Funding and support from Anglo American’s enterprise development arm, Zimele, has considerably aided the growth and development of a project management and mining solutions company in Middleburg, Mpumalanga.

Owing to a R1,5 million loan that Zimele provided  to owner Vusi Seroka, his business Vista Wa Seroka Trading Enterprise has substantially grown, and has been able to employ several people from the local community.

The funding was used to purchase two bakkies, buy office furniture, pay employee salaries, purchase materials and keep the company afloat.

Vista Wa Seroka Trading Enterprise has been in operation for five years, and currently has 37 permanent employees and 15 part-time employees. The company is involved in numerous projects such as welding management, electrical management, waste and recycling services, instrumentation and electrical goods, laundromat and cleaning services.

The company also supplies and delivers tools and equipment to Anglo American's Global Shared Services office as well as to Mafube, Goedehoop, Greenside, and Zibulo Collieries.

Seroka notes that Zimele’s support has proved crucial in aiding his business ambitions.

"Zimele’s financial, social and business advice has allowed me to fulfil my business goals. Thanks to their invaluable support, I now have a great platform from which to become a successful entrepreneur by expanding into other business ventures such as doing business with major industrial firms.

"On a daily basis, I am delighted by the fact that I am adding value to the community by helping over 37 families to put bread on their tables. I intend to enhance this value even further and better the lives of community members by attracting more clients, thereby creating more sustainable jobs for them."

Since 1989, Zimele’s unique approach has played a significant role in the country’s economic development by aiding the upliftment of numerous Small and Medium Enterprises. From 2008 to the end of 2012, its four funds provided R708 million in funding, supported 1,393 companies, and completed 1,972 loan transactions. Further, funded businesses have employed 25,364 people, and achieved a collective annual turnover of R3,4 billion.

Zimele acting managing director, Dr Lia Vangelatos concludes that Seroka’s company exemplifies the real and impactful difference that Zimele is able to engender.

"Anglo American recognises that unemployment presents the greatest obstacle to South Africa’s economic development, and this knowledge informs Zimele’s decision to fund SMEs such as Vista Wa Seroka Trading Enterprise.

"In helping this growing company, we are not only furthering the business development of a driven individual, but making a real and tangible difference to the lives of numerous people in Middleburg by creating employment opportunities.

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