17 February 2010
As part of its commitment to improving engineering standards in South Africa, Anglo American has made a substantial social investment of R9 million in the Wits Chamber of Mines 4th Quadrant Engineering Building Project, part of The Wits Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment. The investment is in line with Anglo American’s longstanding support of the University of the Witwatersrand, and a focus on the development of education in South Africa.

Whilst engineering student numbers in the Faculty have more than doubled over the last 10 years, there still remains a critical shortage of these professionals, who make a significant contribution to the national goals of economic growth, development, research and leadership. Therefore better infrastructure and resources are urgently needed to ensure the highest standards of teaching continue for all students.

"With this investment, we are confident in Wits continuing its international-class research and teaching in engineering, something which our country requires as much today as it ever did," says Anglo American SA Executive Director, Godfrey Gomwe.

Gomwe says that from its earliest days as a top learning centre and excellence feeder for the mining industry, Wits and Anglo American have had a strong association with each other. This, he says, was an important factor in the decision to invest in the project.

"We consider Wits University to be a champion, and Anglo is pleased to have them as a Partner of Choice. The Wits Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment is an international centre of excellence, and provides much needed professionals for mining companies and many other industries and professions," he says.

The University of the Witwatersrand has previously enjoyed support from Anglo American’s Chairman’s Fund on a number of special projects, including Rock Art 911 and The Origins Centre. Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Loyiso Nongxa, expressed his gratitude for Anglo American’s investment in the Faculty.

"The University is very grateful for Anglo American’s generous investment in our future engineers. It is only through the support of long-term corporate partners such as Anglo American that Wits can adequately respond to the huge educational needs of the country," he says.

The Chamber of Mines building project includes the completion of the 4th quadrant, new research laboratories and postgraduate spaces, as well as a renovated library and atrium. The cranes have gone, and the construction phase is due to be completed by the end of March with refurbishment and renovations continuing until the end of the year.

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For further information:

South Africa
Pranill Ramchander, Media Relations
Tel: +27 (0)11 638 2592

Martha Molete, Capital Campaign Manage, University of the Witwatersrand
Tel: +27 11 717 9704
Mobile +27 83 399 5934
Email: [email protected]

Notes to Editors:

Anglo American plc is one of the world’s largest mining groups. With its subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, it is a global leader in platinum group metals and diamonds, with significant interests in copper, iron ore, metallurgical coal, nickel and thermal coal, as well as a divestment portfolio of other mining and industrial businesses. The Group is geographically diverse, with operations in Africa, Europe, South and North America, Australia and Asia.

Chairman’s Fund

The Anglo American Chairman’s Fund is a dedicated instrument set up by Anglo American to undertake corporate social investment grant-making in South Africa across all developmental sectors and in all parts of the country. The Fund has made grants totalling R71 million in the past year alone. Anglo American was recently voted South Africa's best grant-maker for the eighth year running by NGOs in the annual Trialogue CSI Survey.