Coal producer Sasol Mining has provided two suction trucks for the Charl Cilliers community in the Govan Mbeki municipality (GMM), in Mpumalanga, to help alleviate the spread of waterborne diseases.
The initiative forms part of Sasol Mining’s contribution to investment in Mpumalanga, as part of Sasol’s social labour plans for the 2013 financial year.
The trucks will be able to empty the pits and drains in the area on a weekly basis to prevent the occurrence and spread of waterborne diseases among the 3 000 community members.
Each truck has a capacity of 10 000 ℓ and is scheduled to empty pits twice a day. This will remove 40 000 ℓ of sewage sludge a day from the Charl Cilliers community and transport it to the Evander sewage plant of the GMM. The trucks are valued at R 3.5-million and the operators and drivers have already been trained on how to use the sophisticated technology installed on the trucks.
For communities to thrive, their members must be afforded healthy and hygienic living conditions. Sasol believes in the philosophy of strengthening communities and, through this investment, the Charl Cilliers community will have access to daily sewage removal, which lessens the risk of contaminated water and unhygienic conditions.
“Providing basic services will positively impact on the vitality and health of the community,” says Sasol Mining GM Nzama Baloyi.
As part of its commitment to its home base, South Africa, Sasol increased its capital expenditure locally by 14% in the last financial year to R18.8-million, which represents about 70% of the total capital expenditure.
Sasol will invest R200-million in the GMM to enhance the sustainable development of the communities, in addition to the company’s existing social investment.