A leading construction materials company, in partnership with the Mining Qualification Authority (MQA) and Media Works, has joined forces with community members in Rustenburg to create learning possibilities through the Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) Programme.

Last month AfriSam honoured community members who successfully completed the ABET programme at a ceremony held at Tlhage Primary School in Rustenburg.

Out of the 24 community members who started training in January, 11 successfully graduated and were awarded with certificates by AfriSam.

The graduates also received a stipend from MQA, a Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA), responsible for the administration of skills development programmes for the mining and minerals sector in South Africa.

“We hope that the graduates are more than motivated and encouraged to continue learning, with the vision of a better future for themselves and their communities,” says Learning and Development Manager at AfriSam, Johan du Toit.

“Our role as AfriSam is to create possibilities and uphold our legacy of building communities by making it possible for our people to realise their dreams for the future benefit of our country.”

AfriSam’s commitment to the programme is in line with the company’s overall community involvement mission, which is to understand the needs of society and communities in areas where it does business, and make meaningful and sustainable contributions to their upliftment.

“The Royal Bafokeng Nation is proud of AfriSam’s commitment and passion towards the development of education for our people,” says Traditional Councillor of the Royal Bafokeng Nation, Khutsafalo Tsebe.

“Education is the key to success, and our mission and vision as the Bafokeng Nation is to invest in upgrading the standard of our country’s education. We thank AfriSam for joining us in this mission, and we hope they keep up this excellent standard.”

The ABET programme has also been extended to KwaZulu-Natal where 62 community members enrolled for training in January, 59 successfully graduated and were awarded with certificates by AfriSam.