Assmang Iron Ore Beeshoek ine has come up with yet another innovative programme from its own think tank that strives to meet the aspirations of many mainly people with disabilities, government, industry and the community at large.

On November 16, 2018 the mine through its Human Resources Development section launched a unique initiative that witnessed the employment of twenty-four people with disabilities by the mine.

This brilliant idea is multi-pronged and geared to invigorate the ideals of public private partnership, while on the other hand, to empower people with disabilities who are inextricably part of the community in which the mine operates.

Explaining to the Kathu Gazette, the Human Resources Development Manager Mr Vivian Eksteen in conjunction with Ms Jeanette Breytenbach said that the realisation that the Department of Education was facing challenges in replacing retired or deceased personnel who had filled the positions of office assistants, maintenance staff or general cleaners at various schools in the area. The department is no longer replacing these workers easily, thereby creating a void in the maintenance of the schools. 

The mine took cognisance of the challenge, devised an intervention method and there began some initial engagements between the department’s officials and school governing boards as early as May this year. While the model is meant to relieve schools of their general staff shortage, the mine’s consequential achievement is multi-pronged.

People with disabilities remain on the peripherals when opportunities arise due to stigmatisation and deprived of penetrating the mainstream economy characterised by the myth that they are incapacitated. The employment deficit is unwittingly skewed against them. In solving the quadratic equation in their midst, the mine in consultation with the department requested the schools to identify people with disabilities where the mine assessed them, employed and dispatched them to various schools for various duties.

To consolidate the success of the initial project the mine has contracted an organisation, Train the Nation that will concurrently train the new employees according to the needs deemed necessary at the surrounding schools. The mine will be paying their new batch of employees up until their contract comes to an end. Upon completion of their preferred courses namely plumbing, woodwork, data collection etc the student-cum-employee will be given a relevant tool kit to use as self-empowerment start-up upon the expiry of their contracts.

The senior general manager of the mine, Ms Maryke Burger addressing her new crop of employees said, “We prioritise education to our employees and the community. Take control of your lives. I was yearning for the fruition of this project. It has materialised and I am optimistic it will transform the lives of our people. We will evaluate and monitor this brand new project with hope to expand it”.

The department of education was represented by the circuit manager Mr Lebogang Christo Sehako of Postmasburg who said that the new project by the mine is a great relief to schools around. Union representatives from Solidariet and NUM also attended the launch and appreciated the positive step meant to benefit people with disabilities by the mine while at the same time enlivening the public private partnership concept.