OUR COMMUNITY

Social Investment

Mining, particularly the diamond industry, is the backbone of the Namaqualand economy and makes the largest contribution to labour remuneration in the region. Although not the biggest employer in Namaqualand, Alexkor provides employment to approximately 2 500 people in the region directly and indirectly.

Alexkor provides potable water to the Alexanderbay town and Port Nolloth.

Alexkor, in its endeavour to create jobs for local communities, created an alternative economic activity for retrenched employees by awarding shallow water contracts to redundant Alexkor employees, in line with the Alexkor Social Plan.

Alexkor is also involved in the upliftment and empowerment of women through the contracting and continued involvement and interaction with a group of women mining at Witvoorkop. We also provide opportunities for local small scale mining companies like Gariep.

Educational Support

There are a number of communities in Namaqualand which are faced with deeply rooted poverty related problems. There is therefore a serious need for extensive education and social development programs. Alexkor is committed to the improvement of the standard of education in Namaqualand.

Alexkor currently provides ABET classes to current employees and the community. Alexkor is also involved in learnership programmes.

In the past the Alexkor Development Foundation has provided close to 1000 bursaries, totaling almost R3,000,000, to disadvantaged students of Namaqualand.  In addition to this, study loans to the value of close to R1,500,000 have been paid out to students all over Namaqualand. This foundation has been replaced by granting part of Alexkor’s land concession at Witvoorkop area to both a woman empowerment and a local small scale mining company in 2003.

The development of the human resources potential is a matter of the highest priority for the Alexkor Development Foundation.  Grants made to schools are aimed at empowering people, especially young people, so as to enable them to take charge of their own lives.  By providing equipment and educational aids to schools the Foundation contributes towards improving the educational as well as living standards of the people of Namaqualand. Over R2,750,000 has been provided in direct funding to Nursery, Primary and Secondary schools throughout the region.

Local Tourism

The Richtersveld, or Namaqualand as it is more widely known, is one of the least explored regions in South Africa. Those who travel here, find a world surprisingly diverse, often starkly beautiful.

This largely untapped potential can create wealth for the local communities, though sustainable job creation.

The mining area itself has considerable tourism potential based on unique biodiversity, a rich mining history and a Ramsar site at the mouth of the Orange River. This site has been proclaimed a provincial park and will form part of the Trans Frontier Conservation Area that has already been listed as a World Heritage Site.

Alexkor provides these facilities as initiatives to support tourism development in the region:

  • Funding of the local tourism website Diamondcoast
  • The running of guest houses in and around Alexander Bay
  • The running of the local airport
  • Local museum
  • River mouth