09 Jun 2013

Tati Nickel Mining Company has used over P500 000 through their corporate social responsibility programmes to develop and refurbish day care centres in five villages in the North East District.               

This was revealed by the North East District Council chairperson, Mr City Kealotswe at the official opening of Ditladi Day Care Centre on June 7.

The centre, unlike the other four in the villages of Matshelagabedi, Matsiloje, Mandunyane and Shashe Bridge which were refurbished, was built with a total of P195 000 for construction and an additional P30 000 used to furnish and equip the centre.  

Mr Kealotswe commended Tati mine for providing resources for the development of communities in their surroundings despite the global economic recession.

The mining sector, he said, suffered a heavy blow as demand for minerals declined sharply, consequently affecting mineral prices, which have not yet stabilised.

Mr Kealotswe pointed out that Tati mine was also heeding government’s call for private sector partnerships to help improve the education system.

He said it was through such partnerships that the many challenges and problems faced could be resolved.

“Tati Nickel, you are an epitome of good corporate citizenship and there is no doubt you are taking part in early education,” the council chairperson said.

For his part, Tati mine public relations manager, Mr Tebogo Rapitsenyane said their corporate social responsibility programme started in 2007 with the aim of promoting a healthy, well-educated and skilled community with enhanced employment and business opportunities. 

Their main focus, he explained, was on social investment and business development to give the community in their vicinity something to fall back even after the mine has closed.               

Through the programme, he said they had managed to uplift the communities by empowering their Village Development Committees (VDC’s) as the driving force in the villages.

He said they helped them set up projects that would earn them money, citing Ditladi day care centre as one of the projects that would inject money into the VDC coffers.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Kgosi Gaobudiwe Gabanamotse of Ditladi said they were overwhelmed by the donation and hoped that the gesture would continue despite the challenges faced by the mining sector. ENDS