South Africa is an incredible nation with unlimited potential but is unfortunately held back by vast levels of unemployment. The bright side is the future does not have to be like this. Anglo American partnered with numerous black Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs, helping them to become sustainable, commercially viable and able to give back to their own communities. This is Zimele.
Since 1989, Anglo American’s enterprise development arm, Zimele, has enabled the companies it funds to stand on their own two feet and grow through a strategic blend of financial support and mentorship.
The initiative has become a catalyst for emerging black business, with the knock-on effect being sustainable job creation and socio-economic development in predominantly rural and peri-urban mining communities.
This is achieved through five funds which provide business opportunities, training, capital and the support of walk-in small business hubs for disadvantaged South Africans and SMEs. These funds are the Anglo American Khula Mining Fund, the Supply Chain Fund, the Community Fund and the Green Fund.
To date, Zimele has empowered 1,393 SMEs, which employ 25,364 people.
Zimele has achieved much in its proud history, with its model being adopted by numerous local and global players.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has even prescribed the Zimele model as best practice for companies around the world seeking to integrate local SMEs into their supply chains, having been adopted by the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme.
To find out more about the inspiring work done at Zimele, click here.