The Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC) and its partners upped the standard once again at the 6th Annual Golf Day by raising a record R400 000 for community upliftment projects. This was a significant increase from R310 000 raised the previous year and R250 000 in 2021.

The beauty of Ubuntu was captured through collective effort by ZAC and its partners to raise funds for charitable causes during the event hosted at the Richards Bay Country Club in KwaZulu Natal on the 15th November. This year 112 golfers took part in the tournament, while additional funds were collected compared to the R310 000 in 2022.

The eight title sponsors for the event included The PumpSmith, Kulu Mining, Conveyor & Plant Services, Conax Machine Solutions, Hlomani Mining Services, JA Engineering Works, United Mining & Gilberts Cables, and SA Minerals Laboratories Ithuba.

The Golf Day’s format was a scramble Drive four-ball alliance. After the first tee-off golfers completed a successful round on the 18-hole course while participating in different challenges to win prizes. The sound of drums and marimbas added to the festive mood as the Siyadla Marimba Band from Arboretum Primary School kept guests entertained with upbeat pop tunes. The band received a contribution from Drilling VERMA-Exploration and PreCon Survey toward their upcoming trip to Cape Town where they will take part in a musical contest. The next performance came from Siyaphakama High School Dancers who received a donation of school shoes from Mabhoka Trading.

John Scobbie, Menar COO responsible for ZAC and Kangra, thanked the sponsors for their contributions. “One thing we are pleased about is that we have more sponsors this year with 112 players compared to last year’s 92. This shows that there is strong collaboration between the mine and its suppliers with regards to community development,” said Scobbie.

A ceremony was held to announce winners of the many prizes on the table including camping stoves, speakers, braai sets, camping chairs, knife sets and more. The ZAC floating trophy auction proved to be an event highlight, as guests cheered and put up a good challenge to grab the prize. Conveyor & Plant Services was the ultimate winner, setting a R200 000 record, which is the highest in the history the golf day event.

Izindunas representing four Traditional Councils around the ZAC mine – Mlaba (Ximba), Zungu, Mandlakazi, and Matheni – were also present at the event. “We have seen how ZAC has assisted our communities by building school toilets, donating uniforms and school shoes which makes us very proud to have the mine in our area,” remarked Induna, Mhlanzi from Ximba.

Proceeds from previous editions of the event benefited community centres such as the Zisize Care Centre in Ulundi which received a 300 l/hr yield borehole, equipped with a water filtration unit and the Njomelwane Primary School which received R265 000 worth of renovated facilities. This year 18 laptops were delivered to Mvalo Secondary School, assisting the school to start developing its first digital learning centre. The laptops were supplied through funds collected in 2022.

ZAC General Manager Wiets Beukes thanked sponsors for the fantastic turnout. “The ZAC Golf Day is always about assisting the community. These contributions will make it possible for us to identify and assist more people around the Mahlabatini area,” said Beukes.

Sponsors for the 2023 ZAC Golf Day included: Advanced Fire Suppression Technologies (Pty) Ltd, Babcock Group, BMG Vryheid, Kal Tire Mining TyreConveyor & Plant Services, CMS (Conax Machine Solutions (Pty) Ltd.), Conway Johnson Vryheid, Diageo liquors, Dalisu Holdings, Dlula Logistics, Drilling VERMA-Exploration, Filtaquip (Pty) Ltd Mineral Processing Solutions, FLSmidth (Shane), Gilberts Mining (Best Aspec), Hexagon Electrical (Pty) Ltd, Hlomani Mining Services, Huizen Africa Holdings, Ingwenya Mineral Processing, Insimbi Steel Mining Supplies (Pty) Ltd, Investec, JA Engineering, JD Investments, Dlokwe Investments, Kulu Mining, Komatsu Mining, KSB Pumps, Leo Mattioda, Lurchtech, Magnet, Mabhoka Trading, N1 4 x 4, Oceans Echo Logistics + Oceans Echo Cheese & Wine, PEX Hydraulics – KZN, Pitbull Equipment, P&M Skietwerke, Precon Survey, The PumpSmiths, RHAM Equipment, RIS Vehicle Hire,Richards Bay Rigging SAB, Sandvik, Schauenburg, SA Minerals Laboratories Ithuba, SP Mine Safety (Strata), SANY Equipment, Super Rent, Thekweni Reinforcing, U-Rent, Victor Industrial, Tsakane Health Services