Rustenburg – Lonmin and the Bapo Ba Mogale traditional community launched a youth cadet programme on Thursday to mark South African youth month, the company said.
The programme would train 500 young members of the group in basic mining skills over the next three months to school them for employment at local mines in the Rustenburg, Marikana and Brits areas .
Bapo Ba Mogale spokesman Vladimir Mogale said the cadet programme was a great start in preparing the youth to acquire the necessary skills to enter the mining industry.
“We are delighted to launch this programme with our host community the Bapo ba Mogale as unemployment, inequality and poverty are constant challenges in the North West Province, as they are throughout the country,” said Lonmin spokeswoman Lerato Molebatsi.
Lonmin’s agreement to train 500 miners has defused tension with the Bapo tribe, who on Wednesday called of a planned protest march against the mining company after it was reached.
Recently four cars and a bus were torched as young people ran riot over their unhappiness with Lonmin’s employment practices.
ANA