As part of the social and labour plan (SLP) of its Matla mine, major South African mining group Exxaro has opened a R36-million sheep shearing and nutrient film technique hydroponics facility in the Cofimvaba area of the Eastern Cape. More specifically, the project would benefit the villages of EliXeni (where it is located), eThunzini and Ezingxingweni.

“For Exxaro, impact is measured not only by what we extract from the ground, from solar and wind, but by what we help communities build beyond the surface for generations to come,” affirmed Exxaro CEO Ben Magara.

“This facility brings together traditional [livestock] farming and modern agricultural technology to create sustainable economic opportunities, while demonstrating how SLPs can translate mining investment into meaningful socioeconomic development. Although Cofimvaba is not a host community to our mining operations, it is part of our broader labour-sending footprint, and we believe our responsibility extends to the communities from which our people originate. By investing in productive infrastructure and sustainable livelihoods, we are helping build stronger, more resilient communities and ensuring that the benefits of mining extend beyond the mine boundary.”

The project includes the creation of the site, civil works and structural works, sheep dip infrastructure, a sheep shearing shed, the procurement of equipment, a packhouse and, on the hydroponics side, the creation of a two-tunnel enterprise with the necessary infrastructure. During the sheep shearing season, the facility would be able to shear up to 500 sheep a day, and the annual wool output was forecast to be some 22 418 kg. The hydroponics facility has been designed to produce about 90 000 heads of lettuce and spinach a year.

Exxaro highlighted that effective community development projects require the collaboration of many stakeholders, including government departments. They showcased the benefits of public-private partnerships, combining private sector investment with the technical expertise and local knowledge of public agencies, plus institutional support and community participation. Initiatives that combine all these factors have the potential to ensure lasting value.

“We are pleased to hand over the newly constructed sheep shearing shed to local farmers in Cofimvaba,” observed Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, who represented government and oversaw the handover. “We thank Exxaro for contributing to the construction of the important facility through its [SLP].

"Named after the late Deputy President of the National Union of Mineworkers, Crosby Moni, the facility will support local farmers, create sustainable economic opportunities and strengthen agricultural development in the community. This is the transformation we seek to achieve in the mining industry, where mining is not only seen as extractive, but also as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and improved livelihoods. Mining must leave a lasting and positive legacy in both host communities and labour-sending areas.”