De Beers Group donates over R4 million to Kleinzee Centre for Learning and Development

De Beers Consolidated Mines Proprietary Limited (De Beers), has sold its 10% stake in Diamond Coast Aquaculture Proprietary Limited (Kleinzee Abalone Farm), in a transaction that is set to benefit a local school in Namaqualand for the next five years.

The Kleinzee Abalone Farm, situated on the coast north of Kleinzee, has acquired DBCM’s equity stake for about R4.7 million. The proceeds of this transaction, which have been earmarked for socio-economic development activities in Namaqualand, will be donated to the Kleinzee Centre for Learning and Development (KCLD) and paid out annually to the KCLD over five years.

De Beers partnered with the Northern Cape Department of Education in 2014 to launch KCLD for learners with special educational needs in the Namakwa District and surrounding areas. Through the De Beers Trust, De Beers has supported the KCLD over the years with learning and teaching support material, teacher development and finding learnership opportunities for final year learners.

De Beers continues to work with the Northern Cape Government, key stakeholders and community organisations in delivering its commitment to invest in the socio-development of the province and its people.

Moses Madondo, Managing Director of De Beers Managed Operations, said: “Our Building Forever Sustainability Framework compels us to create a better future for our communities by creating opportunities that will leave a positive and lasting legacy well beyond the life of our operations. In the Northern Cape in particular, we continue to select partners and projects that will maximise our positive impact as an organisation.

“We believe that the drivers of socio-economic development lie in the Education, Skills Development as well as the Health and Wellness sectors. We hope that the donation to Kleinzee Centre for Learning and Development will have a positive impact for the future and that the learners will plough back in the community for generations to come,” said Moses.

Mats Jörnell, Managing Director of Sea Harvest Aquaculture, which owns the majority stake in the Kleinzee Abalone Farm, said: “We are pleased to be a part of this transaction as investment in local communities in and around the areas in which we operate is within the Sea Harvest Group’s DNA. Through the Sea Harvest Foundation Not-for-Profit (NPC) Company, we have supported the KCLD during the past few years, so there is great synergy between Sea Harvest and De Beers’ decision to make the school a beneficiary of its equity stake.”