Anglo American Platinum’s Alchemy launched today the Bohwa Bja Rena Developmental Trust to serve the communities around Twickenham mine. The Trust will be responsible for the promotion of sustainable community development in areas around the Twickenham mine, and for participation in cooperative and integrated development in a wider integrated benefit area.
A technical Working Group was established in consultation with the Twickenham Community Engagement Forum (CEF), which represents neighboring communities, local government, community structures and nine traditional authorities. The Working Group is responsible for advising Anglo American Platinum on the structure and operation of the Bohwa Bja Rena Development Trust and importantly refining of defined operating procedures to suit local circumstances.
Seara Mkhabela Executive Head of Corporate Affairs said, “The establishment of the Trust and the participative way in which it was established, highlights the significant progress we have made in engaging with the community as an equal partner, with the objective of community empowerment to deliver initiatives identified and delivered by the community through elected and representative structures.”
It is through the recommendations and commitment of the Working Group that a guiding Trust Deed has been designed and concluded. A panel involving the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Working Group undertook the selection of initial independent trustees.
The Bohwa Bja Rena Development Trust has appointed the following individuals as independent trustees John Motimele: Acting Senior Manager – Asset Creation, Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Limpopo; Nancy Maluleke: Executive Manager - Operations, Trans-Africa Projects and Daisy Sedumedi: Human Resources Director – Bakgatla Ba Kgafela Administration. Founder trustees are Anglo American Platinum employees Daan Breet: General Manager, Twickenham mine and Gift Adriaanse: Financial Manager, Twickenham mine.
“I am pleased to be appointed as a Trustee of the Bohwa Bja Rena Development Trust, I intend to share my experience, knowledge and skills of working with mining communities to benefit the communities around Twickenham. As a Trustee I will work tirelessly to build relationships and trust with communities” said John Motimela.
About Alchemy
The company announced its commitment in 2011 to concluding a ground-breaking R3.5billion broad-based economic empowerment ownership transaction, Alchemy. Alchemy is designed to promote long term sustainable development in host communities around the Twickenham, Mogalakwena, Rustenburg and Amandelbult operations and key labour sending areas. Following this announcement, a holding trust, Lefa La Rona was establish to facilitate the establishment of development trusts in host communities. To-date a total of two community development trusts have been established in the host communities namely, Dikuno Tsa Sechaba Development Trust in Amandelbult and Rustenburg Development Trust in Rustenburg North West. Zenzele Itireleng has also been established to serve selected labour sending areas.