Shadwick Bessit, Operations Director, Rustenburg, Impala Platinum

Interview: Shadwick Bessit, Operations Director, Rustenburg, Impala Platinum

Shadwick Bessit gained his National Higher Diploma in mining engineering in 1991 and became mine overseer at Elandsrand mine in Carletonville in 1992. By 1996 he was promoted to section manager at Elandsrand. Shadwick became production manager at Elandsrand, then general manager at Deelkraal. He returned to Elandsrand as general manager in 1999, before moving to Savuka mine, in the same position, in 2001. He joined Impala Platinum as general manager at its Rustenburg operations in 2002. Shadwick was appointed operations executive of Implats’ major operating arm, Impala Platinum in Rustenburg, and was appointed to the board of Implats in 2005 as an executive director.

Please give a brief history of Implats, and where do you currently operate?
Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (Implats), a leading global producer of platinum, produced 2.026-Moz of platinum (approximately 25% of global supply) and 3.858-Moz of platinum group metals in the 2007 financial year.

Implats’ mining operations are located on the western limb of the Bushveld Complex – Impala Platinum (Impala) – and on the eastern limb – Marula Platinum (Marula) and Two Rivers Platinum (Two Rivers). Impala and Marula are managed by Implats, while the Two Rivers joint venture is operated by Implats’ partner, African Rainbow Minerals.

Impala houses the group’s mineral processing assets, which together with its mining operation comprise Impala Rustenburg, as well as the precious and base metals refineries located in Springs. In addition, Implats has a 74% interest in the Leeuwkop project through its stake in Afplats. In Zimbabwe, Implats operates Zimplats Holdings Limited (Zimplats) and has a joint venture with Aquarius Platinum Limited in Mimosa Platinum.

Please give a history of Impala Rustenburg.
Impala, the group’s primary business unit, comprises the mining and processing operations which are located just north of Rustenburg, while the refining operation is situated in Springs. The mining operation comprises 14 operating shafts, five of which have underground decline systems (two are nearing completion) and two shafts which are in development. Mineral Processes houses the concentrator (milling, flotation and drying) and smelter operations. Refineries comprises both a base metals refinery and a precious metals refinery.

What have been some of Implats’ highlights?
The Bafokeng deal – Implats enhanced its BEE ownership levels when in April 2007 the group finalised a deal with Royal Bafokeng Holdings (Pty) Limited. Impala Platinum agreed to pay the Royal Bafokeng Nation (RBN) future royalties due to them thus discharging further obligation to pay royalties. In turn the RBN purchased 75.1-million Implats shares, giving them a 13.4% holding in the company. Implats also exceeded the production milestone of 2-Moz of platinum for the first time during the 2007 financial year.

How does Implats contribute to transformation in the industry?
Implats is committed to the transformation of the mining industry and believes that it is a strategic imperative for future sustainability. The group has used the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Mining Charter, Mining Scorecard and Codes of Good Practice as guidelines to ensure a holistic approach. The result is a proactive strategy designed to ensure that genuine transformation is achieved, notably in terms of ownership, management, skills development, employment equity, procurement, housing and rural development.

What challenges does the mining industry, and Impala Platinum, face?
The greatest challenge is the shortage of power from Eskom. We are in the process of optimising our operations within our power allocation to achieve a 10% reduction as requested by Eskom, while maintaining our production profile in order to satisfy our customer needs. Another challenge is safety, which is a priority. The group has taken steps to revitalise the fall of ground prevention campaign and increase focus on visible, felt leadership. Emphasis is also being placed on training and on behaviour-based initiatives. Other challenges are cost management and maintaining production levels.

How does the company contribute to the economy of the province?
Implats provides jobs to some 47 000 employees (including contractors) groupwide, of which 28 000 are in the North West province, as well as housing for employees and their families.

Implats’ socio-economic development activities are managed under the auspices of the Impala Community Development Trust (ICDT). Projects that the ICDT are currently involved with in the North West include:

• Ukuqonda Institute Maths and Science Project – Rustenburg: This project aims to increase the number of young black people from historically disadvantaged communities in the Rustenburg (Bojanala-West) area to become engineers and scientists.
• Vukuzenzele Primary School – Freedom Park: A new building and sports fields for the Vukuzenzele Primary School is a joint initiative between Impala Rustenburg and the North West Department of Education’s Bonjanala Region.
• Woodchips Project – Rustenburg: This award-winning project has created a small business for local community members, using waste products for an economic purpose.
• Small Business Development Projects – Bojanala District: Some R2.6-million was allocated towards the Small Business Development Projects in the Bojanala area in the 2007 financial year in an effort to support enterprise development in the region.
• Lebone Women Empowerment – Homebased Care Project: Implats assists the Greater Rustenburg Community Foundation which strives to create a stable and prosperous community through grant-making to improve the capacity of non-profit and communitybased organisations. The Lebone Women Empowerment – Home-based Care Project, which looks after 288 terminally ill patients in Boitekong, is an example of such an organisation.
• Tsholofelo Masego Children’s Project – Koster, west of Rustenburg: In the 2007 financial year Implats supported Tsholofelo Masego, a shelter for orphans and vulnerable children, with a grant.
• Business Against Crime – Labour-sending area, North West Province: The group assists with the support of eight police stations in North West Province through a partnership with Business Against Crime North West.
• Ikateleng Programme – Labour-sending area (Taung): Implats, through the North West University, offers classes on Saturdays to Grade 12 learners to assist them through supplementary teaching by dedicated teachers.
• EQUIP Programme – Labour-sending Area: Implats supports EQUIP (a partnership project between business, government and school communities) to improve conditions in disadvantaged schools in the province.
• Tapologo Programme – Bojanala District: Impala has been involved with Tapologo since its inception in 1994 and, under the guidance of Bishop Kevin Dowling, the programme has provided assistance to families affected by HIV/Aids in the communities around Rustenburg. Impala is engaging with the Rustenburg Local Municipality as part of our stakeholder engagement where we embark on the above projects that are included in their Integrated Development Plan.

www.implats.co.za

First published in North West Business 2008.