Senior Commercial Manager at the De Beers Group, Gregory Petersen, says small medium enterprises that receive mining contracts should aim to diversify their businesses while receiving a fixed income from the mine in order to become sustainable in the long run. 

Petersen said this on Thursday during a media tour of De Beers’ Voorspoed mine outside Kroonstad. 

He mentioned the successes of De Beers’ 'Zimele' project, which was started in 2007 and was designed to support and help fund small medium enterprises, which included a number of local businesses contracted by the mine as suppliers. 

He explained that while 'Zimele' was initially a funding initiative, it now aims to help local businesses grow through mentorship so that they can become sustainable. 

He told OFM News that all mine contracts exist over a limited period and will ultimately come to an end, therefore businesses who do enter into contracts with mines as a supplier, should aim to use the fixed income to stand on their own and become sustainable.

The mine highlighted a number of successful businesses that they have managed to assist, including Blue Motion General Construction, Ramokgwera Trading and projects as well as Re-ea-ipopa mechanical suppliers. 

The De Beers Group also partnered with the Free State Department of Education and the Kagiso Shanduka Trust to build a media center at the Ntsoanatsatsi Primary School in Viljoenskroon, opened last year. 

The media center is complete with a library and computers for the learners to use, something which educator at the school, Lebohang Rasenyalo says has benefited the learners immensely.

OFM News