Exxaro’s Belfast Coal Mine has been hands-on since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic from April to-date, which has proven to threaten the country’s likelihood.

Exxaro’s Belfast mine has introduced a corporate social responsibility programme that has benefitted a large number of local community members. Image credit: Exxaro

Exxaro’s Belfast mine has introduced a corporate social responsibility programme that has benefitted a large number of local community members. Image credit: Exxaro

Belfast Colliery, the digital and connected mine has recorded spending of R410 00 worth of Covid-19 Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) in the form of soap, bleach, dispensers, face masks and wall-mounted digital thermometers, amongst others. In addition to that, food parcels in partnership with business partners and Non-profit Organisations (NPOs) were distributed to 155 families.

The donated items have provided, and continue to present, support to schools and community members in ensuring that they are Covid-19 compliant and that their health is safeguarded against the pandemic to cushion the economic challenges that are presented by the increasing unemployment rate in the country during this trying time.

“As a corporate socially responsible and diversified mining resources company that has a vested interest towards socio-economic investment, we saw it fit to partake in these initiatives contributing to Emakhazeni Municipality’s challenges, in the process of tackling social ills presented by the Covid-19 pandemic,” says business unit manager, Londolani Rampfumedzi.

On 23 July, the mine celebrated Mandela Month with Emakhazeni Boarding School in Machadodorp, investing 67 minutes of goodwill creating awareness and education around the Covid-19 hygiene. The session emphased that this was just a temporal situation which requires collaborated efforts. Seventeen schools were represented at the event and all managed to receive valuable Covid-19 packages.

In line with the mine’s vision of taking the community along the digital journey, the mine also launched a community free WiFi spot that will be housed at the school’s premises, adding its complement of WiFi hotspots rollout across the communities of Emakhazeni Municipality to 13 sites. This Free WiFi will allow the pupils, educators and the community connectivity and online freedom, enhancing their quality of communication in the process of bridging the digital divide – the ever-widening gap between the affluent information haves and have-nots – and free access to information and connectivity.

“Our digital initiative, the community WiFi project has enabled schoolchildren in the area to continue learning, presented local businesses and the broader community with access to opportunities and information during the Covid-19 crisis. Through such initiatives, we can realise the value in the process of taking our communities through our digital journey,” adds Londolani.