Kumba partners with Traditional Leaders to support village scholars

Often rural communities find themselves vulnerable due to lack of development and access to opportunities within their areas. These challenges directly impact on the ability of young people to access education, contributing to various socio-economic issues.

As a responsible miner, Kumba Iron Ore’s Sishen Mine has partnered with the John Taolo Gaetsewe House of Traditional Leaders to assist disadvantaged foundation phase learners residing in villages in the region, to provide school readiness packs designed to break barriers and obstacles that might hinder the academic progress of young children, whilst creating inclusion through uniformity.

Comprising of stationary supplies such as crayons, colouring pencils, rulers, cloth pencil cases and water bottles, each of the 450 packs provided by Kumba was paired with school shoes for both boys and girls, enclosed in drawstring bags.

The packs were delivered to the Batlharos Tribal Office, where Chairperson of the House of Traditional Leaders – Kgosi P.P Toto, received them on behalf of the house. Speaking at the engagement session attended by representatives from the Departments of Education and Social Development, she mentioned how this initiative will add value within village communities.

“We appreciate the effort made by Sishen Mine to bring forth this generous initiative. It will indeed benefit many learners in their communities, particularly those deep in the villages. Many learners come from financially lacking families and find themselves going to school with torn shoes or barefoot. As the House of Traditional Leaders, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the CEO, Mpumi Zikalala, for her commitment to forging positive and beneficial relations with us. We envision long lasting and strong relationship with the Mine that will benefit our community.”

Thandiwe Mapi, Community Liaison & Public Relation Specialist, explains the importance of the partnership with Dikgosi. “As custodians of the local cultural knowledge and points of reference for their communities, partnering with Dikgosi is important in formulating meaningful interventions that will have an immediate impact in these communities. Education is an important pillar in our Sustainable Mining Plan and also to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals we subscribe to.

Such Initiatives are key in unlocking the innate potential within children. We are grateful to all stakeholders involved in this project, it will go a long way in ensuring that our communities thrive.”