Page 19 - 100 years of Anglo American

the town.
Themba Mkwanazi, CEO of Kumba Iron Ore,
explained that as it expanded, Kumba had to
relocate residents living in Dingleton in Sishen
to Kathu in a project that is still
ongoing.
“An entirely new suburb,
complete with bulk supply
infrastructure, new houses of
all sizes, churches, shops,
police stations and other
amenities – all built by the
mining company – has
contributed to the town’s
growth.
Themba “The relocation was
Mkhwanazi necessary as the mining
operation had begun to
encroach on the designated 500m buffer zone
between the mine and the residential area.
“The value of the replacement houses built is
higher having increased by 11%, resulting in an
increase in homeowners’ net worth.”
But it has not been easy for some residents.
Pensioner Stefaans Bosiang agreed to move
The Sishen mine outside Kathu is one of the largest open-pit mines in the world just a few years after renovating his RDP house
in Dingleton. The 64-year-old lost his sight after
the move, and his wife died around the same
time. “Life has not been very good for me, but I
must say that I am enjoying the new
environment here, even though I can’t see
anything. My children are, however, complaining
that our kitchen is very small compared with
our old house because the agreement was that
they would give us something similar in size to
what we had,” he says.
Another resident, Sana van Wyk, agrees: “The
kitchen is too small and when we queried this,
they said they had added a full bathroom to
Kumba Iron Ore built an entirely new suburb in the mining town our house, which we did not have in our old
house. But not all our furniture and appliances
how he spent his money. that made it all painless for us. I continue to can fit in here. Nevertheless, the area is not bad
“It felt like a dream and I could not wait to get work here at the mine, but I go home to my and we’re closer to town, although public
home, but I had to get myself a car first,” he says. farming life almost every weekend. I take my transport is still a challenge.”
“With three friends, we travelled to Kimberley hat off to Kumba Iron Ore for the Van Wyk’s son, Sheldon, who recently
and came back driving our first cars. empowerment gift of a lifetime, which we did matriculated, says he is grateful for the
“It has always been my dream to build my not anticipate.” learnership programme at Kumba, where he is
single mother a house, and my mother is now Cappello patron Samson Molete has a training to become a plant operator. “It is a
living in a huge house equipped with almost grudging respect for Kumba’s mine workers, and good opportunity and I am hoping for a full-
everything she needs,” he says. remembers when the workers received their time job at the end of it. The only thing I’m
“I am not proud, though, that after spending payouts. unhappy about is that the sports facilities have
about R300 000 responsibly on the car and “It was chaotic. Suddenly, every one of them not yet been completed so I can’t play soccer,”
building the house, my life became all about bought a car and pursued their dreams – from he says. Although Kathu may not have a lot to
partying and girls, and it is very sad now to establishing businesses to building homes – offer in terms of nights out, it does have some
look at my bank statement, which displays my while others used the money to drag decent lunch spots.
reckless spending. But great lessons were themselves out of debt. Kuruman, Kathu and Koning Scheepers (38), who grew up in Kathu,
learnt.” the surrounding areas have not been the same says he has seen the place transform from a
Another mine worker, 42-year-old Baile since then,” he says. “small dorpie” to a “town I can feel proud of”.
Sechele, who also doesn’t want to reveal his real “... A lot happened, but it is a good thing that, “We’re not forced to travel to Kuruman any
name, spent his money wisely. overall, it did not end there because mining more for everything we needed like we did 10
“It is sad that most of my colleagues treated operations started picking up and so did the years ago. I can go to a private hospital right
this money like it was lottery winnings, and economic activities in all these towns around here, buy a brand new car and have it serviced
they went out splurging on parties, branded here.” right here,” he says.
clothes and sports cars. I am from a farming Back in Kathu, while residents still often “Thanks to the mines, Kathu was brought
background and, in short, I can say I can still travel to Kuruman for shopping, they have to life at a time when everyone was starting
walk into my family kraal and put a hand on access to far more than they used to. Sishen to write it off. This town will start dying
my biggest investment, which is multiplying Airport offers flights to Johannesburg on if mining dies, and immigrant workers
satisfactorily – my cattle,” he says. weekdays, and there’s a Curro private school, a who have become part of our community
“My first-born son completed his university private hospital, at least two shopping centres will pack up and leave – we hope that day
studies two years ago, all thanks to the payout and a busy industrial zone on the outskirts of won’t come.”
ANGLO AMERICAN 100 YEARS 19