South32 donates 50 houses to Middelburg residents

George Maseko (left) is one of the beneficiaries of the houses funded by South32. He gets officially handed keys to his new house by executive mayor of Steve Tshwete Local Municipality Mike Masina and Paul Masia who is South32 Coal South Africa vice president - Eastern Operations.

This follows South32’s recent launch of the Phola community housing project, the Centre for the Disabled and a walk in business centre in eMalahleni last month.

Commenting on the handover of the houses at Rockdale in Middleburg, vice-president for Corporate Affairs, Africa at South32, Lulu Letlape, says South32’s involvement in the project is to assist with reducing the backlog and shortage of housing units for beneficiaries on the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality housing waiting list.

The 50 houses that have been completed form part of Phase I of the project which has a total budget of R20m. The engagement process with local contractors for Phase II of the project has already begun and aims to start construction work on 1 July 2016. The completion of Phase II of the project (approximately 70 housing units) is expected to be in 2017.

Job creation

Letlape says the benefits to the community is the quality housing units for families which translates into human dignity. Local building contractors are being used during construction of these houses; creating jobs and economic livelihood.

In another community development project, South32 has invested R5m in the construction of an early childhood development centre that will have the capacity to cater for 220 children. The centre in Extension 4, Mhluzi, in Middelburg, will be constructed in accordance to the specifications of the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development.

“Discussions are currently taking place with local contractors for various construction works. Construction is expected to commence on 30 April 2016 and completed by 30 August 2016. Equipping of facility will be completed by 30 October 2016 in time to have the centre operational in January 2017," she says.

Lastly, a business support centre was opened on 1 March 2016 in an effort to support enterprise and suppliers development in the area. This is the second business centre launched by South32 after launching the first one in the Phola community in Witbank that will assist in providing guidance and support to start-ups and existing enterprises.