Leading mining organisation Exxaro aims to create significant value for all its stakeholders and contribute meaningfully to the South African economy. The resource company’s Leeuwpan Coal Mine views itself as a tenant in the Victor Khanye Local Municipality (VKLM) and, as such, has established a positive relationship with the host community – a key to the mine’s success and growth.

Mangaliso Sethethi, Leeuwpan Business Unit Manager, commented, “Our purpose is to create economic diversification to limit dependency on the mine while building resilient and self-sufficient communities in the long run. We are doing this by implementing local development initiatives to improve social infrastructure and education as well as promoting employment and local procurement.”

Exxaro’s Education and Learner Development programme is a prime example of such an initiative that yielded excellent results for local schools in the VKLM district. Four of the top five Grade 12 National Senior Certificate (NSC) High Schools in the VKLM district were part of this successful project in 2019, as outlined below.

• Mafa Max Motloung Secondary School placed first in the circuit with a 95% pass rate.
• Botleng Secondary School placed third in the circuit with an 83% pass rate.
• Phaphamani Secondary School placed fourth in the circuit with a 65% pass rate.
• Swartklip Combined School placed fifth in the circuit with a 56% pass rate.

This project specifically focused on improving the pass rate in these schools, looking at the top learners per school with the most potential. It also considered learners that achieved good grades to receive bursaries at organisations after they had completed high school.

Leeuwpan Mine also sponsored a holiday programme in March, June and September 2019 for learners to attend during their school holidays and on Saturdays, which proved to be another success. Transport and catering were also provided for the students at the hosting school, Mafa Max Motloung Secondary School. In turn, the programme created nine local jobs.

“Exxaro believes in creating opportunities to develop exceptional young people. Education is vital to the future of our continent, and we take pride in our alignment and congratulate all of the learners that passed,” concluded Sethethi.