Sustainability

As a company Idwala is very aware of the impact our operations have on surrounding communities and on the environment in which our members live and work. We are committed not only to minimising this impact but to helping to provide ways for the people whose lives we touch to look forward to a better future with wider opportunities.

Our social and labour plan supports community based projects from housing initiatives and paving of roads to the development of much needed skills and the provision of funds for bursaries and tertiary studies, the extension of local health facilities, a literacy programme and black economic enterprises in our determination to help eradicate poverty.

In collaboration with the Municipality in 2013 Idwala Carbonates embarked on a project which focused on the development of a sustainable piggery within the Ezinqoleni area in order to meet local demand. Land for this project was allocated by the Municipality while Idwala Carbonates facilitated the building of the necessary infrastructure, the facilitation of training for the local community members, and the provision of mentorship.

With the aim of creating jobs and skills development for the local community in Danielksuil Idwala Lime and PPC Lime recently assisted Kgatelopele Municipality with road and sidewalk maintenance.

The Mine continues to provide accredited training and specific skills transfer to members from within our SLP projects.

In line with SLP commitments on SMME Development Idwala Lime established a project that focuses on repairing pallets and bulk bags which are sold back to Idwala at an agreed price. The Mine assisted the owners to establish the business by funding all establishment costs including the building and required machinery as well as guidance and mentorship to operate a small business.  Over and above the repairing of pallets and bulk bags the business also manufactures other by-products such as wooden furniture, doors,  cupboards, coffins, school bags and school uniforms etc. which are sold directly to the public at an affordable price which positively contributes to the business’s income.  The long term goal for the project is to become more sustainable, to create more job opportunities and to produce goods at affordable prices to the local communities.

In an effort to develop exceptional local talent Idwala Lime instituted a local community bursary scheme which is earmarked for underprivileged, previously disadvantaged learners to further their studies at tertiary institutions.  The aim of the bursary scheme is to address the shortage of technical and other skills within the local community. Bursars who are registered for mining related studies are also offered opportunities to work at the mine during vacations, in order to gain practical experience in their fields.

The mine offers maths and science classes on Saturdays and school holidays to improve individual marks to enable them to gain access to further education, training and development. It also assists local schools with the funding of specialised teachers in fields such as Maths and Science.

We are committed to develop skills in line with the national skills shortage, especially in the engineering fields. This is achieved by providing technical learnerships, in-service training and bursaries to aspiring young people. The qualifying youth from Danielskuil and Northern Cape are given first priority in the process. Learners who are enrolled in the Mine’s two year technical learnership programmes exit with a MQA (Mining Qualification Authority) trade certificate. The Mine currently enrols learners in Electrical, Diesel Mechanic, Fitting and Plater/Welder trades and commits to the following as part of its learnership programme. Learners who qualify are retained, depending on the availability of vacant positions. Those not absorbed, seek employment opportunities elsewhere in the industry. The quality of artisans trained at the Mine is of a very high standard and the incumbents are well sought after by various industries.

In-service training and internships are provided to students who have acquired formal qualifications or credits from tertiary institutions and still need industrial practical training to enable them to complete their studies. The Mine provides in-service training to different students in the fields of:  Human Resources, Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Electrical- and Mechanical Engineering.

Idwala Carbonates embarked on a project aimed at targeting women and young emerging farmers within the local communities, providing them with the necessary skills and supplies to sustainably produce and sell their produce to the UGU Fresh Produce Market in the South Coast area, which was established by the UGU District Municipality. Idwala Carbonates was responsible for the provision of the initial supplies and equipment, as well as the facilitation of training in order to ensure that subsistence farming is alleviated and a sustainable business is established.

The local community clinic in Danielskuil is the only form of government health service in a radius of 50km which services a community of approximately 18 000 people. Idwala Lime provided finance to extend the clinic’s waiting room area so as to accommodate more people in a more humane environment.

Idwala Lime provided training for Peer Educators who have become actively involved at Inductions sessions, Departmental sessions and locally in the community.  On World Aids Day the Mines Occupational Health Sister, Peer Educators and members of a local NPO took part in assisting the clinic with a wellness campaign held at Danielskuil.  The programme encompassed the peer educators talking to groups of community members, blood pressure checks, diabetes, TB and HIV screening and referrals.

As a company we are committed to the development and employment of Women in Mining positions in line with the Mining Charter requirements. The Mine started training and developing women in core mining positions as early as 2008 by creating a special talent pool of trainees who were trained over a period of time and employed in permanent positions when appropriate vacancies arose.  Women are employed in the following positions: Mobile Operators, Burners, Learner Burners, Weighbridge Operators, Plant Attendants, Lab Analyst, Safety Officer, Despatch Operators, Plant Operators, Lab Technician and Lab & Risk Superintendent.

The Idwala Carbonates Community Housing Project targeted selected beneficiaries living in the KwaCele, KwaLushaba and KwaNdwalane Tribal Areas. Areas had a total of 20 houses built, thereby ensuring that 60 families each have a quality, well-built home of 60m2 after project completion. Target groups in terms of beneficiaries are families who have no income due to the severe poverty within the rural areas; and child-headed and grandparent-headed households due to the HIV / AIDS epidemic within the rural areas.

Idwala Industrial Minerals assisted local SMME entrepreneurs at Ottosdal Letsopa Township with the provision of electricity to 287 low cost households.

The constant increase in energy costs and change in air quality legislation made it necessary for Idwala Lime to review the plant infrastructure and install two Cimprogetti Double D shaft kilns in 2013. These kilns are reliable, energy efficient and environmentally compliant i.e. less than 20mg/Nm3 dust, no water consumption and no dust generated to be discarded off.