SIOC-CDT – established in 2006 by Sishen Iron Ore Company (SIOC) (Pty) Ltd to invest in the upliftment of the communities in which it operates in the Northern Cape and Limpopo – has as one of its ongoing primary objectives, the facilitation of quality healthcare and education services. Post a recent needs assessment, the Thabazimbi municipality has been a focus area with Northam Primary Health Care Clinic, Chrome Mine Primary School, Groenvlei Secondary School and Mabogopedi High School all the recipients of major infrastructure investments by the Trust.
The Northam Clinic Maternity Unit upgrade, funded by SIOC-CDT, is now complete. This upgrade benefits residents of the Northam township and surrounding areas – providing support to a population of approximately 18,000 people. The vital upgrade will be sustained by the Limpopo Provincial Department of Health who have also committed to assigning a maintenance budget and ensuring that this bigger capacity is adequately resourced.
Says Nurse Maswanganye: “The facility is already doing wonders in alleviating the pressure, especially in our pre-natal and postnatal wards. The increase in the number of beds, as a result of the newly built wards, now enables us to cope to a far greater level.”
Chrome Mine Primary School, situated in Chrome Mine, has been the recipient of structural upgrading and renovations for the benefit of its 958 learners. These upgrades and renovations consisted of the construction of five new classroom blocks and a new ablution facility block, installing electrical requirements and renovation of all its existing classrooms. Says Mr N Seilane of Chrome Mine Primary School, “the upgrade and renovations provide conducive learning environments for our learners and we hope to see the benefits in their academic performance in 2022”.
Groenvlei Secondary School, situated in the Skierlik area, is also the recipient of an upgrade and renovation. This secondary school is a mix-boarding institution that caters for learners from surrounding farms in the area. Serving 258 learners, the critical upgrades are all designed to ensure that an optimum learning environment is provided. The new blocks of classrooms and ablution facilities have been handed over and are in use. The admin block, kitchen, second ablution block, pump house and water tanks are all in progress.
The multi-purpose hall being built by SIOC-CDT at Mabogopedi High School will have a capacity of over 1,200 people that can be utilized by both the school and the surrounding community. This infrastructure will provide the school with a space to host educational, arts and cultural activities.
“We are looking forward to the completion of this hall as it will help us significantly as a school, providing a great environment from which we can also manage our matric examinations due to the high number of matriculants we have,” says Principal, Mrs Manganyi.
Concludes Vusani Malie, CEO of SIOC-CDT: “In a February Board oversight tour of the infrastructure projects in the area, we were honoured to engage with many of the beneficiary stakeholders. These projects have been significant investments, with multiple contractors and labour opportunities being created, in addition to achieving our aims of providing access to healthcare and to premium education facilities.”
ENDS
About SIOC-CDT
SIOC Community Development Trust (SIOC-CDT) was established in 2006 by Sishen Iron Ore Company (SIOC) (Pty) Ltd to invest in the uplifting of the communities in which the mining company operates in the Northern Cape and Limpopo. We invest significantly in community development projects aimed at ensuring sustainability beyond mining operations.
SIOC-CDT has substantiated its stated intention of “defining ourselves through actions, not our words” by investing over R1 billion in socio-economic and community development projects in its beneficiary communities; Gamagara, Tsantsabane, Ga-Segonyana and Joe Morolong in the Northern Cape, as well as Thabazimbi in Limpopo