Community

Zeerust Solar is focused on empowering and strengthening the local communities in and around the Ramotshere Local Municipality area in the North West Province.

This includes Ikageleng, Henryville, Olienhout Park, Shalimar Park, Welbedacht (Lehurutshe Town) and Groot Marico, as well as extending to 40 villages located within the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipal area.

The approach is characterised by continuous engagement, the sharing of knowledge and experiences, and a focus on relevance and practicality of projects supported. All of Zeerust Solar’s local economic development programmes are results and impact-driven; designed to be sustainable and make a lasting difference in communities within which the company operates.

The beneficiary communities will benefit directly from the economic development programmes, for the duration of the solar plant’s twenty-year operation period, in accordance with the plant operating agreement.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FLAGSHIP PROJECTS

The focus of Zeerust Solar’s Socio-Economic Development (SED) Projects will be on Education, Youth Development, Health, Enterprise Development, and Welfare. The programmes have been chosen following research and engagement to ensure that the programmes are well informed.

Education

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

Provision of Education Resources and Play Equipment: 
Early Childhood Development for children between the ages of 0 and 6 years is critical in determining the success of the child’s academic foundations. It is with this belief that Zeerust Solar Power will prioritise ECD Centres requiring educational resources and play equipment, both of which are vital for development.

Primary and High School Minor Infrastructure Upgrades

Zeerust Solar will assess the condition of the Primary and High Schools in the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality and prioritise minor improvements such as appropriate ablution facilities; provision of drinking water; and repairs. Local service providers will implement the required upgrades.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES

A number of initiatives supporting young people in the development of skills to deal with the pressures of adolescence, to secure job opportunities; to create entrepreneurs; and to ensure the overall well-being of young people, will be implemented.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Access to tertiary studies is a high priority, with full Scholarships being made available to qualifying learners, to attend Universities and other Tertiary institutions.

GOODWILL PROJECTS

A small percentage (20%) of the SED Budget will be made available for the implementation and support of our ‘Hearts and Minds Initiatives’. These projects will be supported according to merit.

Health

COMMUNITY MOBILE CLINIC

As 70% of the Local Municipality is rural, a mobile clinic will be established in partnership with the District Department of Health to ensure that basic health services and medication are accessible to community members. The mobile clinic will include services such as:

• Health education and promotion;
• Provision of onsite services;
• Administration of medication; and
• Follow up and referral

Enterprise Development

A percentage of the revenue generated each year will be committed to implementing Enterprise Development (EnD) initiatives, to build resilience and accelerate the growth and success of entrepreneurial businesses, ultimately stimulating the local economic growth and creating opportunities for the economic participation of previously disadvantaged groups.

A community workshop was held during 2019, which drew in 153 SMMEs in the Local Municipality. An assessment of the needs of the SMMEs was conducted to develop a tailor-made rural Enterprise Development Programme. Following this initial engagement, a mass business skills training programme is being implemented to expose as many entrepreneurs as possible from the six identified peri-towns of Zeerust (50km radius communities) to accredited and practical business skills training programme.