Harry Oppenheimer House. Picture: Sandi Kwon Hoo
IT WILL be the end of another era in the history of Kimberley when the Diamond Trading Company/Harry Oppenheimer House (HOH) closes its doors for sightholder sales and diamond sorting operations at the end of the month.
The Petra Diamonds sorting facility will also be relocating to Johannesburg.
The 52.92 metre high building was built in 1973 and designed with angled windows to allow diamond sorting and valuations to be done with the use of natural light.
The future occupation of the HOH building has not been finalised yet.
The spokesperson for the Office of the Premier, Monwabisi Nkompela, said they had as yet not received any information from their administrators or office dealing with properties, regarding the lease or rental of the building for government offices.
Staff members who are not eager to relocate to Johannesburg indicated that they wanted their children to complete their schooling in Kimberley.
“It makes no sense to move if our children are in Grade 12. Some of us have elderly and sickly parents to care for. We are not keen on moving to such a busy place and we do not want to uproot our families. It would mean that our spouses would be unemployed.
“Those of us who are nearing retirement would have to relocate again soon after moving to Johannesburg. We also would have to sell our homes in Kimberley as it is too costly to maintain two households in different cities.”
Other employees were looking forward to the move as they believed that Gauteng offered more opportunities.
“We will get used to travelling further distances to work and service delivery and infrastructure is better than in Kimberley.”
External communications specialist at De Beers Group Jackie Mapiloko stated that De Beers would continue to engage with relevant government and private stakeholders on the future of its remaining assets in Kimberley, including the HOH building.
“This is to ensure that these are transferred and utilised for the benefit of the city and the Province,” said Mapiloko.
She indicated that around 120 employees from its sightholder sales business would relocate from Kimberley to a new facility in Sky Park Industrial near OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg from January next year.
“De Beers continues to offer its employees support during this transition by offering three months’ interim accommodation in Johannesburg, as well as facilitating school placements for employees’ children with the Gauteng Department of Basic Education.”
Mapiloko said 30 people who opted not to relocate to Johannesburg were offered severance packages.
She pointed out that the decision to relocate was taken following a review of its sorting activities in South Africa.
“The relocation supports government’s strategy to consolidate the country’s mineral beneficiation sector into one area at the Gauteng Industrial Development Zone.
“Taking into consideration its evolving footprint in the country over the past decade, the world-class Venetia mine in Limpopo is currently the only active mine. There have been no mining activities in the Northern Cape since 2015.
“De Beers is consolidating its remaining operations to be in close proximity to provide efficiency in operating costs, greater effectiveness and to contribute towards the country’s national beneficiation agenda.”
Mapiloko added that De Beers would continue to work with the government, key stakeholders and community organisations to invest towards socio-economic development in the Northern Cape.
“Over the next five years, the company will be investing about R43 million in the Province through sustainable projects in basic and tertiary education, health care, beneficiation and enterprise development.”
She stated that during its long history with the city, De Beers had contributed towards supporting the development of communities.
“Investments include housing and electricity infrastructure for the city, funding for health care through the Kimberley public hospital, sports development, education and school infrastructure, enterprise development, arts and culture and support for community-based organisations.”
Mapiloko added that during the construction of Sol Plaatje University, De Beers and Kumba Iron Ore, as part of Anglo American, contributed R96 million towards the establishment of the university infrastructure.
“A further R12.1 million has been invested in the university by De Beers to support the institution’s talent pipeline programme for the next three years.”
Managing director of De Beers Group managed operations Moses Madondo said they were proud of their rich history in the Northern Cape.
“We are particularly proud of Kimberley, our birth city. Throughout the relocation process, we have engaged extensively to support the needs of our employees and their families,” said Madondo.
“We also engaged with our suppliers, business partners, CSI beneficiary organisations and provincial and local government. We are grateful to the National Union of Mineworkers, which has been involved in and supportive of the process.
“Our goal has been to ensure that our relocation and engagement process is conducted in a transparent and responsible manner, aligned to our company values of ‘show we care and pull together’.”