Major specialist provider of comprehensive cost management services, Professional Cost Consultants (Pty) Limited (PCC), has announced that it has entered into a partnership agreement with Leyanda Consulting, effective as of 1 March 2013. The agreement will see Leyanda Services acquire a 15% equity shareholding in PCC, with the option of increasing it to a further 21%, by 2014. The alliance between the two companies is part of PCC’s five-year vision to grow the company as a global practice and extend its presence into South America, Middle East, Canada and Africa, says PCC’s managing director Christo Fourie. The company already has an office in Namibia, and Perth, Australia.

“We envisage Leyanda being an integral part of this growth. There is synergy between the two companies; their experience in the mining industry, specifically with regards to greenfield projects, will play a vital role in seeking mutually beneficial opportunities for growth, coupled with PCC’s cutting-edge expertise and project experience in cost estimation for engineering projects,” says Fourie. Leyanda Services is a subsidiary of Leyanda Consulting (Pty) Ltd, a 100% black female  owned and managed company with over 10 years mining experience. Founded by Kamogelo James, Anele Ndamase and Ayanda Mchunu in 2009, Leyanda will contribute experienced mining service solutions and strategic support to PCC in achieving its objectives.

“We considered two other companies but Leyanda most fitted the bill – their services will enhance PCC’s overall service offering, and will stand us in good stead in pursuing new projects within and beyond our borders.” Fourie reiterated. Established in 1995, Professional Cost Consultants (Pty) Limited (PCC) is a specialist provider of comprehensive cost management services from inception through to commissioning of a project, including capex estimating during feasibility studies, quantity surveying, procurement, contract administration and cost management. As one of South Africa’s leading commercial service providers, PCC’s project portfolio includes blue-chip companies in the mining, engineering and petrochemical industries. The company is also active in a diverse range of commercial and infrastructure projects. Major clients include De Beers, Kumba Iron Ore, Exxaro Resources, Amplats, Sasol Technologies, Xstrata, Rio Tinto, Anglo American, Kenmare Resources, Paladin Energy, Tronox, RandGold Resources, Aurecon, Barrick, AngloGold Ashanti, Goldfields and China Nuclear Power Engineering Company, as well as various junior mining companies.

The all-women team at Leyanda provides community liaison services for greenfield mining projects, including identifying of interested and affected parties as per MPRDA guidelines, engaging with traditional authorities and municipalities, compiling Social and Labour Plans, playing a supportive role in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), facilitation of legally recognised structures and socioeconomic impact assessments, with clients such as Two Rivers (Pty) Ltd in their portfolio. Leyanda also supplies capital goods and consumables to the mining industry, from drilling equipment to stone dusting machines. Leyanda also holds investments in a number of iron ore mining exploration projects, one in the Limpopo province in part¬ner¬ship with Fer¬rum Cres¬cent Ltd, an Aus¬tralian based and Lon¬don and JSE-listed min¬ing company and another ore explo¬ration project in Mpumalanga partnering with Ferrex PLC. The executive director of Leyanda, Kamogelo James will be appointed as a non-executive director of PCC . “We are excited about this partnership and look forward to working together with PCC, and being instrumental in their long-term growth strategy,” says Ms James.