When Jehovha Jaira Trading Enterprise (JJ Trading), a Lephalale-based mining services company owned by Shirley Mnisi, had to temporarily lay off 91 employees at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown, Exxaro's ESD programme intervened with a R1.3 million interest-free loan to save the jobs and ramp up operations. The company had already paid off a R10 million loan provided by Exxaro in 2018. One of the first beneficiaries of our ESD programme, funding was initially provided to refinance existing assets and purchase a 40-seater bus to transport employees. The company has grown from 175 employees to 254 since 2018.