The substantial and sustainable support that Anglo American’s enterprise development arm, Zimele, provides to entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will be definitively demonstrated at the 2012 Enterprise Development (ED) conference when Bustique 244 owner Mampho Selokoma addresses attendees.

Selokoma will elaborate on the financial assistance and business guidance that Zimele has provided her company, which manufactures quality and tailor-made protective clothing for women, and operates within the Gauteng and Northern Cape Provinces.

She notes that the opportunity to speak at the conference will not only provide a considerable boost to her career aspirations, but inspire others to match her business achievements.

"I am delighted to be granted the opportunity to speak at the 2012 Enterprise Development conference, as it will provide my business with critical exposure that it would not have received otherwise. Importantly, it will allow me to share with other aspiring business people that are in a similar position to myself, that through initiatives such as Zimele, that they too can obtain business success and sustainability, and contribute towards positive socio-economic change in their community."

The 2012 Enterprise Development conference will be held on 7 and 8 November 2012 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng. During this event, which Anglo American is co-sponsoring in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, around 350 delegates will be exposed to practical exercises and real-life examples of on-the-ground enterprise development successes.

The conference’s ultimate goal is to provide these delegates with the resources to unleash entrepreneurial activity in South Africa’s marginalised constituencies. This year’s conference represents the third time that this event is being held, having previously been called the Serious Leading Enterprise Development Conference.

Zimele has obtained noted success as a leader and champion in the enterprise development arena, having funded over 1,000 companies over the last four and a half years, and created and sustained almost 19,500 Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) jobs across a variety of industries.

Dr. Lia Vangelatos, acting head of Zimele, concludes that the conference will make a real difference to enterprise development in South Africa.

"The conference will essentially allow numerous important stakeholders to be far better versed in the intricacies of enterprise development.  Subsequently, these stakeholders will be equipped to develop the growth of this sector in South Africa, and facilitate and create wide-ranging positive economic and social impacts."

Ends

For further information, please contact:

South Africa
Hulisani Rasivhaga, Media Relations
Tel: +27 (0)11 638 4401

Notes to editors:

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. Anglo American’s portfolio of mining businesses spans bulk commodities – iron ore and manganese, metallurgical coal and thermal coal; base metals – copper and nickel; and precious metals and minerals – in which it is a global leader in both platinum and diamonds.  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, extensive pipeline of growth projects and exploration activities span southern Africa, South America, Australia, North America, Asia and Europe. www.angloamerican.com

About Zimele

Since 1989, Zimele has successfully empowered numerous black Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs, and generated sustainable job creation and socio-economic development in predominantly peri-urban mining communities.

Zimele enables the companies it invests in to stand on their own feet and to grow, through a strategic blend of financial support and mentorship.

This is achieved through four funds which provide business opportunities, training, capital and networking hubs for historically disadvantaged South Africans (HDSAs) and SMEs. These funds are the Anglo American Khula Mining Fund, the Supply Chain Fund, the Community Fund and the Green Fund.