Real transformation requires us to think about things in a completely different way.

Transformation in South Africa benefits us all. It is a social and business imperative, through which we help build a South Africa that is just and equitable. South Africa has a difficult history of exclusion and it is this history that necessitates the need for transformation. For us, transformation is not an event or series of tasks: it is a lengthy, and at times difficult, process of change.

I believe that the Mining Charter is one of the tools that can help us transform. It is important that we understand what the regulations are and how they can take us forward as a company, and as a nation.

The Mining Charter is a document which investors, employees, communities and government examine to see how the issues associated with our industry’s transformation are dealt with, and what regulations are in place to govern this. The Mining Charter keeps us focused on measuring and taking stock of these metrics. At times, it also stretches us beyond our comfort zone and challenges us to keep analysing our business as we explore ways to meet new requirements.

But when it comes to the broader concept of transformation, we want to go beyond what the regulations require of us. Transformation is not about compliance. Real transformation requires us to think about things in a completely different way – I cannot overstate this. It is not possible to build the South Africa we want to be and yet remain fundamentally the same; a shedding of skin, a metamorphosis is needed. We have moved towards defining a clear goal for the future and this means learning anew, shifting old ways of doing things and changing mindsets.

The work we have begun at a Group level on diversity and inclusion is an example of a step we have taken to live our Purpose, which is to re-imagine mining to improve people’s lives. The transformation a diverse workforce will bring to our company goes beyond just race, gender and disability. It will build a multi-faceted employee profile that will enhance the workplace and bring about fundamental, visible and tangible change. We are in the process of creating such a workplace, where each and every employee can find a sense of belonging and connectedness. The leadership and professional staff of our company continue to change – six out of 10 of our managers are now historically disadvantaged South Africans.

We will continue to build on the progress we have made and our longstanding commitment to, and track record of, advancing transformation in South Africa. We will keep growing South Africa together, as a company firmly rooted in this great nation.

Lindiwe Zikhali
Head of Transformation