The key strategies for Wesizwe to achieve integration between social and economic sustainability are:
- Diversification of land use and mining infrastructure to provide an enabling environment for other forms of economic and social activity; and
- Employing revenue from the exploitation of the non-renewable resource (platinum group metals) to establish sustainable economic activities such as agriculture, tourism etc.
Wesizwe’s model for community development (shown below) seeks to:
- Create a sustainable long-term economic engine for the community to provide for self-sufficiency; and
- Develop the institutional capacity to enable the community to manage its assets and resources.
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Wesizwe supports and uplifts communities by addressing both social and economic needs. This includes creating opportunities for economic initiatives at community level, which provide a basis for sustainable economic development during mining operations and after mine closure. The company’s responsibility is to:
- Ensure skills development and transfer;
- Prioritise job creation and employment;
- Contribute towards community development;
- Reduce poverty as measured against specific targets;
- Improve or build basic infrastructure;
- Contribute towards community education and capacity building; and
- Encourage a sense of community.
Some of Wesizwe’s current Corporate Social Investment initiatives are:
- Bricklaying and carpentry training recognised by the Construction SETA;
- First aid training of community members;
- Adult Basic Education and Training programmes;
- Computer skills training for high school learners;
- Post matric academic enrichment training in partnership with EDUMAP;
- Water supply improvement project for the local community; and
- Craft manufacturing and sales skills development for the tourism industry.
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