Safety is our number one priority – not just for our employees at our sites. The safety and security of our communities is equally important to us. Many community members, including our own employees, travel from their homes to work in the darker hours of the day. Good street lighting makes a difference in reducing crime incidents in the community, creating safer neighbourhoods.

As part of the Vametco Social Labour Plan (SLP), we are installing solar high mast lights, in partnership with the Madibeng Local Municipality. Equipped with solar technology, the lights will stay on despite loadshedding.

The communities of Rankotea, Switch and Thetele and Ward 21 are currently benefiting from this initiative, as we roll out the solar high mast lights in the area.

To maximise the impact of the project on the local community and ensure economic benefit for local businesses, Vametco has appointed service providers from the same communities where the installations are taking place.

The expected spend for this project is over R4 million (US$0,2 million). It will create much-needed economic spin-offs, such as job opportunities for locals and support for emerging entrepreneurs who are now afforded the opportunity to do business with Bushveld Minerals.

Molebogeng Day Care Centre is an early learning centre situated at Mothotlung Ward 20, which falls under Madibeng Local Municipality.

The centre was built by Vametco in 1991 as part of a mining community development project and handed over to the community.

The centre presently enrols 24 toddlers from Mothotlung and neighbouring communities. The building has 13 rooms comprising classrooms, a kitchen, toilets and sleeping rooms. There are three caregivers who take care of the children daily.

In 2022, Bushveld Vametco started renovations on the building and playgrounds, which were in a poor state of maintenance and posing a safety risk. A local contractor carried out the refurbishment to make the environment more conducive to effective learning and teaching children. The project involved the renovation of the bathrooms, classrooms, playing field and the fixing of windows and ceilings.

One of the caregivers, Isabella Manthoko, has this to say about the involvement of Bushveld Vametco: "I was hopeless before the Vametco refurbishment project, because our enrolment numbers were dwindling due to parents fearing for the safety of the environment. Ever since the project was completed, more parents have started 2023 enrolment and numbers are looking good."

Bushveld Minerals has appointed a local service provider to assist with Phase 1 of infrastructure development at the Mothotlung sports complex.

This initial phase of the project includes putting up a fence around the sports field. Various activities in the sports complex, such as the clubhouse renovation, planting grass in the soccer field, an irrigation system, and construction of a grandstand, will follow.

During the construction phase, the project is estimated to create twenty temporary job opportunities for local community members.

The project's first phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

Bushveld Vametco is in the process of upgrading a community sports field in Rankotea.

The upgrading work will include putting up a fence around the stadium, fixing the goal posts, and the installation of a sprinkler system.

A local service provider was recently appointed to assist with project implementation, and approximately eight local people are expected to be employed during the construction phase.

The project is expected to be completed by end of 2023.

Bushveld Minerals is working with Madibeng Local Municipality to augment water provision in the Rankotea area.

This project entails drilling and equipping additional boreholes, installing water tanks, and placing communal taps next to the boreholes.

Instead of connecting these boreholes to the Eskom line, they will utilise a solar energy system.

During the construction phase, approximately five people will be employed.

The project is currently at a feasibility stage and expected to be completed by Q1 of 2023.

Bushveld Minerals will contribute a total budget of R2 million to this project.

The mine has started working with Madibeng Local Municipality to re-gravel some of the local roads in Rankotea, Switch and Thetele, and Ward 21.

This road improvement project is part of the municipality’s IDP infrastructure development programmes.

The project is currently at a feasibility stage and discussions with service providers assisting with the project scopes and designs are currently underway.

It is estimated that at least twenty people will be employed during the construction stage. The expected project completion date is Q1 of 2023.

Bushveld Minerals has set aside a total budget of R3 million for this project.

The Uitvalgrond community, one of the Bushveld Vametco’s host communities, has been experiencing challenges accessing clean drinking water.

Although there are water systems in place in this community, the main borehole that supplies water to the community reticulation system has stopped working, and the energy supply to the system is also damaged.

We have worked with the community to repair the main borehole pump. The first phase was completed in 2022 and the community is now able to access clean water.

Bushveld Minerals contributed R125 000 towards this phase and will continue with the second phase in 2023.

The second phase will involve fixing the reticulation system and equipping all the other outstanding boreholes in Uitvalgrond.