Modern Quarrying July-August 2016

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July - August 2016 MODERN QUARRYING 9
Royal Bafokeng partnership
At a ceremony held at Phokeng, NorthWest Province, AfriSam and
New Business Consulting, a 100% Broad-Based Black Economic
Empowerment (B-BBEE) Bafokeng-owned company, signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), cementing a partnership
aimed at facilitating enterprise development and creating job
opportunities for the Royal Bafokeng Nation.
As the leading black-controlled construction materials group
in southern Africa and the only established cement manufacturer
with a Level 4 B-BBEE rating, AfriSam is committed to enabling
economic development on the African continent. It believes in
contributing in a sustainable and meaningful manner to com-
munities surrounding its operations. New Business Consulting,
comprising a number of entities including local entrepreneurs,
a women-owned company as well as the B-BBEE Makgotla Trust
representing clans exceeding 2 000 members, strives to empower
mining communities through its economic development model.
As part of the MoU, a number of enterprise development
opportunities within the Bafokeng area have been identified and
are currently being investigated. Among these is the establish-
ment of containers as cement sales outlets as well as a premix
bagged product manufacturing facility. The goal is to establish
sustainable local enterprise development businesses that will
directly benefit the Bafokeng people.
“All the projects we have identified strongly align with, and
support, the strategic objectives and enterprise development
goals of the Royal Bafokeng Group and should create shared
value for all parties involved, including the local community,” says
Roshni Lawrence, Strategic Growth Executive at AfriSam.
AROUND THE INDUSTRY
FLSmidth management changes
FLSmidth has announced changes within its South African organ-
isation. Effective July 1, 2016, Deon de Kock has been appointed
VP for Minerals, Sub-Sahara.
In addition to assuming full regional responsibilities, he will
assume the role of Country Head, South Africa, taking over from
Charl Drury, who will remain as Country CEO.
De Kock’s professional experience includes more than 20
years in mining and construction, working with growing busi-
ness volumes, increasing profitability and large-scale operational
improvement initiatives.
His vast expertise within the mining industry and specific
experience in South Africa will be a great advantage when look-
ing at the current challenges in the Sub-Saharan African market.
Holding anMBA and aMechanical Engineering degree, De Kock
will reside in South Africa, operationally reporting to the SVP Global
Operations in the Minerals business and in his Country role, he will
report to the Group Country Responsible (GCR) for South Africa.
Drury, who has been both Country head and CFO South Africa,
will stay on as Country CFO.
Sanral e-toll saga continues
Sanral is still trying to threaten road users in an illegal manner
with summonses for e-toll accounts, according Adv. Anton
Alberts, the FF Plus’ parliamentary spokesperson on Transport.
Sanral’s latest threat was that motorists, who had not settled
their overdue accounts by midnight May 3, 2016, would be civ-
illy sued. Adv. Alberts says the threat is opportunistic and dis-
honest, and once again shows Sanral’s contempt for the National
Consumer Commission, as well as the Commission’s processes
to adjudicate cases. He points out that FF Plus has already sub-
mitted a complaint to the Consumer Commission on behalf
of all account holders, in which it is argued that Sanral’s mea-
suring instruments do not meet the requirements of the Legal
Metrology Act, 9 of 2014.
The National Regulator of Compulsory Specifications (NRCS)
had confirmed to the FF Plus that the e-toll equipment had never
been certified as required by law. The NRCS also confirmed that
Sanral had never applied for certification either.
“Until the Commission makes a finding in the complaint,
Sanral is not allowed to issue accounts or take steps to collect
fees, as it is possibly contravening the law and all accounts are
therefore illegal,” he says. “According to the legal advisers of the
FF Plus, any person who is being sued could use the fact that the
issue is before the NCC as an argument to have the case post-
poned. Sanral should take note of the fact that it is a crime to
interfere with the activities of the Consumer Commission.”
Back left: Ian Venter (MD of Royal Bafokeng Enterprise Development); Moss
Ramatja (New Business Consulting); Itu Diala (Women Group of New Business
Consulting; and Damaria Masilo (Women Group of New Business Consulting.
Front left: Gerhard Maree (AfriSam); Roshni Lawrence (Strategic Growth
Executive, AfriSam); Ernest Mogopodi (Chairman of New Business Consulting);
and Kgosana Phillimon Rabyae (Tau Bashiga Community Development Trust).
Steve Mputle (New Business Consulting) is not in the photo.