De Beers’ Venetia Mine has unveiled plans to create a forum to help the mine work more closely with its neighbouring communities.
De Beers’ Venetia Mine has unveiled plans to create a forum to help the mine work more closely with its neighbouring communities.
The Venetia Community Engagement Forum is likely to kick off in the spring, made up of representatives from tribal authorities, local government, NGOs and the community.
It comes just as the mine introduces a new general manager, Benford Mokoatle, formerly manager at the company’s Voorspoed Mine, who is to meet senior figures from Limpopo Province this month and has given his backing to the forum.
Traditional leaders were invited to a preliminary meeting to discuss the forum and offer suggestions. Chris Botha, Social Performance Manager for De Beers Consolidated Mines, urged tribal leaders to support the mine in its efforts to share information with communities.
Central to the forum’s activities will be shaping the implementation of the mine’s community development strategy and influencing how and where De Beers invests in the mining communities of Musina and Blouberg.
Venetia Mine’s Corporate Affairs Manager Josephine Pieters said: “It is essential that we work with all stakeholders to ensure that we use diamonds to better the lives of people living in our communities and, so doing, leave a lasting legacy.”