24 August 2010
Anglo American’s firm commitment to the development of communities has been demonstrated once again with the diversified miner’s R200,000 grant towards the expansion of the Thandanani psycho-geriatric centre. This non-profit organisation based in Florida in the West Rand, Gauteng, acts as a halfway house for previously institutionalised patients who are ready for integration back into society.

This latest donation follows on from grants awarded previously by the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund to the centre, including R60,000 in 2002, R522,000 in 2005, and R290,000 in 2007.

Chairman of the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund and CEO of Anglo American Thermal Coal, Norman Mbazima says that, “While South Africa has many facilities and homes for the aged, proper facilities for psychiatric patients of retirement age is sorely lacking. The home, therefore, has been designed to accommodate a need for this type of welfare service in South Africa that has been largely ignored by many influential funding bodies. We have a firm desire to partner with South Africa and its communities to the best effect, and we will, therefore, continue to provide our support and input to projects like the Thandanani Centre for the continuous improvement of communities throughout South Africa.”

The Thandanani Centre provides key specialised services which include the de-institutionalisation and rehabilitation of chronic psychiatric patients from mental hospitals and life care centres, support and education for the families of the severely psychiatric disabled patients, and raising awareness and education about psychiatric illness, particularly through workshops.

Margi King, the Director of the Thandanani Centre says, “The financial contribution made by Anglo American to the Thandanani community has helped towards the deinstitutionalisation of the home ensuring that a sense of normality and homeliness is experienced by all of our “oldies” and that these marginalised group of psychiatric patients have a better chance of being integrated back into society.”

Mbazima concludes that Anglo American will continue to support worthy causes that make an important contribution to South African welfare development.

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For further information, please contact:

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

Notes to editors:

Thandanani Psycho-geriatric Centre
Thandanani was opened in 2001 under the auspices of the Brothers of Charity, a Catholic organisation with a 300-year history of involvement in mental health care. It currently takes care of 48 residents and 10 day visitors with psychiatric disabilities. The centre mainly assists people from disadvantaged communities, and works in tandem with the complementary services provided at the Discoverers Hospital.

Thandanani’s income is derived from relevant government departments, foreign donors, and fees paid from resident’s disability grants or their families. The Department of Health also supports the centre by providing bed subsidies for all residents.

Anglo American
Anglo American plc is one of the world’s largest mining companies, is headquartered in the UK and listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges. Its portfolio of mining businesses spans precious metals and minerals – in which it is a global leader in both platinum and diamonds; base metals – copper and nickel; and bulk commodities – iron ore, metallurgical coal and thermal coal. Anglo American is committed to the highest standards of safety and responsibility across all its businesses and geographies and to making a sustainable difference in the development of the communities around its operations. The company’s mining operations and extensive pipeline of growth projects are located in southern Africa, South America, Australia, North America and Asia.
www.angloamerican.com