07/12/2025
Belfast Coal Social Labour Plan Project Successfully Handed Over in Emakhazeni
Emakhazeni – The Emakhazeni Local Municipality and Exxaro Resources commemorated the completion of the Belfast Coal Social and Labour Plan (SLP) street upgrade project with a ceremonial handover on 4 December 2025. The event, held at the council chambers, was followed by a ribbon-cutting on Duggan Street, adjacent to the HA Groeve Hospital in Ward 8.
With a total investment of R15 million across two phases, the project delivers significant infrastructure improvements. These include upgraded internal roads and stormwater drainage systems, newly installed pedestrian sidewalks, demarcated parking bays, and enhanced road signage and markings. This handover highlights Exxaro's sustained commitment to improving service delivery, strengthening local infrastructure, and fostering socio-economic development.
Strategically, several of the upgraded roads now provide improved access to the R540 regional route, a vital artery connecting Belfast, Dullstroom, and Lydenburg. This enhancement supports both daily community mobility and the growing local tourism sector.
The project’s impact extends beyond infrastructure, having created 217 local jobs and providing growth opportunities for 21 Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). Its benefits have also positively impacted broader community sectors, including Education, SMME development, and Agriculture.
The ceremony was chaired by Council Speaker, Cllr Lucky Ndinisa, who conducted the proceedings with professional flair. Ward 8 Councillor Siyaphi Mthimunye opened the programme with a prayer, calling the day “wonderful.” MMC Cllr Seun Mthimunye welcomed stakeholders and emphasised the importance of continued strong collaboration between the mining sector and the municipality.
Mr Sizwe Moroku, Acting General Manager of Belfast Coal (Exxaro), highlighted the project's focus on youth-led Local Economic Development (LED) initiatives, affirming that the community’s future remains bright. Ms Tebogo Leepile, Group Manager for Stakeholder Relations, reinforced that the partnership is fundamental to community development, stating, "The company does not exist in isolation but is an integral part of the communities in which it operates."
In his keynote address, Acting Executive Mayor Cllr J Mabila reiterated that true development is achieved through solution-seeking partnerships, not confrontation. He pledged that the municipality’s Programme of Action would maintain high service-delivery standards and sustain this collaborative model for future SLP projects. Chief Whip Cllr T Lukhele concluded the formal speeches by thanking all participants and echoing the Mayor’s focus on economic development and job creation.
The event culminated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, symbolising the formal handover of the completed streets to the community. The ribbon was cut by the Acting Executive Mayor, Speaker Ndinisa, MPAC Chairperson Cllr D Mahlangu, MMCs, the Chief Whip, Ward 8 Cllr Mthimunye, and senior Exxaro representatives.