Minister praises 'enviable' record
miningweekly.co.za
The controlling shareholder of Messina Platinum, SouthernEra, has established an enviable record for mine development in South Africa, states Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy Susan Shabangu.
Three years ago former Minister of Minerals and Energy and now Minister of Justice, Peneull Maduna, officiated at the opening of SouthernEra’s Klipspringer diamond-mine.
The company is now the second-largest foreign investor in South Africa’s mining industry, since democratisation in 1994.
Under the leadership of accomplished African geologist and current non-executive chairperson of SouthernEra Dr Chris Jennings, the company moved quickly to support the new democracy, she says.
Through the talent and perseverance of SouthernEra’s geologists, the Marsfontein diamond-mine was discovered and developed in less than a year.
Following that, development of the Klipspringer diamond-mine started, and is in full production, contributing to employment and economic development in the Limpopo Province for the next ten years.
SouthernEra expanded into the platinum business in 2000 when the company gained control of Messina Limited, and Messina Platinum, which had been mothballed since 1992, now had a new lease of life. In a short period, SouthernEra moved its mining team on to Messina Platinum in June 2000.
Development of the mine started in January 2001, and was completed in September 2002, just 20 months later.
At the peak of its construction, Messina Platinum employed 1 800 people.
Now that the mine has been built, 750 permanent jobs have been created, with the prospects of hundreds more as the Voorspoed shaft is expanded.
SouthernEra has shown its commitment to develop the Greater Messina mine over the next ten years and this will create more than 4 000 permanent jobs.
With the birth of democracy in South Africa in 1994, international confidence has returned.
The government has succeeded in encouraging more foreign investment by making dramatic changes to the mining law.
With the new Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, South Africa’s minerals regime now conforms to world best practice.
Under the ‘use it and keep it’ provision of the new Act, South Africa’s mineral wealth will continue to be developed rapidly for the greater benefit of South Africans.
“One of the things we prioritised after the first democratic elections was to change our minerals and mining regime to be in line with world trends,” says Shabangu.
This is to ensure that the South African mining industry benefits the broader South African community.
Mining has contributed immensely to the development of important infrastructure, including power stations, railway networks, roads, telecommunications, motor provision, technology, financial services and manufacturing.
The South African mining industry has been the primary foundation for the development of the country’s most sophisticated and successful economy over the years.
In line with the democratisation of South Africa, SouthernEra’s leadership towards black empowerment was recognised through the initiative of the 50:50 joint venture with Mvelaphanda Platinum for its application for the Dwaalkop Properties adjacent to Messina Platinum. These properties were awarded to the partnership on August 8 last year, making the dream of a Greater Messina a new reality.
SouthernEra took the leadership role in designing social and economic development initiatives when it applied for Dwaalkop Properties in 2000.
It has committed to spending R15-million a year on infrastructure development in Lebowagomo, including roads, water-supply systems, schools, and health centres.
Messina is assisting the Capricorn district municipality with the re-commissioning of the sewage-treatment works by contributing R20-million in capital and also contributing R10-million for the operating and maintenance costs over the next ten years. |
