Coromandel Farmers Trust, Lydenburg

The Foundation approved a grant to upgrade the milking system and milking parlour.  The Department of Agriculture pledged their involvement to assist with the revival of all the orchards on the farm.

Mpumalanga Stainless Initiative (Incubator), Middelburg

Mpumalanga Stainless Initiative is a manufacturing incubator that provides training for new venture creation where learners with accredited SETA learnerships (NQF Level 2-5 – National Certificate in Engineering) are assisted.

The incubator falls under SEDA (Small Enterprise Development Agency) Technology Programme.  Other stakeholders are the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the South African Stainless Steel Development Association (SASSDA), the Mpumulanga provincial government, Steve Tshwete Municipality, Busmid and Local Stainless Steel Fabrications. They all provide support mechanisms to the project.

The manufacturing incubator aims to create an environment where emerging entrepreneurs are able to establish and to utilise equipment, which will enable them to manufacture quality products without having to invest in the equipment themselves due to the high cost involved.  They also assists the SMME’s to register their businesses, registration with the South African Revenue Services (SARS), Unemployment Fund (UIF) and Compensation of Injuries on Duty (COID). 

In addition, the incubator also mentors and monitors the SMME’s for a period of two years, after which they work independently, or remain with the incubator if they prefer to do so.  The profits remain that of the individual SMME’s utilising the incubator equipment and premises.  There is currently seven SMME’s operating from these premises. Products manufactured at the incubator include electrical enclosures, catering equipment, signage, pall ring manufacturing, general engineering fabrication such as walkways, stainless steel items such as bread bins, fridges, dustbins and card holders.

The incubator also provides training for new venture creation where learners with accredited SETA learnerships at NQF Level 2-5 (National Certificate in Engineering) are assisted.  Eskom transmission division, local authorities and electrical hardware distributors who account for approximately 90% of the products have a shortage of competent SMME’s and BEE compliant suppliers in this field to meet the demands, which are driven by the construction boom.

Mpumalanga Stainless Initiative is a listed vendor with Eskom transmission division and is currently in the process of having their products assessed with a view to become a listed vendor for Eskom distribution division. 
                                               
The groundwork has been done for a sustainable entrepreneurial project to develop the business people of Mpumalanga.  They, in turn will create long-term job opportunities for others and assist with the growth of the electrical, stainless steel and metals manufacturing industry in the province. 

The Eskom grant was approved for the Mpumalanga cluster enclosures operating within the incubator, towards equipment, material, training and safety equipment for the electrical enclosure business.

Manufacturing at Mpumalanga Electrical Enclosures

Rietspruit primary school, Amersfoort

Rietspruit primary school was established in 1990.  It is situated at Platberg farm in the Amersfoort district.  The school has four educators and caters for 90 learners from grade 1 to grade 7, all from the local farming community.

The school services the total of the surrounding community with many members of the community working full-time or part-time on these farms.  The school has been operating without sewerage, electricity, fencing or water for the past 17 years.
 
The objectives of the school are to improve learning and teaching in the school through quality education to all their learners.  They also run an adult basic education and training (ABET) programme for parents at the school in the evenings.

The proposed Majuba rail will run within 150m from the current site of the school and possible relocation of Rietspruit primary school will have to be facilitated by Eskom.  The Foundation was requested to assist the school in the interim.

If necessary, the school will only be relocated within the next three years and it was agreed that the Foundation would assess the school’s current needs and that Eskom would facilitate the relocation in three years time.  Most of the items required, can relocate with the school.

A grant was approved towards water provision, storage facilities, mobile toilets, office equipment, furniture, educational equipment, appliances, curtains for the classrooms, painting of classrooms and teacher training.

A view of the four classrooms at Rietspruit primary school with the corrugated iron kitchen in the background, where meals are prepared for the feeding scheme