Economic Empowerment
The Department of Mineral Resources awarded Foskor three new mining licence's in September 2009 and approved the company's economic impact assessments and environmental management plans for the Pyroxenite Expansion Project.
Foskor has been issued with all conversions of its old order mining rights into new order rights in terms of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (No. 28 of 2002). The new mine, the South Pyroxenite pit, has been operational since September 2009. We have pending changes to be made to the existing rights to include the additional minerals that we have applied for.
Local Economic Development
Local Economic Development (LED) is a government-driven economic growth initiative that encourages locals to pool resources with municipalities and alleviate poverty. LED was designed to seek growth and employment creation opportunities. By definition, a successful LED programme is one that is aligned to national policy, strategy and guidelines. It provides direct and hands-on support to provincial and local government structures and outlines the management of the LED Fund used to offer technical support to nodal economic development planners. LED is also a useful tool for coordinating and monitoring donor programmes and for building capacity processes and infrastructure in the local communities.
An Integrated Development Plan (IDP) is a process whereby municipalities prepare five-year strategic plans, reviewed annually, in consultation with communities and other stakeholders. These plans strive to promote integration by balancing social, economic and ecological pillars of sustainability without compromising the government's institutional capacity.
The Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality and Foskor have completed the committed four projects valued at an excess of R26.5 million over the period September 2009 to August 2014, as per the 2009/10 IDP. The completed projects are:
The paving brickmaking entrepreneurial development centre;
Rehabilitating streets in Phalaborwa;
Rehabilitation of landfill site in Lulekani; and
Upgrading the sports precinct in Lulekani;
The brickmaking project is currently employing 12 permanent people directly and there are other indirect job opportunities created through suppliers of other services to the establishment and this is one of the successful stories that are witnessed in the area.
Empowering communities
The Corporate Social Investment teams in both divisions continue to be part of different initiatives in the host communities where we can make a positive impact. Our programmes are aimed at the improvement of the quality of the recipients through promotion of education, rural development, health and poverty alleviation as part of social development. The Community Trusts in Mining and Acid divisions continue to implement the identified community projects with the dividends as and when they are available.
Foskor believes in uplifting impoverished communities by providing the means to be self-sufficient.
CSI Acid Division (Richards Bay), provided widows, and female farmers with tools and seeds to cultivate their own gardens. These ladies work together to form agricultural cooperatives, they will sell their fresh produce to local retail markets to be self- sustainable and alleviate poverty.
Department of Arts and Culture, Foskor, and local skills centre formed partnership in supporting 10 disabled ladies from Mzingazi where they were trained and received certificates on bakery. The ladies will use their skills in bringing in a steady income to those wanting to start their own businesses and this will ensure that they are independent.
The under privileged youth from local community were given an opportunity to participate in a 20-day ceramic development training programme. Foskor, as part of corporate social investment focus, assisted the disabled beneficiaries with their transportation to and from the skills training centre. This youth also received their certificates at the end of the intensive training. This programme was to ensure that the neighbouring communities benefit and also able to be self- sustainable. After their training the youth will be able to market their products at relevant expos, trade fairs and on market days around Richards bay.