Afrimat’s Demaneng mine has contributed an undisclosed amount of money towards the construction of a bulk link line from three boreholes to a 7 Mℓ reservoir to alleviate prevailing water shortages in Olifantshoek, in the Northern Cape.

The two-phase project followed the reporting to Afrimat management by employees of the Demaneng mine residing in the area that Olifantshoek, in the Gamagara local municipality, had limited water resources, with the community being highly dependent on groundwater.

The exponential growth in and around Kathu had further exacerbated the water crisis in the area, with taps running dry for weeks on end, according to the company.

“Demaneng mine’s management team opted to engage with the local municipality and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to find sustainable solutions to this issue, in an effort to not only assist the mine’s employees, but the community as a whole,” the company says.

“In an effort to raise more funds, Demaneng mine, with the assistance of the DMRE, approached neighbouring businesses to collaborate on the project where Afrimat acted as the project coordinator.”

Phase 1 of the project, which started on February 1 and completed by September 2, was funded by the Gamagara local municipality and entailed the drilling and equipping of six boreholes and the construction of pump houses.

Phase 2A, which started on July 8 and handed over to the Gamagara local municipality on October 19, necessitated the construction of the bulk link line from three boreholes to the 7 Mℓ reservoir.

Selenane, and Metsweding Consulting Engineers were appointed as contractor and consulting engineers respectively for Phase 1.

The appointed companies continued work during Phase 2 A, with the assistance of Wholetrade Projects as a local subcontractor from Olifantshoek and BVI Consulting Engineers as an Afrimat-appointed project engineer.

B-Safe Africa SHEQ Projects was appointed as the safety consultant for both phases.

Seventeen local people and five local small, medium-sized and microenterprises, including the subcontractor, where hired for the project.

The project is part of Afrimat Demaneng’s local economic development initiatives.