Mining industry employers’ organisation the Minerals Council South Africa announced in August that several of its members contributed a combined R4.7-million towards oxygen and oxygen-related products for the Eastern Cape.

The R4.7-million was jointly raised by African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American (representing subsidiaries De Beers, Kumba Iron Ore, Anglo American Coal and Anglo American Platinum), AngloGold Ashanti, Exxaro, Fraser Alexander, Glencore Alloys, Gold Fields, Harmony, Impala Platinum, Northam Platinum, Royal Bafokeng Platinum, Seriti and Sibanye-Stillwater.

Fraser Alexander is a premium sponsor of the 2020 Joburg Indaba – to be hosted as an online discussion on October 7 and 8 – while African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American, Exxaro, Harmony, Seriti and Sibanye-Stillwater are industry partners.

Seriti Resources CEO Mike Teke, who will be participating in a panel discussion on the impact of the pandemic, told Mining Weekly that that impact of Covid-19 on the world economy, South Africa’s economy and the mining industry has been “hugely disruptive”. However, he believes the mining industry has dealt with the challenges effectively. A part of the panel will be dedicated to discussing how this was achieved.

The industry has, over the past six months, undertaken intensive efforts to address Covid-19

The Minerals Council notes that there are many examples of companies working collaboratively in their province of operation, both under its auspices and directly.

The Eastern Cape is unique, however, as it is a mining-affected province, without any mines.

“Historically, the industry has drawn many thousands of employees from the Eastern Cape. Currently around 61 000 mining employees (around 15% of members’ workforce) originate from the Eastern Cape,” the Minerals Council notes.

Moreover, the province is in dire need. “It is indeed the poorest province in the country, it suffers from a lack of infrastructure, and is known to be under-resourced in terms of healthcare facilities, supplies and personnel.”

Two particular districts have been identified for support, based on their profiles as regions from which many employees have been drawn, namely the Chris Hani and OR Tambo district municipalities. Other districts will also be supported based on specific identified needs.

The allocation will be spent on oxygen and oxygen-related products such as oxygen tanks and concentrators, and products within the oxygen value chain. This includes rebreather masks, continuous airway pressure (CPAP) ventilators, oxygen flow meters, oxygen regulators, rebreathable masks and oxygen nasal cannulas.

Minerals Council senior executive for public affairs and transformation Tebello Chabana commended the 13 companies for their support to this initiative.

“The Minerals Council team identified the Eastern Cape as a province with huge, impending needs some weeks ago. As we know, for many people who become seriously ill from Covid-19, particularly those who are most vulnerable, oxygen is what is most needed and will, quite simply, represent life.

“That is why this intervention was so important to us, and where we felt we could make a very real and meaningful difference, in a way and a place that not many others could make on a relatively large scale,” he states.

Orders for most of the identified equipment had already been placed once funding commitments were made, and the Minerals Council noted that some equipment was expected to arrive at recipient hospitals in August.