More than R120-million has been donated by the African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) Broad-Based Economic Empowerment (BBEE) Trust since its inception in 2005 and has been used for projects in education, health, water, enterprise development, farming, agriculture and rural upliftment initiatives throughout South Africa.

This was announced last month during the ARM BBEE Trust and Motsepe Foundation annual meeting held in Sandton, Johannesburg.

A number of religious leaders opened the meeting with prayers, during which the efforts of the trust to eradicate the challenges of poverty and socioeconomic inequality in South Africa were

A video presentation highlighting the achievements of the ARM BBEE Trust over the past 12 months displayed the various initiatives it supported. These include five provincial trusts, the National Women’s Upliftment Trust, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) Trust, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) Trust and several religious organisations, as well as about 150 community and provincial leaders.

The five provincial trusts, which had each received R1.5-million at the meeting, comprised the Eastern Cape Rural Upliftment Trust, the KwaZulu-Natal Rural Upliftment Trust, the Limpopo Rural Upliftment Trust, the Mpumalanga/Northern Cape Rural Upliftment Trust and the North West/Free State Rural Upliftment Trust.

Over the past ten years, these rural upliftment trusts had collectively spent about R19-million on a number of initiatives, including the construction of 38 ablution plants, several daycare centres and nine community halls.

Since 2005, the trust had distributed about R18-million to the National Women’s Upliftment Trust, with Nehawu and Sadtu – collectively representing about 500 000 workers – and religious organisations throughout South Africa each having received R12-million.

Computers had also been supplied and installed at primary and secondary schools throughout the country.

Meanwhile, it was noted that water provision was a key focus area of the rural upliftment trusts, which had drilled and equipped a number of boreholes to the value of R7-million. These boreholes supplied potable water to several rural communities.

The upliftment trusts also funded small to medium-sized business ventures as part of its enterprise development initiatives.

Further, the trusts had collectively spent R10-million on farming equipment and supplies, which included tractors, seeds, planters, crop sprayers and irrigation systems, as well as other resources needed for various agricultural projects.

The Limpopo Rural Upliftment Trust had spent R3.7-million building the Mampuru-Thulare Primary School, currently attended by 700 pupils.

The Eastern Cape Rural Upliftment Trust built the Kwathamsana and Zanci childcare centres, collectively valued at R1.7-million. The centres currently care for about 160 children from the Mqanduli area. A third centre was completed last year in Qumbu village.

Primary and secondary education in the province had been a key focus area for the trust, with 40 classrooms to the value of R5-million having been built at various schools.

Meanwhile, it was stated that more than R4-million was spent in KwaZulu-Natal on tractors, planters, crop sprayers, irrigation and other farming equipment for agricultural projects, including the Mambope crop production project, in Pongola, and the Ugu vegetable project, in Port Shepstone.

In addition, the KwaZulu-Natal Rural Upliftment Trust had spent R4-million building classrooms and renovating schools.

It was noted that the North West/Free State Rural Upliftment Trust had funded the establishment of the Motsitle community radio station at a cost of R130 000 to reach people in Mabeskraal village, in North West and surrounding areas.

Other enterprises funded by the North West/Free State trust include the Supingstad bakery, which was built at a cost of R1.6-million, helping to create job opportunities, while supplying bread to local communities. Any surplus bread was sold to create a sustainable income for the community.

In Mpumalanga, tractors and other farming equipment were bought for the Ipopeng agriculture and chicken project, in Mamathlake village. It was highlighted that the project had remained sustainable over the past four years. The project helped feed poor families in the communities, subsequent to be identified by the tribal council, which received vegetables and chickens free of charge.

In addition, 20 boreholes were drilled and equipped in the province.

The ARM BBEE Trust asserted that it would remain committed to alleviating the burden of poverty and would strive to make a mining industry in which all South Africans benefited.