AfriSam’s Ulco cement factory contributed towards the safety and prosperity of local community members when it donated much needed fire extinguishing equipment to emerging farmers at Koopmansfontein farm in the Frances Baard District Municipality, Northern Cape. The donation included 15 backpack fire extinguishers as well as a water tank with a 760 litre holding capacity.
Frequent veld fires at the farm put the crops and the lives of these farmers at risk and AfriSam’s Ulco operation always responds to the community’s call for assistance by dispatching its own fire team to douse the fire. However, Koopmansfontein farm is 30 km from AfriSam’s Ulco operation and often by the time the fire team arrives on site, some damage has already been caused to crops and property.
With the donation of the backpack fire extinguishers and water tank to the farmers at Koopmansfontein farm, AfriSam has empowered the local community to control the fire until the Ulco fire team arrives. This will greatly assist in protecting the crops, lives and livelihood of the farmers and their dependents.
“This initiative is in line with our Corporate Social Responsibility mission which is to understand the needs of our society and communities in areas where we do business so we can make meaningful and sustainable contributions to their upliftment,” says Angus Towell, general manager at AfriSam’s Ulco cement factory.
“We know that Koopmansfontein farm is home to a number of people and that the farmers are responsible for the livelihood of an entire community. At AfriSam we are proud that we could play a part in ensuring that their homes and lives are better protected from veld fires. Our role as AfriSam is to create concrete possibilities and empower communities to make it possible for them to realise their dreams,” says Towell.