AngloGold Ashanti, together with Sibanye Gold and Harmony Gold, engaged with the Merafong City Local Municipality to explore ways in which waste could be efficiently managed as a way of addressing the current environmental challenges faced by communities in Merafong and simultaneously creating jobs for the unemployed youth.

Earlier this year, the three mining houses handed over the Waste Recycling Project in Fochville to the municipality.

The project’s main objective is to provide an efficient and effective service that aims to reduce, reuse and recycle waste streams such as plastic, boxes, paper and bottles for income-generating purposes; while at the same time addressing the issue of youth unemployment in Kokosi. The first phase of this project was pre-launched in September 2012.

Thabo Monama, Enterprise Development Manager at AngloGold Ashanti: “I am proud to say that the project is completely sustainable and they are able to produce 100 tons of waste a month. Initially, when the project started in 2012, there were 100 pickers – these are individuals that collect waste, sort it into the various categories and bring it to the project to be weighed so that they can earn a small income,” he said.

A passionate Ellington Gili, who is the Project Manager, took the delegates on a tour of the project and. He said that in the past they had a marketing campaign where they would wrap a pamphlet around a rolled up refuse bag and deliver them to the houses in Fochville and Kokosi. “We urge the community to support us by using the refuse bags we offer. These bags are strictly used for recyclables and they make our jobs easier. We have distributed pamphlets that provide guidelines on how to recycle to households in Fochville. Included with the pamphlet was a refuse bag that the homeowner was asked to fill, and we collected all the bags on a certain date. We also involved local school children to assist us with the distribution so that they know the importance of recycling from a young age. My team and I are encouraged to come to work every day, because we know that each picker that will be coming in on the day, will be able to put food on their table that night. When we started, there were about 100 pickers who sold their waste to us; and today almost 2 000 pickers and their families benefit from this project,” he said.

Simeon Mighty Moloko, Senior Vice President Sustainability at AngloGold Ashanti acknowledged the commitment showed by the beneficiaries of the project. “I would like to thank those who have been committed to seeing this project through – even though there may have been a number of challenges during the process. Your commitment is highly appreciated,” he said. Moloko appreciated the collaboration between the three companies who each committed R3 million over a period of three years toward the project.

Harmony Gold’s Corporate Social Responsibility and Principal Officer, George Masha: “As Harmony, we are pleased to be a part of this collaboration. These are the kind of projects we would like to partake in, as it leaves a legacy and also contributes to the economy,” he said.

Duduzile Ratshefule, ‎Community Engagement and Development Manager at Sibanye added that it has been an honour to have been part of the project. “We hope to see it grow even further as we hand it over. We find comfort in leaving the project in good hands,” she said.

Representatives from the Gauteng Department of Mineral Resources were also present at the handover. Fhedzisani Muthindivhane, Assistant Director – Social and Labour Plan said that he has seen the project grow and that it was one of a few collaborations in the industry in the area. “We are proud of what you have done. This project is proof that when we work together, we are able to have a greater impact”.

The Executive Mayor of Merafong, Councillor Maphefo Mogale-Letsie too was grateful for the assistance each mining house gave. “As many of you may know, getting this project where it is today was not an easy road, but I am proud to have taken part in that journey. I would like to acknowledge the mining houses for funding and implementing the project. We, as the municipality, receive the project with open hands,” she said.

Stanley Mokgothu from the AngloGold Ashanti Future Forum acknowledged the good work done by the three companies to bring sustainability to the communities of Merafong.

Currently the project employs ten youths from Kokosi. They have placed refuse and sorting bins in and around Merafong where people and companies candump their waste.