our approach to creating value
changing minds, changing mines, putting southern africa first

Selected performance information has been
independently assured by a third-party
assurance provider, IRAS

Responding to the National Development Plan

Implats recognises the important role it plays in advancing the objectives and vision of the National Development Plan of South Africa (NDP), and has sought to align these objectives to the organisation's own long-term goals. This has been done in some instances through collaboration with industry players, government departments and local stakeholders in our areas of operation. We consider this an integral part of transforming the industry, society and the economy of our country.

The NDP was adopted by government in 2012 as an economic and social development plan to eliminate the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment, and to increase investments. The NDP seeks to create 11 million jobs, halve unemployment, and substantially reduce poverty and improve living standards by 2030. To achieve these objectives, the NDP recommends:

Creating an environment for sustainable employment and inclusive economic growth
Raising levels of exports and competitiveness
Strengthening government's capacity to provide leadership in promoting economic development
Mobilising all sectors of society around a national vision

The NDP provides a breakdown of how its objectives can be achieved, for various sectors of the economy. For the mining industry, the objectives can be realised through:

Employment and growth
Labour market proposals
Beneficiation
Infrastructure
A low-carbon economy and the environment
Education and training
Healthcare
Social protection

In this report we have outlined our contribution towards these imperatives, as well as our planned interventions.

Responding to the Deputy President's Framework Agreement on a Sustainable Mining Industry (DPFA)

Following the global financial crisis of 2008 and the ensuing platinum mining strikes of 2012 which culminated in Marikana where 45 people lost their lives in 2012, it became imperative for business, labour and government to work together in stabilising the industry. This commitment was made through the DPFA signed in February 2013 by all stakeholders with the exception of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU). In broad terms stakeholders have committed to:

Ensuring the rule of law, peace and stability
Strengthening labour relations
Improving living conditions of mineworkers
Transforming the mining industry
Compliance to legislation
Supporting long-term growth of the industry

As an organisation, we recognise the importance of these commitments in giving impetus to our own long-term sustainability objectives.

Responding to the Mining Charter

The Mining Charter in South Africa was introduced in 2004 as a vehicle to transform the mining industry by redressing historical imbalances engendered by apartheid. In seeking to make the sector consistent with the overall transformation of South Africa's social, political and economic landscape, the Mining Charter focuses on the following eight pillars:

Ownership
Housing and living conditions
Procurement and enterprise development
Employment equity
Human resources development
Mine community development
Sustainable development
Beneficiation

Implats recognises its role in advancing transormation within the broader context of society and the significance of this in maintaining its licence to operate in South Africa. To this end our performance against these eight pillars is outlined here of this report.

Responding to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Vision 2050

Implats, while not a member of the World Business Council of Sustainable Development (WBCSD), recognises the important role that business has to play in creating a sustainable world, underpinned by fundamental changes in governance, economic frameworks and human behaviour.

We thus support the nine key pillars of action that will lead to the 2050 vision in which the basic needs of nine billion people are met. The nine pillars speak to:

People values – living well within the limits of the planet
Human development – basic needs of all are met
The economy – true value, true cost and profit are linked
Agriculture – enough food, water and biofuels through a new green economy
Forestry – recover and regenerate
Energy and power – secure and sufficient supply of low carbon energy
Buildings – close to zero-net energy building/infrastructure
Mobility – universal access to safe and low impact mobility
Materials – not a particle of waste

Our support for these elements is demonstrated through our community development initiatives, our environmental programmes, the beneficiation of our metals, and industry initiatives that drive economic transformation of the sector. These are referenced more broadly here.