and resource ownership rights and such other risk factors identified in Anglo American’s most recent Annual Report. Forward-looking statements should, therefore, be construed in light of such risk factors and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Anglo American expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking (except as required by applicable law, the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, the UK Listing Rules, the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority, the Listings Requirements of the securities exchange of the JSE Limited in South Africa, the SIX Swiss Exchange, the Botswana Stock Exchange and the Namibian Stock Exchange and any other applicable regulations) to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Anglo American’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Nothing in this document should be interpreted to mean that future earnings per share of Anglo American will necessarily match or exceed its historical published earnings per share. Certain statistical and other information about Anglo American included in this document is sourced from publicly available third party sources. As such it has not been independently verified and presents the views of those third parties, but may not necessarily correspond to the views held by Anglo American and Anglo American expressly disclaims any responsibility for, or liability in respect of, such information.