Titanium dioxide mining company Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) and its parent company Rio Tinto have announced the commitment of R5-million towards supporting relief efforts in KwaZulu-Natal, following the devastation caused by the recent flooding in the region that killed more than 400 people.
“The floods have been truly devastating to many members of our broader KwaZulu-Natal community. We are deeply saddened by the great loss of life and the personal disruption caused by these floods to thousands of families in our province,” said RBM MD Werner Duvenhage.
By working with provincial and local governments, as well as key partners in the region, RBM said it would channel these funds towards assisting affected residents access basic necessities. The funds would also be channelled towards supporting ongoing search and rescue efforts.
“While we are confident that KwaZulu-Natal will rebuild, we know that, for many families, these floods will forever be a tragic event. As a member of the community and as a business whose employees have had loved ones affected, we are committing ourselves to assisting in restoring our community and our province,” Duvenhage said.
RBM is working with the provincial government and local nongovernmental organisations recognised for their disaster response capabilities, in rolling out its support.