Press Releases

Thuthukani, Thungela’s Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programme, announces the signing of a co-funding agreement with Absa, one of South Africa’s leading financial services providers. Absa will reserve R200 million, reviewable annually, for Thuthukani beneficiaries using their new or existing contracts with Thungela as collateral. 

Thuthukani, derives its name from the Zulu word translated “uplift.” The programme focuses on cultivating local businesses through the provision of business skills training and coaching, access to funding and technical enablement. This co-funding agreement further empowers them to seize opportunities within Thungela’s value chain. 

Mpumi Sithole, Executive Head for Corporate Affairs at Thungela says, “I am pleased that our partnership with Absa will make funding more accessible for local SMMEs with new and existing contracts with us. In 2023, Thuthukani disbursed R21.6 million in loans, leading to the creation of 114 jobs. To this end, we couldn’t support businesses requiring loan funding beyond this threshold, as larger contracts require substantial funding that Thuthukani alone could not provide. This partnership with Absa will close this funding gap for SMMEs, opening opportunities for them to pursue larger projects.”

Absa will manage the loan application process on their ESD portal, subject to a recommendation from Thuthukani. The portal is critical in ensuring funds are accessible to the approved beneficiaries, offering loans at a prime-linked interest rate.

Kgalaletso Tlhoaele, Executive for Enterprise Development at Absa Relationship Banking says, “This agreement highlights Absa’s dedication to enabling financial inclusion for SMMEs while also fostering sustainable economic growth across various sectors. The allocation aims to provide substantial financial support that empowers SMMEs to expand, innovate and achieve long-term sustainability. It also underscores our commitment to being an active force for good in society – enabling us to achieve our goal to support mining communities and create a robust environment where small and medium enterprises can thrive.”

This partnership targets SMMEs in municipalities hosting Thungela’s operations such as eMalahleni, Steve Tshwete and Govan Mbeki.

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Thuthukani, Thungela’s enterprise supplier development (ESD) programme hosted a graduation ceremony in honour of sixty-one (61) local entrepreneurs from communities surrounding its operations, who completed the programme. This is the second cohort of entrepreneurs to complete the programme since its inception in 2022.

The training programme is provided by business development support partner, Raizcorp, a pioneering business incubator that supports the growth of small and medium-sized businesses. The programme equips entrepreneurs with business-skills training, technical enablement and comprehensive mentorship to build sustainable and profitable businesses.

Mpumi Sithole, Executive Head for Corporate Affairs at Thungela said: "In the hands of small business owners lies the power to create jobs, transform lives and uplift communities, fostering resilience with every venture. We are proud of this cohort as they set out to make a positive impact in the community.”

Thuthukani exemplifies the spirit of transformation and empowerment, which honours the legacy of the 30 years of democracy by driving meaningful change in our host communities. Thuthukani promotes the growth and development of entrepreneurs to help improve access to income generation opportunities and reduce reliance on mines, which is in line with Thungela’s socio-economic development impact goals.

This year's cohort has demonstrated remarkable growth and progress, with many of them already reporting significant increases in revenue and expansion into new markets. One of the beneficiaries, David Mphikeleli Mavuso, owner of Mphikeleli's Civils and Building CC, said: “I joined the programme to enhance my business management skills and I am grateful that the programme has helped me acquire invaluable insights into finance and marketing through the Supply Chain Support course. Thanks to Thuthukani, I have since been able to expand my business to other provinces across South Africa.”

Jeanne Renou Raizcorp’s Strategic Relations & Projects Manager said: “Partnering with Thuthukani has allowed us to directly contribute to the growth and development of many small and medium businesses in Mpumalanga. Seeing these business owners succeed shows that we are making progress in growing and developing entrepreneurs.”

The Thuthukani ESD programme is tailored to support entrepreneurs based on individual needs identified through a detailed gap analysis. Graduates completed training sessions covering entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, sales, project strategy, leadership and management, mentorship and guidance, personal development and ISO certifications. The courses were aimed at enhancing competitiveness for supply chain opportunities and improve financial and business management skills for the future.

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[JOHANNESBURG, 18 JANUARY] - Thungela, a leading pure-play producer and exporter of high-quality thermal coal, has been honoured with the Top Employer Certification, securing an impressive score of 87.86%. This prestigious certification reflects Thungela's commitment to excellence in various key areas of organisational development.

