Agency sign an Memorandum of Understanding to inject economic growth in
Mpumalanga
27 March 2009
MEC for Economic Development and Planning Mr CNM Padayachee together with
the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency
(MEGA), Ms Nosizwe Nokwe signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Great Basin Gold in Balfour, Dipaleseng Municipality, Mpumalanga.
"Let me say that I am pleased to be part of the signing of this MoU and hope
that the relationship we have established with Great Basin Gold Limited will
empower and benefit the community of Dipaleseng Municipality. It is endeavours
such as this that we as the government want to develop to demonstrate that
together we can do more," said MEC Padaychee.
The signing of the MoU was followed by the planting of trees at the mine and
the CEO of Great Basin Gold toured the mine together with the MEC and the CEO
of MEGA. Great Basin Gold is a company that is very mindful of environmental
issues.
The MoU is a formal framework that establishes a structured approach to a
strategic alliance that has been designed and put in place where Great Basin
Gold and the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency will:
* develop and grow the economy of Mpumalanga Province generally and
Dipaleseng Municipality to be specific
* unlock the economic development potential of the Dipaleseng Local
Municipality (DLM) by:
* working closely with the municipality for the vitalisation of the economy of
the towns of Dipaleseng Municipality and to create an economic base
* promoting business to business linkage, with the intention of promoting local
small medium enterprises' growth therefore tackling the problems of
unemployment and social exclusions
* providing financial and non-financial assistance to potential investors and
local small and medium enterprises, specifically supporting Great Basin Gold's
endeavour to provide business support to local existing and emerging
enterprises.
* create a culture of long term sustainable vision among the stakeholders
involved, and ensure that the growth and development programmes, projects and
activities to be established in terms of the MoU uphold the principle of
sustainable development in respect of the Dipaleseng municipal area. Currently
the mine is supporting at least eight local enterprises namely a laundry,
cleaning, gardening, waste collection, construction, catering, sunflower
farming and an employee shuttle service.
* provide an avenue for co-ordination of economic development initiatives in
the Dipaleseng local municipality, as this will enhance the activities of the
Dipaleseng development programme, which is implemented in partnership with the
municipality. The program was established to integrate the mines employees
housing needs into the municipality's current housing and economic development
initiatives.
* strengthen co-operative and government/private sector relations in a manner
that reinforces combined efforts of involved parties. Great Basin Gold has
already provided capacity building to the Dipaleseng local municipality by
seconding a project manager to establish a project management unit and assist
the municipality to access infrastructure funding.
This, in Great Basin Gold's view, reinforces what was articulated by
Mpumalanga Premier Thabang Makwetla during his visit to the Burnstone mine on
20 November 2008, where he stated that infrastructural support such as roads,
water supply, electricity and housing needed to be long term and sustainable.
The Premier informed Great Basin Gold that there was already dialog between
them and Dipaleseng municipality about providing support to business projects
like the Burnstone Mine including assisting with their individual needs i.e.
employee housing needs which will be catered for through the Mpumalanga Housing
Finance Company initiative.
He added that he would familiarise himself with the mine's future plans and
objectives to ensure that there was synergy between the mine, the districts and
local municipality development imperatives. He commended Great Basin Gold for
measuring well if not better with company's that have been based in the area
for years, in terms of corporate social responsibility initiatives.
The Premier concluded by highlighting the fact that there had never been a
relationship of this nature where the mayor and the Premier were interacting
with a company for the good of the community and business in the province.
For additional details on Great Basin Gold and its properties, please visit
the company's website at http://www.grtbasin.com or contact Investor
Services:
Great Basin Gold
Tsholo Serunye
Tel: 011 301 1800
Enquiries:
Thomas Msiza
Tel: 013 766 4136
Cell: 072 925 6351
E-mail: tmsiza@mpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Economic Development and Planning, Mpumalanga
Provincial Government
27 March 2009
