Exxaro Resources handed over a school hall and four (4) classrooms to Nelsonskop Primary School near its flagship site, Grootegeluk Mine in Lephalale, Limpopo. This project forms part of the organisation’s Social and Labour Plan (SLP) commitment, as well as its ongoing efforts to uplift and empower host communities by addressing critical gaps in line with its social impact pillars.

The Nelsonskop Project, which valued at over R7 million represents a significant investment in the future of our youth and is expected to create new opportunities for quality education and community development in our Lephalale sphere of influence. Additionally, this structural development, aimed towards creating a safe and conducive environment for pupils to learn, engage and thrive academically further highlights the significance of collaborations between public and private entities.

Riaan Koppeschaar, Exxaro’s Acting CEO and Finance Director said, “As an organisation, we believe that education is the cornerstone of education and progress. As such, by building this school hall and classrooms, we are not only supporting learners in achieving their dreams but also contributing to the sustainable development of our host communities. We also understand that we cannot do this on our own and we are therefore grateful of our partnership with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, the Department of Education, and the Lephalale Municipality in supporting us to deliver this high-quality project. We acknowledge that in today's world, strategic stakeholder engagement demands collaborative efforts to address pressing challenges in our country.”

Nelsonskop Primary is amongst the 25 schools in Lephalale that have been connected to the internet through the Wi-fi infrastructure installed by Exxaro. This is in line with meeting the demands of the fast-changing landscape of disruptive technology and to embrace innovative solutions in the digital era. 2

“As social partners in the mining industry, we have a collective responsibility to enforce and comply with the development and implementation of the SLPs to promote the social and economic welfare of all South Africans, thereby ensure that the mining affected communities and labour sending areas meaningfully benefit from the mining activities and the country’s mineral wealth” concluded Phumzile Mgcina, Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.

Exxaro is committed to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly Goal four which speaks to quality education by fostering an inclusive and equitable education system for all. The company’s holistic efforts towards education start from Early Childhood Development (ECD) interventions to whole school development, right up to tertiary education funding. Exxaro invested over R40 million in education in 2023, benefitting over 25 000 learners.