Page 36 - 25 Reasons

nglo American Platinum might
have sold its mining
operations in the Rustenburg
area to Sibanye-Stillwater and
Siyanda Resources, but the
Aplatinum group metals (PGMs)
giant remains committed to the area through
its processing operations and continues to
operate in a “responsible manner that will
leave a strong and sustainable
legacy … consistent with the objectives of
the Mining Charter”.
This is evident in the company’s recent
donation of 270 hectares of land to the
communities in the Rustenburg Local
Municipality, most of which will be used for
housing projects. The donation was the
second one in fewer than five years – in 2014,
204 hectares were donated to the
municipality.
Rustenburg, which was founded in 1851 as
an administrative seat for the surrounding
crop and stock farming areas, evolved over
the years into a mining town with a
flourishing economy as it rapidly earned a
name internationally for its huge deposits of
platinum. The boom came with an influx of
migrants searching for employment
opportunities. Many years on, it remains one
of the country’s fastest growing cities.
It wasn’t just the population that grew
during the initial platinum rush – the area’s
greyish mine dumps grew ever bigger and Mpho Khunou, the mayor of Rustenburg
soared ever higher, and new settlements
mushroomed around mining operations’ sites.
The city has since become home to many
people from other South African provinces, as
well as migrants from neighbouring African
countries. This came with an increased
responsibility for government to provide
decent housing for residents. But that’s been
a struggle for the Rustenburg Local Construction of housing is ongoing on a portion of the 270 hectares of land donated by
Municipality, which is what prompted Anglo Anglo American Platinum to the Rustenburg Local Municipality PHOTOS: TEBOGO LETSIE
American Platinum to come on board to
assist.
The municipality can now worry less about
land acquisition in its broader human HOMES
settlements plan, which includes the
establishment of townships and the
formalisation of informal settlements – all
thanks to Anglo American Platinum.
The company’s chief executive officer, Chris TO SUSTAIN THE FUTURE
Griffith, said at the handover ceremony in
March this year that the donation was “in
recognition of the imperative for us as a After more than 80 government is the Bokamoso housing
company to play a role in advancing years in the area, Anglo development project, which dates as far back
sustainable transformation and land reform, as 2012, when the company gave an
with the development of our communities at American Platinum indication that it was divesting from its
the heart of it all”. mining operations in Rustenburg. We then
For the municipality, the donation could not may have sold its mining had to enter into lengthy discussions about
have come at a better time and it has operation, but its the challenges of informal settlement
embarked on an intensive plan to address its upgrading – challenges of the housing
housing backlog. commitment to the backlog in Rustenburg – which, at that point,
Rustenburg mayor Mpho Khunou says the communities goes was at 100 000 units,” he says.
municipality and Anglo American Platinum’s “It started with a land donation made by
relationship is longstanding. on. A recent land donation Anglo American Platinum, and they also made
“We’ve had quite a meaningful relationship a contribution towards the provision of
with Anglo American Platinum, particularly is part of its continuing internal bulk services.”
around issues of human settlement land investment, writes Khunou appreciates the fact that Anglo
acquisition. One of the biggest projects we’re American Platinum continued to play its social
doing together with national and provincial Poloko Tau responsibility role even though it has sold its
36 ANGLO AMERICAN 25 REASONS TO BELIEVE