Sustainability
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OUR APPROACH

We aim to balance the economic, social and environmental aspects of our business, which are all essential to our sustainability. We are proud of the good relationships we have built with all our stakeholders through consultative forums with organised labour and community structures.

Our code of conduct is based on the ethical values of integrity, competence, responsibility, accountability, fairness and transparency that underpin good corporate governance. We recognise that exercising business judgement must also consider the impact of Assmang’s business model, activities and outputs on the broader economy, society and environment.

We aim to minimise these impacts while capitalising on opportunities to contribute to growth and development in the societies in which we operate.

Assmang’s values explicitly acknowledge that social responsibility, good corporate governance and environmental stewardship are essential aspects of generating economic value for shareholders and social benefit for stakeholders.

RELATED REPORTS

  
The 2019 Sustainable Development Report provides more detail on our performance and approach to sustainable mining.

ASSMANG’s Sustainable Development Model

Assmang uses ARM’s sustainable development model as a guideline and it shows the inputs that shape the approach and aspects being considered in creating value.

Our climate-change and water-management strategies draw on various frameworks, guidelines, good practice and regulatory compliance requirements. Our reporting aims to meet multiple and evolving stakeholder requirements.

Creating Sustainable Value

Our key operations lie in remote parts of South Africa, where they provide employment opportunities, skills development and educational support.

Infrastructure investments and support for local communities’ projects support socio-economic development and improve community resilience and sustainability.

Assmang established a dedicated non-profit company – Assmang Enterprise and Supplier Development Fund – to drive the group’s preferential procurement and enterprise development programmes which support entrepreneurship and economic growth among historically disadvantaged South Africans (HDSAs). In local communities, these programmes create jobs, improve market access for South African capital goods and services, and increase economic activity in areas around our operations.

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ASSMANG operations' socio-economic development contributions over the last five years include:

R8.1 billion paid as taxes and royalties.

R757 million invested in community development..

Providing employment for 21 191 employees and contractors (as at 30 June 2021).

Improved HDSA representation in management from 51% in F2015 to 62% in F2019.

Provided 1 198 bursaries.

Paid R27.8 billion to employees as salaries, wages and benefits

Invested R1.07 billion in training initiatives to improve the skills of employees.

Local procurement of R10.8 billion. In the year to December 2021, 67% of mining goods and 33% of services procured allocated to HDSA suppliers

Provided adult education and training (AET) to 745  employees and 1 833 community members at ARM facilities since F2015, increasing their confidence and employability.

* On a 100% basis
# Reported for F2021 (as at 30 June 2021).

Communities

Our commitment to responsible corporate citizenship drives our support for communities in which we operate through social investment and local economic development projects. These initiatives aim to build capacity in communities and prioritise women, HIV and Aids projects, uplifting people living with disabilities, youth and the socially destitute.

Partnering with communities and other stakeholders for social upliftment is a strategic priority, especially in our operating regions. As such, our investment in local communities is aimed at driving socio-economic development and improving community resilience and sustainability.

Given that most of our operations are in remote areas where communities face pressing socio-economic challenges, we aim to make a meaningful difference by investing in infrastructure and social projects that can have a significant positive impact. These initiatives include :

Infrastructure upgrade
• Access-road construction in various areas in communities
• Improving stormwater drains
• Refurbishment of waste-water treatment plant
• Improving water supply – bulkwater tank construction

Education
• Community bursaries for young people
• Donations to improve school facilities
• Covid-19 support to Department of Education

Health
Covid-19 support
• Vaccination roll-out
• Food parcels
• Donated testing and screening facilities
• Donated sanitisers
Kuruman Hospital maternity ward upgrade

Delivering these initiatives strengthens our relationships with local communities and benefits employees who live there. Regular engagement improves our understanding of community needs and expectations, and promotes community ownership of projects by including beneficiaries from the planning phase.

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