On Friday 4 June, the CEO of Platinum Group Metals Ltd., PLG-NYSE.A, PTM-TSX (PLG), R. Michael Jones along with a delegation from the Waterberg JV Resources visited the Waterberg community in Limpopo to fulfill the company’s commitment of donating equipment to schools in the area.
Teachers and pupils from Maredimane Creche and Pre-Primary, Seshane Primary School and Bodiela Secondary School were thankful to receive tablets, computers, projectors, science equipment, as well as desks and chairs.
“As a mining company, we know the importance of subjects like mathematics and science, and we hope that these donations will especially help pupils improve their skills in these key subjects,” said PLG CEO Michael Jones.
PLG is a company based on innovative science and makes discoveries of mineral deposits using new science efforts with top experts. The Waterberg Deposit is the outcome of a top group of scientists collaborating with company management to come up with new ideas in 2011.
Waterberg Joint Venture Resources, made up of PLG and several other partners, were granted a mining right on 28 January 2021 to build a highly advanced, safe mine with the latest technology in Waterberg.
Having already invested over US$75 million on the project to date, the joint venture is fully committed to the Waterberg mining project and plan to be a part of the community for many decades to come. The Waterberg mining project has also committed to providing sustainable opportunities to help improve the living conditions of local communities.
“Our future success is tied to your success, and we cannot develop without you also experiencing the benefits of that development and economic activity,” said Jones while addressing the community.
Training and education are important to the mine’s development, and the mining company will be working closely with communities in the region to improve education and training.
In time, the mine intends to provide bursaries, internships, learnerships and place employees on individual career development programmes. The intention is for these programmes to be for children from local communities pursuing studies related to mining.
PLG aims to ensure that members of the surrounding communities develop skills and ultimately fill 70% of the estimated 1,100 jobs that the mine will create within three years of steady production.
The Waterberg mining project is a major future investment in socio-economic development for this area. It will inject much needed activity into the local economy through salaries, infrastructure development and the procurement of goods and services. The donation of much needed school equipment was a symbol of the company’s commitment to the community.
R. Michael Jones went on to thank the Blouberg Local Municipality and the Capricorn District Municipality for their constructive engagements and shared commitment to uplift these communities.
