SMD responds to needs of community

Ntsoaki Motaung

Through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, the Storm Mountain Diamonds (Pty) Ltd (“SMD”) mine has implemented and completed their social responsibility projects in the communities surrounding their operations.

The projects will be handed over on November 18, 2021 at a ceremony to be held at Shishila Primary School in Kao Ha Shishila in the Botha Bothe district and is expected to be graced by the presence of ministers of Mining, Water Affairs and Education and Training.  

Malehlohonolo Mojaki CSR Sustainability Manager, pointed out in a statement that the mine has implemented and completed the Lihloahloeng Drinking Water Project. SMD has set up an independent drinking water network that gives the community of Lihloahloeng fresh drinking water with multiple standpipes in the village thus making access to clean drinking water a reality to the community.

“SMD has built new teacher’s toilets as there were no teachers’ toilets at the school. The mine has also built new toilets for the students as the old toilets were not adequate and had been dilapidated so much that they were a danger to the health of the children using them,” she said.

According to the statement, the mine also built the Shishila Primary School Staff Room and Storeroom. “The school previously had a park home donated by the mine to be used as a staff room. The mine then later saw it fit to construct an actual building that will last indefinitely. The storeroom will also aid in the safe keeping of the school equipment.”

The Mine will also handover the Shishila Primary School Piggery Project that will help create income for the school and will also be a beneficial agriculture project for the students where they can practically learn how to rear pigs.

As an added incentive to the children attending Shishila Primary School, the mine will also handover School shoes to the children that attend school at Shishila Primary School.

SMD operates a diamond mine in the Kao area of the Botha Bothe District. SMD is jointly owned by Namakwa Diamonds and the Government of Lesotho. The Mine has an active CSR program aimed at improving the livelihoods of the communities surrounding our operations.