Community Investment
New community hall for communities surrounding Sefateng and Bauba Mining. Read the Article →
Onsite Hydraulics
We are happy to introduce you to our newest community project where we took four young, up and coming technical graduates from our immediate local communities to take part in a TMM Hydraulics tender. CK Hydraulics owned by Comfort Lekwado from Ga Phasha started their contract on the 1 March 2024 and joined Pirtek Steelpoort to provide SCVD and Sefateng with onsite hydraulic repairs and maintenance. CK Hydraulics have a four-man compliment including Comfort Lekwado (Director), Kabelo Moloto (maintenance), Tiisetso Phasha (maintenance) and Chantal Mafolo (maintenance) which cover all three shifts at the mine with Pirtek’s technical supervisor assisting and teaching them on an ongoing basis. The goal is for CK Hydraulics to completely take over the hydraulics supply and maintenance after the contract term with ongoing assistance from Pirtek. We wish Comfort and his team all the best for the future.
Waste Management LED Project
In July 2022 we approached a project opportunity for one of our immediate local community members to upskill and better their understanding of business and how it is run. Sefateng Chrome Mine went out on tender to provide a Waste Management company with an opportunity to partner up with the local community business.
Ahoy Waste was awarded the tender and their objective was to take the local business and provide training to give them an understanding of what it takes to run a successful waste management company. The local company that was identified was Senwelosaka Transport and Maintenance Investments from the Ga-Mampa community which is solely owned by a gentleman by the name of Tshipi Mokgoto.
Tshipi Mokgoto, known as Martin to the mine, hit the ground running and showed his eagerness and commitment from day one and has proved that he has what it takes to provide the mine with day-to-day waste maintenance and services.
The long-term goal for his company is to take over the full solution of what Ahoy provides us at present. Martin and his team receive training from Ahoy on strategy, compliance, and administration a few days a month to help them understand how to run their business successfully.
The twenty-four-month goal is for Martin and his team to be fully dependent on their own knowledge and skill and to have created a good
track record to purchase their own equipment to service the mine in its entirety.
Ralph Engineering Led Project
In August 2022, we approached our second project opportunity for another one of our immediate local community members to upskill and better their understanding of business and how it’s run. Sefateng Chrome Mine identified a local company by the name of Ralph Engineering which is based at the Jibeng community. Ralph Engineering belongs to a gentleman by the name of Ralph Moloto who is the sole director of the company.
Sefateng approached this project a little differently by assessing Ralph’s knowledge of underground piping and construction and with confidence was awarded a chance to start his contract, employing seven local people from the community. This has opened a door for our local community members to apply for work at Ralph Engineering and to give them first-hand experience of underground construction and maintenance.
Ralph’s vision is to train and prepare his employees to eventually be qualified and experienced enough to apply for jobs with the main mining contractor MTC Underground mining. From inception until now Ralph has been able to take his first two employees to a level where they were successfully given jobs with MTC Underground Mining. A big congratulations to Clifton Mohapi and Remember Mohofe on their appointment.
Local Economic Development
Water Supply Project
Water scarcity affecting the surrounding communities of Sefateng Chrome Mine is a sad reality, and most of the communities used to rely on water trucking solutions.
In January 2018 Sefateng Chrome Mine, Hall Core Water and the Local Traditional Leadership embarked on a journey to develop a solution to address the water delivery challenge.
This development is truly a unique project collaboration between important stakeholders surrounding the mine.
Sefateng now supplies potable water to 6000 local community members living in the mine’s three host communities. This water enables economic development and brings social change.
Introduction
Sefateng Chrome Mine (Pty) Ltd is a company that was acquired and structured to give effect to specific empowerment conditions imposed by the Minister in terms the Communities who share the land we mine from. The subsequent empowerment transaction lead to the three local communities namely the Ga-Phasha, Ga-Mampa and Jibeng securing a significant stake in all mining projects without any funding obligations.
The other major shareholders are Corridor Mining Resources (Pty) Ltd and Bolepu Holdings (Pty) Ltd both whom which have contributed significant funding and efforts with the aim to create value .Sefateng has been empowered to have initiated large-scale mining and now, the newest development being the expansion of the mine to an underground mine project.
