Building Change in Northern Cape

Terence Mamabolo is the Socio-Economic Development Manager at United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK). He has also taken it upon himself to play a leading role in many of the company’s social development initiatives.

He has a clear understanding of what is needed to uplift rural communities. Born and raised in Ga-Mamabolo village in Limpopo, he grew up with limited access to essential services. He remembers the hours spent walking to collect water as a child, a necessity he believes no community should be without. Now, in his role at UMK, he finds immense satisfaction in addressing similar challenges faced by communities within Joe Morolong Local Municipality in the Northern Cape.

“We wanted to make a difference in the lives of the communities,” Mamabolo said. UMK aligns its community development efforts with local municipalities’ Integrated Development Plans (IDP), enabling them to address specific needs in each area. The process is deliberate. “We look at the IDP and select projects that we think will make a difference in people’s lives,” he said, adding that UMK’s involvement extends well beyond standard industry compliance. “It really matters to us, and we always try and do as much as possible.”

Tangible Impact

Mamabolo and the team focus on projects that can make a tangible impact, such as improving water infrastructure, constructing roads, and supporting educational facilities. The miner has made water infrastructure a priority, working to bring clean water to communities that lack it. “Most of our communities don’t have access to basic services,” he said. By focusing on such essential needs, UMK’s projects aim to fill gaps left by municipal limitations, creating long-term infrastructure that communities can rely on.

A recent water project in Pompong and Ga-Madubu/Lebonkeng villages underscored this approach. The village previously relied on unreliable sources and long treks for water. Not dissimilar to how own childhood. “After we completed that project, the community had access to clean water within a few metres,” Mamabolo shared. “It made a difference.” For Mamabolo, the success of such projects lies in their immediacy and direct effect on people’s everyday lives, and he values seeing communities gain access to services he once went without.

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Beyond infrastructure, UMK has funded kitchens for schools that previously relied on cooking meals for children in makeshift structures. By providing safe, equipped kitchen spaces, he said that it has improved food security and hygiene standards for learners.

Meaning in small but significant change

Mamabolo finds meaning in these small but significant changes, believing that such improvements lay the groundwork for more resilient communities. “I feel great knowing that these kids now have something better than we did,” he said, noting that projects like these are about “giving back” in ways that offer more than temporary relief.

As analysts have been saying for some time, and recently it’s been evident in the ramp up of mining activity, the Northern Cape is becoming South Africa’s next mineral-province. Mamabolo sees this growth as a great opportunity for social development. He pointed to the North West Province, where the expansion of mining operations has led to notable job creation and improved infrastructure. “With other mining companies coming up in the Northern Cape, it will definitely develop along the same lines,” he said. The consequent job creation could help reduce poverty and unemployment in the region.

“These projects aren’t just about today,” he said. The real reward is in knowing that the work that the team at UMK does today will give future generations a better start. He believes that businesses have a responsibility to do more than write a cheque; they have a role to play in creating lasting value. It is this sense of purpose that keeps him motivated. ““It’s about making sure the work we do has a real impact.”

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Category: Press