Mining resource company Sibanye Gold will commit R15 million to the University of Johannesburg mining faculty over a period of three years. The cash injection will aid in providing state of the art learning facilities and cutting edge research to the University. This donation will also provide virtual learning and improved lives for the students through bursaries.
Prof Marwala emphasized that Sibanye’s contribution is an investment in the future of mining. “The mine emulation will enable us to develop engineering education strategies to enhance undergraduate exposure and employ-ability in mining specific areas. Only through partners like Sibanye can we adopt and adapt the fourth Industrial Revolution into the mining sector and ensure our students will be work-ready and equipped when they transition from UJ into the world of work,” said Prof Marwala
This action by Sibanye is quite an integral part of improving the lives of students who aspire to be active in the Mining engineering sphere at UJ. However, our mining sector has been struggling as of late with mining giant Anglo American releasing more than 8000 miners as a result of the mining sector slump and another mining company in Limpopo released its entire miners of 2500 as a result of it not being to operate. At the same instant mining executives have received startling salary increases and bonuses ranging exceeding 3 million US dollars a year. We only hope there will be major positive changes in the mining sector that will cater for the people who actually “do the digging”
Hethen Hira who functions as the head of community engagement and development at Sibanye told Social-TV that “Our community development strategy is based on the principles of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and our own strategic objectives based on economic diversification and empowerment through skills development and this donation is no different”