In every endeavor, and with the new projects, Sefateng Chrome Mine (Pty) Ltd looks forward to adding value to the Limpopo region and the Sekhukhune District, in particular through employment, procurement and social financial support.
Project Location
The proposed Sefateng Mining Project is situated on parts of the farms Zwartkoppies 413 KS and Waterkop 113 KT, approximately 85 km south-east of Polokwane, on the R37 road. The project is situated on the administrative border between Greater Tubatse and Fetakgomo Local Municipalities (part of Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality).
The Sefateng Mining Project is situated in the Middle Olifants Water Management Area and is located within three quaternary sub-catchment areas, namely B71B, B71E and a small part of B52J, which are all contributing sub-catchments to the Olifants River. There are several, mainly non-perennial streams that drain the area from the north-west to south-east, all of which discharge into the Olifants River to the north of the site.
The existing land use can be described as a mixture of rural and suburban residential. The Potlake Nature Reserve and the Stellenbosch Nature Reserve are located to the north of the mine property.
Community Description
The mine’s local communities of Ga-Phasha, Ga-Mampa, Seokodibeng and Jibeng have been our partners since the first sledgehammer hit the ground in the mining of the open cast chrome seam, and we continued to have a close interdependent relationship with our priority stakeholders, who move forward with us as we take on the new underground mine development.
Sefateng has identified sensitivity receptors to identify the effects of the mine in any disruption of daily living patterns. The sensitivity receptors in and around the Sefateng Mining Project area were identified with the use of aerial photographs and these areas can assist in determining any Socio-Economic Impact the mine might have in its operations.
Seroletshidi Secondary School
Seroletshidi Secondary School at Ga-Mampa Village consists of nine classrooms, one office and one ablution block. The school is easily accessible by the Ga-Mampa community at large. The school was handed over to the Department of Education in 2017.
Community Water Supply in Jibeng, Ga-Phasha and Ga-Mampa
The host communities had problems with water supply in their villages. This project started in 2016, meant to supply both the Mine and the three surrounding host communities being Jibeng, Ga-Phasha and Ga-Mampa, with water.
The Master feeder reservoir is situated in Ga-Phasha supplying the community households of the area. A borehole and one reservoir at Ga-Mampa and two Ga-Phasha reservoirs supply the community households.
The project created nine job opportunities equally across all three host communities.
MASTER FEEDER RESERVOIR IN GA-PHASHA
MASTER FEEDER RESERVOIR IN GA-PHASHA
DOWN STREAM SUPPORTING
RESERVOIR 1: GA-PHASHA
RESERVOIR 1 GA-PHASHA
BOREHOLE WITH RESERVOIR: GA-MAMPA
DOWN STREAM SUPPORTING
RESERVOIR: JIBENG
Sefateng Chrome Mine joined Moeijelijk 1 community Association to build the Jibeng community Hall
Jibeng community did not have a community hall to be used for community meetings and functions hence the initiative. Sefateng Chrome Mine built a 50sqm structure with office spaces for administration purposes and toilets. The community provided a plan for desired hall.
The project created job opportunities from the community.
Regravelling of road between Ga-Phasha and Ga-Mampa
Regravelling of 4.5 km Road between Ga-Phasha and Ga-Mampa villages to be used by commuters, transportation, and animals. The road made it possible and easier to access schools, shops and transport especially during rainy days.
The construction of this road included the stormwater management structures and ancillary works. The overall goal of the regravelling strategy was to increase the access of the rural population, employment opportunities, economic and social goods and services through an effective provision of sustainable rural infrastructure.
Reason for road upgrade:
Status Quo/Problem Statement
The current access road is in extremely poor condition. It provides a thoroughfare for the local villagers to the schools and the mine. The access is currently a clayey loamy gravel track that varies from 7 to 10m wide. It cuts through a mountainous terrain and has steep inclines. There is visible outright clay material in isolated areas making the road condition harsh and difficult and sometimes inaccessible, especially during the frequent rainy periods. At the start of the access, it runs through a stream which, when the level rises due to the rain, makes it difficult, if not impossible to cross.