Samancor Chrome issues homes with electricity access

Samancor Chrome provided access to electricity to 391 homes through its Doornbosch Social and Labour Plan Project.

July 7, 2022

Michelle Boshoff 1 minute read

The deputy minister of mineral resources and energy, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, Owen Mashego (the acting municipal mayor), and Bertus Brink (ECM's general manager) symbolically switched on the electricity by switching on the lights of a model home.

This was officially handed over to the beneficiaries on Friday July 1. The project enabled the installation of electrical infrastructure and connecting these homes to the national grid. Homeowners in the village of Makgemeng now have access to electricity by means of a prepaid system. During the course of this project’s implementation, 20 people were given job opportunities. The transferring of portable skills also occurred in various ways.

The deputy minister of mineral resources and energy, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, the Samancor Chrome head of corporate affairs and transformation, Jomo Kwadi, the general manager of Samancor Eastern Chrome Mines responsible for Doornbosch, Bertus Brink, and the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality’s executive mayor,
Cllr Eddie Maila, visited Makgemeng, where the project was successfully implemented.
Beneficiaries attested to the life-changing impact the project had on their lives, providing them with safety and convenience.

Dr Nobuhle Nkabane (deputy minister of mineral resources and energy).

“We collected firewood and could not study at night because it was dark,” “Now I also have a TV and a fridge. We don’t have to fetch wood to be able to cook our food,” and “Life was really bad before, it really improved a lot,” were just some of the comments made by beneficiaries. A critical component of Samancor Chrome’s business strategy is to invest in the development of communities within which we operate. The community of Makgemeng Village was desperately in need of electricity supply and we as a company recognised that this could be the first step towards improving the total quality of life here,” commented Desmond McManus, Samancor Chrome’s CEO.

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Brenda Chauke received an electrical appliance starter pack and a voucher with prepaid electricity from Thabo Thobejane (ECM’s corporate affairs and transformation manager), Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, Jomo Kwadi (Samancor Chrome’s head of corporate affairs and transformation), M. Mohlala, Paul Maroga of the traditional authority and the acting municipal mayor, Owen Mashego.

McManus said that this project is a testament to Samancor Chrome’s commitment to proudly working towards an improved, brighter future, where there is light and prosperity in the development of communities within which we operate. The community of Makgemeng Village was desperately in need of electricity supply and Samancor as a company recognised that this could be the first step towards improving the total quality of life.