we celebrate the outstanding PeoPle oF KuMba iron ... - Words' Worth

category:
Sustainability
sustainability
category:
Sustainability
sustainability
What the judges looked for:
• The difference that the person or team has made whether in terms of benefits to the communities and societies
in which we operate or the way we are reducing our impact on the environment (through better use of resources,
recycling or reducing carbon emissions).
Gold
t
Cultivating fruitful
relationships
Individual: Oduetse Kolberg
Alta Buys, Toekie Schoeman, Ricardo van Staden and Nanabi Tsheko.
Oduetse’s remarkable negotiation skills fostered positive stakeholder engagement
and ensured that one of Sishen Mine’s principal SLP projects was successfully
initiated at the end of 2010.
His dedication and willingness to attend protracted community meetings after
hours ensured that the Manyeding Cultivation Project has become one of Sishen
Mine’s many sustainable success stories.
The Manyeding Cultivation Project was a very sensitive initiative as the project
was implemented in an area known for conflict between tribal authorities and
residents regarding the ownership and rights to water from the seven natural
springs in the area.
The project initially experienced many setbacks, including political interference.
However, Oduetse remained single-minded throughout the process, maintaining
high levels of professionalism that fostered stakeholders’ trust in Sishen Mine. This
was so evident that community beneficiaries refused to talk to any stakeholders
unless Sishen Mine facilitated the discussion.
The successful roll-out of this showcase project is an outstanding achievement,
particularly considering that similar projects were unsuccessfully piloted three times
before in this community. Oduetse’s involvement in establishing and facilitating
communication between the Manyeding community and Sishen Mine has
successfully forged an exclusive, much sought-after partnership.
During the launch ceremony, the tribal chief referred to Oduetse as one
of the tribe’s brothers — a rare honour and fitting tribute to one man’s unique
negotiating skills.
Oduetse Kolberg.
This project has also been nominated
for Anglo American’s global
recognition system, Applaud.
t
Silver
Dedicated leadership and unremitting teamwork
Team: Alta Buys, ML De Klerk, LD Diphapo, F Douglas, LP Maclyn, OL Monnaatlale, HB Nel,
TM Nkwatswang, GE Schoeman, IB Seribe, E Steyn, LD Tsheko, RC Van Staden
The Ulysses Gogi Modise (UGM) Wellness Clinic has become an oasis of help, support and inspiration in the midst of a
tempestuous health care climate.
The clinic was established in 2007 as a public/private partnership between Sishen Mine, the Department of Health and the
Gamagara Local Municipality. Since then it has effectively changed the face of HIV awareness and treatment in the Gamagara
area and proved that public/private partnerships can be very successful. The clinic recently broadened its horizons to serve
Kolomela and Thabazimbi mines and African Rainbow Minerals’ Khumani and Beeshoek mines with mobile clinics.
The facility assisted Kumba Iron Ore to become the first company to register on the SABCOHA (South African Business
Coalition on HIV and AIDS) Bizwell website, as a responsible reporter of HCT (HIV Counselling & Testing) statistics. It is also
registered as the company’s first HCT service provider.
The clinic has met Kumba’s need for an effective, long-term HIV/AIDS solution for its employees and their dependants,
contractors and the local community. Prior to its establishment, the nearest antiretroviral (ARV) centre was 50 km away.
Under the dedicated leadership of clinic manager Alta Buys, and with support from the Department of Health and local
stakeholders, six months after opening its doors, the UGM Wellness Clinic received full accreditation as a government ARV site.
Since then 34 679 community members have been educated and 17 374 have accessed Voluntary Counselling and Testing.
Disease management programmes have been initiated for 631 HIV-positive community members who do not have access to
medical aid. More than 152 Kumba employees are also on disease management programmes.
Alta has gone more than the extra mile to make this public/private partnership, with all its complexities and challenges, really
make a difference in the lives of those who need the clinic’s services.
While the clinic’s principal services are HIV-related, the facility also offers screening for conditions such as diabetes,
hypertension, TB, sexually transmitted infections and cancer and provides general health and nutritional education as a part of its
holistic approach to community wellness.
This project
has also been
nominated for
Anglo American’s
global
recognition
system, Applaud.
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