Upskilling boost for local businesses
THE FUTURE is bright for two small businesses in Postmasburg after 40 of their employees received technical skills training that will significantly enhance their ability to execute complex Anglo American projects that they are contracted to.
The employees were trained in the areas of manhole construction, painting, paving and plumbing, for which they received NQF 2 (manhole construction and plumbing) and NQF 3 (paving and painting) certifications.
The training was part of a pilot project by Anglo American’s enterprise development arm, Zimele, in collaboration with Kumba Iron Ore’s Kapstevel South Project team and Tjeka, a private further education and training institution.
The two businesses currently perform construction and civil works at the Kapstevel South Project, which is a new pit and infrastructure development project at Kumba Iron Ore’s Kolomela operations.
Their newly-certified workforces are envisaged to improve the businesses’ prospects of securing further work and attracting talent, while the individuals themselves are now better placed to further their careers in the construction industry.
The training is further set to improve their prospects of ultimately acquiring new business within and outside the mining industry.
Anglo American Zimele has been lauded for specialising in creating sustainability in business.
It is focused on building sustainable livelihoods in Anglo American’s host communities and on strengthening relationships to create synergies within Anglo American and with broader mining industry partners.
An earlier training project with Tjeka also saw managers, supervisors and key technical staff for suppliers get the skills they needed to deal with complex technical issues related to their construction projects.
Lesiba Malema, the owner of Smart Valve and a beneficiary businessman, had 11 employees participating in the programme.
Malema said he was grateful because he also participated in the training as a plumber
“The value in the training for us was that it integrated painting and paving with plumbing, which is Smart Valve’s area of specialisation,” said Malema.
The assistant project manager for the Kapstevel South Project, Janus van Zyl, explained that by giving local people skills, they are ensuring that their operations in the area directly contribute to the growth and sustainability of the community.
He said Anglo American Zimele’s focus further includes a loan funding programme and helps create market linkages for businesses participating in its enterprise, supplier and youth development programmes.
Through Zimele, approximately R2.8 billion worth of contracts and purchase orders materialised in 2022 alone, bringing the total since 2018 to R6.11 billion to SMMEs from around Anglo American’s host communities in the Northern Cape, Limpopo, and North West.
Zimele’s technical enablement programme runs alongside its three main coaching and mentorship programmes.
It runs enterprise development through greater mentorship and by increasing the pace of economic development around Anglo American’s operations.
It also focuses on supplier development by leveraging Anglo American’s existing inclusive procurement spend and by helping host community suppliers access new markets
Youth development is also among Zimele’s programmes, through training for relevant skills that make economic opportunities more accessible for young people in host communities.
