Community

BBBEE enterprise development and the creation of sustainable employment are the focus areas of Sentula’s community development programme, which seeks to uplift the people who reside in all our areas of operation.

Our social footprint in South Africa includes the communities of eMahlaleni, Middelburg and Komatipoort region in Mpumalanga as well as Steelpoort in the Limpopo province. In addition, through Geosearch, our footprint is extended across 12 countries on the African
continent.

Corporate social investment

Many of the communities that reside around our operations are faced with a multitude of socio-economic challenges, including poverty, unemployment and HIV/ Aids. Apart from the Sentula Transformation Trust’s contribution to socio-economic development, the Group invests financial and human capital into various charitable causes as well as into awareness creation on HIV/Aids.

Benicon supports the non-profit organisation Faith at Work, which provides employees, their families and members of the Witbank community with counselling and support for a range of social issues. Other community social investment includes regular donations to Witbank for Christ, Life Abundance Church and Rotary. 

Ritchie has a policy of assisting local schools. In accordance with this policy, it has assisted Greendale School on a number of occasions, both financially and by providing the school with coal. JEF donates monthly to the Middelburg Hospice and other charities.

Nkomati assists the local community on an ad hoc basis. This includes the grading of roads and the provision of bursaries for local people. It is in constant communication with the local municipality regarding community investment. 

Community engagement

Our Nkomati mine is situated in close proximity to the Kwa-Lungelane, Mawewe and Motsamu traditional authorities and we employ almost exclusively from these communities. We also make a concerted effort to ensure that our activities do not negatively impact the people living in this area. 

Nkomati is in the process of applying for various environmental authorisations. As part of the application process, meetings are held with the various communities in order to facilitate information sharing. 

Environmental and social complaints

Sentula views environmental and social complaints in a very serious light and appropriate action is taken to mitigate these occurrences.

Complaints received with regard to Nkomati Anthracite have been responded to and, where appropriate, action taken. Complaints regarding environmental issues such as blasting effects, access, and communication were all recorded. We continue to engage the community and the relevant authorities to resolve these issues.