Page 3 - 25 Reasons

A KEY

COG IN SA’S

ECONOMY

‘‘

The Anglo American of
the past 25 years has
transformed into a

partner to government,
labour and civil society in

South Africa’s evolving
social compact Mondli Makhanya, editor in chief of City Press

hen he opened the Mining Indaba in Cape Town that formal democracy was the platform on which the new republic
in 2017, former president Thabo Mbeki spoke would be built, the enormity of the task of undoing the past and
eloquently about the role of mining in “providing creating a competitive and humane nation soon dawned on leaders
all humanity with the material resources” with and ordinary citizens. It became clear that this was not a task that
which to make the goods that “help define a government could carry out alone. All hands had to be on deck, as
Wbetter life for all”. the saying goes.
“In other words,” Mbeki told the leaders of the world’s mining The myriad challenges ranged from economic inclusiveness and
industry, “it would not be possible to provide the goods and dealing with a skewed and disastrous health system to creating a
services which humanity needs to better the human condition literate and numerate populace. In addition, South Africa’s forging of
without the provision by the mining industry of the metals, minerals nationhood and reintegration into the global community coincided
and fuels that make it possible for this humanity to produce these with the most rapid technological advancement in human history.
goods and services.” There was no time for catching up. We had to plough right in and
He stressed the importance of the mining industry for Africa; many cope with the forces of globalisation. Humanity was also awakening to
of whose countries are highly dependent on extractive industries. the reality of how we were destroying our planet and how many
This made mining companies very important players, hence the great economic development models were not sustainable.
need for corporate citizenship on the part of those that operate on Global movements fighting for the rights of marginalised peoples
the continent. were gaining momentum and those who held traditional power – such
“I am convinced that, in this context, our companies or corporations as governments and corporations – were no longer able to rule the
must truly focus on the very important matter of what the concept world.
and practice of ‘corporate citizenship’ actually means,” added Mbeki. This is where the role of a company such as Anglo American
Fortunately, this concept does not need to be explained to Anglo became important. As one of the de facto leaders of South Africa Inc
American, the colossus that straddles the South African mining and one of the architects of the detente that led to the negotiated
industry and is such a key cog in the country’s economy. As is settlements, Anglo American had to do more than just generate
evident in the pages that follow, both from interviews with Anglo returns for shareholders, pay wages and contribute taxes to the fiscus.
American leaders and the stories from the ground, the ethos is A larger, more active and activist role was required.
entrenched in the psyche and business practice of the company. In this publication, you will see how that role was played at macro
From being seen as a beneficiary of the apartheid government’s and micro level, and you will learn about how the company intends
more egregious policies, the Anglo American of the past 25 years has to continue to play this role.
transformed into a partner to government, labour and civil society in Has it been enough? Definitely not. Have the interventions and
South Africa’s evolving social compact. policies of the post-apartheid Anglo American been enough to
This was important in a country that had been given an ameliorate the past? Certainly not. Are the visions and plans bold
opportunity to remake itself from scratch. When the new South Africa enough? Only history will tell.
was born in 1994, the concept of freedom to many was that What is important is that the company is not shying away from
liberation simply meant a political democracy. While it was true taking a leadership role as our republic grows into a mature adult.
ANGLO AMERICAN 25 REASONS TO BELIEVE 3