Stakeholders in the mining sector say it’s high time that mining companies invest in the host communitiesThis emerged at the launch of the Business Forum Platform, where Impala Platinum and small, medium and micro enterprises in the Rustenburg area committed to working together. Fourteen business forums from 29 villages of Bafokeng and 17 surrounding communities in Rustenburg have formed the Mine Host Community Business Forum.
“All the programs and opportunities that we seek from the mine, we have the capacity to deliver. We don’t want business whereby we will cripple the operation of Impala.”Impala Platinum mine CEO Mark Munroe says although Impala has awarded some contracts to local companies, he believes the company can still do more to empower more SMMEs.
“We’ve awarded some big contracts to local community companies. However, I think there’s a big role to play in facilitating and improving it. So once again, this enables us to communicate to see what the needs of the community are and how we can grow these small businesses. Remember, this is one element that you’ve seen but actually, it’s a multi-pronged approach to improving business in the local community.
GOV should do that. Raise the taxes of the mining companies and use the money to do that.