Showcasing excellence, Thungela achieved an impeccable 100% score in business strategy, employer branding, talent acquisition, ethics, and integrity. This accomplishment not only reinforces Thungela’s status as a leader but highlights its commitment to maintaining high standards for vital operational standards. These achievements are indicative of Thungela’s persistent efforts to promote transparency, uphold integrity, and pursue a strategic vision that aligns with business ethics and effective talent management.

Lesego Mataboge, the Executive Head of Human Resources at Thungela, says: “Thungela's three consecutive Top Employer Certifications signify our unwavering dedication to fostering an exceptional workplace. This award reaffirms our belief that a supportive, safe, and thriving workplace is the foundation of sustained success, and we are excited to continue this journey of excellence, while creating value for a shared future.”

The leadership team at Thungela continues to shine with a remarkable 95% score, emphasising the company’s commitment to cultivating a leadership that drives innovation and success. In the sustainability category, Thungela earned a notable 94.83%, showcasing the company's commitment to environmental responsibility. The 97.58% score in performance highlights Thungela's ongoing dedication to achieving operational excellence and delivering value to its stakeholders.

The Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognising excellence in people practices and has certified 2,053 organisations in 121 countries/regions since 1991. The certification is given if the people and practices at the organisation can pass the HR Survey, which is based on six key HR themes: steer, shape, attract, develop, engage, and unite.

For three consecutive years, Thungela has achieved the Top Employers Certification, showcasing not only its current successes but also its steadfast commitment to being a forefront advocate for a positive, inclusive, and forward-thinking workplace environment. This recognition once again confirms that Thungela is a people-centric business built on their people, for their people.

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Thungela, in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Department of Education, officially launches the Thungela Education Initiative, aimed at improving access to quality education for learners in the foundation and intermediate phases, from grades R to 4, in 45 “no-fee" schools, and provide support to educators. This dynamic five-year initiative with an investment of R160 million, will be implemented in two of the four district municipalities in Mpumalanga, where Thungela operations are located.

July Ndlovu, CEO of Thungela, says, “We are proud to launch an initiative that seeks to deliver solutions to one of the three national imperatives: access to quality education. Joining forces with a partner whose mandate it is to provide an education of progressively high quality for all learners is an honour for us. Our purpose ‘to responsibly create value together for a shared future’, compels us to be intentional about bringing change in communities where we operate.”

“I am deeply passionate about education and believe that the foundation we set today will position our children for success. Together with the Mpumalanga Department of Education, we aim to augment the traditional approach to education, addressing multiple facets that contribute to the development of children, ensuring that they are well-rounded young individuals.”

The formative years are the most fundamental stages in children’s cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development. The launch of this initiative follows baseline assessments conducted to understand the challenges faced by learners in this phase of learning, and the findings of these assessments informed the model of the education initiative Thungela is launching today. 

Bonakele Majuba, MEC of the Mpumalanga Department of Education, says: "Our focus going forward, will be to strengthen primary schooling as well as the Early Childhood Development in the Province. We will continue to support all our schools and learners while we intensify collaboration with private institutions, Community Based Organisations and NGOs. This year, we will partner with several institutions and organisations to build a solid foundation for the growth of our system, and through this collaboration with Thungela we aim to improve learning and teaching in some of the primary schools in Nkangala and Gert Sibande Districts.”

The roll-out of this initiative will commence in the first quarter of 2024 and this will include amongst other components, improving school readiness, enhancing literacy and numeracy, elevating the skills of educators and school management teams, and refurbishing infrastructure to support optimal teaching and learning. Thungela will also partner with expert organisations to provide psycho-social support and drive increased parental involvement in the children’s development.

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Thungela announced the successful registration of Thungela Marketing International (“TMI”) with the Dubai Multi Commodity Centre Authority (DMMCA) as of 15 December 2023.

The Dubai office will house the export marketing team, operating under Thungela Marketing International and this team will be responsible for overseeing a broad range of marketing functions, catering to both the South African and Australian assets.

July Ndlovu, CEO of Thungela said, “This is a key milestone towards fulfilling one of our strategic objectives - to create future diversification options. TMI gives us direct access to seaborne markets and helps us to strengthen relationships with our customers. Our presence in Dubai is testament of the steps we are taking to realise geographic diversification and becoming a key player in the international market.

The expansion into Dubai underscores Thungela’s intention to stay attuned to the needs of customers and the global commodities market, deliberately positioning the Company as a coal producer with a global footprint.

Further details on TMI will be provided at the upcoming annual financial results presentation in March.

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