In 2024, Canyon Coal offered Mmeli Zwane who owns a start-up business a contract to provide cleaning and maintenance services at its mine Gugulethu Colliery.
It was a breakthrough he had been wishing for.
Canyon Coal utilises procurement opportunities to create a platform for youth-owned enterprises in the communities where it operates, enabling them to grow.
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Zwane grew up in KwaDela township, near Hendrina in Mpumalanga, just a few kilometres from where the company’s Gugulethu Colliery is situated.
He ounded his company, Bhovabami Projects, almost five years ago after graduating with a Public Management and Governance degree from the University of Johannesburg.
Coming back home from university, Zwane found securing a job harder than he had anticipated.
Growing up, he helped his parents with stocktaking and buying items from the wholesalers for their spaza shop. Given his background, Zwane decided to start a business.
“Even though there were no job opportunities, I decided to start a business,” said Zwane.
At the time, he only had R200 he had borrowed from his mother’s savings to register a company. After that, he got a short contract to erect fencing and provide grass-cutting services at another mine in the area.
Making up over 30% of the population, SA’s youthful demographic is probably the envy of other countries around the world, facing birthrate declines and dwindling youth numbers.
However, high unemployment and a lack of skills have resulted in low economic participation among SA’s youth. The frustration is also felt by small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which struggle to gain a foothold due to a lack of support and access to resources.
For Zwane, working with Canyon Coal has provided exposure and helped him stabilise his business. He now employs 12 people from the local community.
The team is responsible for cleaning offices and changing rooms around the mine, as well as providing grass-cutting services.
“We are steadily growing with the mine. I think this journey has taught me a lot about managing a company,” Zwane remarked.
The exposure has helped him invest in services such as outsourcing a human resources consultant to ensure labour law compliance, looking after finances and ensuring the business has the equipment it needs to operate.
“It is just a big opportunity for us to create jobs for others. If you go around the townships in SA, there are high levels of unemployment,” Zwane said.
From time to time, Canyon Coal hosts procurement workshops for local businesses in its various host communities.
These workshops familiarise local suppliers with the company’s procurement systems and give step-by-step instructions on how to apply for contracts.
These community outreach efforts are critical in ensuring that youth-led businesses are equipped with the correct information to stand a chance at qualifying for opportunities.
Waste management and recycling company, Expert Glide, also has a contract with the mine.
Co-founded by Lindokuhle Motha and Jabulani Zwane, the company provides waste disposal services to Gugulethu Colliery.
“Starting the business, we had no capital. Despite these challenges, we had to be resourceful in raising the funds needed to launch,” says Motha.
Once the business was up and running, their first clients were local farmers and they saw more growth after getting the opportunity to work with Gugulethu.
“We began to gain more exposure and secured contracts with other mines. This marked a significant period of growth for our business,” Motha said.
Expert Glide’s operations encompass waste collection, steel and high-density polyethylene pipe recycling, and the provision of six refuse bins to Gugulethu.
Three of the bins are located around the site and another three are at the processing plant.
The company’s team comprises one driver, two general workers and a manager.
Motha is a hands-on manager, who often helps his team during busy days. Looking ahead, Expert Glide plans to expand its services to surrounding areas, targeting local companies and municipalities.
The Advertorial is produced by Canyon Coal
