In recognition of World Toilet Day we’re proud of our Coal businesses Zibulo mine for being acknowledged at the prestigious Nedbank Capital Sustainable Business Awards towards in 2014 for its R48 million investment in sanitation and waste collection in Ogies and Phola.
This project received second position in the infrastructure and renewable energy category by improving the quality of life of around 37,000 community members who now benefit from a safe and efficient sanitation system and refuse collection services.
“When Anglo American started an opencast mine in Phola we soon learned that the area’s sewerage infrastructure was severely compromised and that its treatment plant and pump station had not operated for several years,” says Mokhine Makgalemele (Thanyani does not work for Anglo American anymore. Mokhine, the community Development Manager for Coal SA was intensely involved with this project.
“The pipeline transporting waste lacked the capacity to cope with the area’s population and leaks caused raw sewage to flow into residential areas and the Zaalklapspruit.”
Zibulo has since upgraded the entire sewerage network, doubling its existing capacity.
The project’s second component dealt with household refuse which was discarded at illegal dumping grounds because of the lack of refuse collection and removal services.
“We cleared more than 20 informal dumping grounds before providing 32 refuse skips that have been placed at strategic sites across the township. To provide a sustainable solution to the municipality’s transport constraints, we also acquired two refuse collection trucks that will be handed over to the municipality once the transfer of skills is complete.”
Another benefit is that this project has created 37 jobs for full-time project employees who run refuse collection activities.
The Nedbank Capital Sustainable Business Awards reward companies that balance economic profitability with truly sustainable business practices, and put sustainable thought, planning and action at the forefront of their vision and strategy.