Empowering communities

By partnering to address socio-economic challenges facing the countries in which we operate, we create more resilient and empowered communities and achieve broader impact with our contributions to the SDGs.

Our FY24 performance was driven by collaboration with strategic partners, proactive risk management and stakeholder engagement during project planning and implementation.

In FY24:

• We spent R19.9 billion on empowering our communities
• Of this investment, R14.8 billion was spent in South Africa, R2.8 billion in Papua New Guinea, and R2.3 billion in Australia

Our approach

Our commitments to community development arise from voluntary corporate social investment across all regions, regulation in our host countries and region-specific formal agreements in Papua New Guinea and Australia. Implementation of our socio-economic development initiatives are underpinned by stakeholder partnerships and collaboration, and a deep respect for the culture and heritage of the communities in our host countries.

Community development initiatives

We implement socio-economic development initiatives aligned with national job creation and poverty alleviation imperatives. Our projects promote and support community empowerment, sustainable development and human dignity.

Corporate Social Investment (CSI) beyond compliance

CSI reflects our company’s commitment to responsible stewardship and our social licence to operate. Our CSI programme targets key challenges such as poverty, unemployment and inequality in the communities where we operate.

Preferential procurement, local procurement, and enterprise and supplier development

In each of our host countries, we have regulatory or agreement-based commitments designed to encourage and create opportunities for local industries and communities to benefit from our presence through the provision of goods and services.

Regional performance

South Africa

In South Africa, community development was driven by both regulatory requirements (through our Social and Labour Plans) and CSI initiatives. We spent R80 million on mine community development programmes, focusing on agriculture, water infrastructure, SMME, skills development and other initiatives.

Notable projects included agricultural initiatives in areas like Wedela, Doornkop and Rietvallei, helping develop emerging farmers who now sell produce to Food Lover’s Market and local communities. The Virginia Sports Academy, celebrating 21 years, continued to identify and develop sporting talent while providing education support. Infrastructure development included significant investment in wastewater treatment plants and water supply systems. In education, the region supported various initiatives including building classrooms, providing ablution facilities, and equipping science laboratories.

The region’s CSI programme invested R20 million, positively impacting over 700 000 people in host communities. Projects included education support, crime prevention initiatives, and health and welfare programmes. A significant achievement was the partnership with the Safer South Africa Foundation to deliver community justice programmes, reaching 1 048 youth in five schools and four communities.

In terms of preferential procurement, the region spent R14.7 billion on black-owned vendors, with 64% of discretionary spend on suppliers with more than 50% black ownership. The enterprise and supplier development programme supported 209 entrepreneurs through incubation and 218 businesses through development initiatives. Notable success stories included Tailor Made Trading and Projects and Glorificar Trading, which created multiple job opportunities through Harmony’s support.

Our performance in FY24 was as follows:

Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea, community development was primarily guided by the Hidden Valley Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). The region spent R15 million on MoA programmes and R12 million into the Hidden Valley Mine Trust. Significant initiatives included a community health outreach programme benefiting 1 314 residents, infrastructure projects such as road maintenance and bridge construction, and agricultural development programmes supporting coffee growers and farmers. The region’s education support programme assisted 468 students through the Employee Dependent’s School Fees Programme and awarded scholarships to eight tertiary students.

We maintained a strong commitment to local procurement, with R2.7 billion spent on suppliers based in Papua New Guinea. Of this, 22% was spent on landowner companies, and 68% on suppliers based in Morobe Province. Major contracts with landowner companies included civil works, construction, transport, maintenance services and drilling services.

Australia

In Australia, community development efforts centred on establishing relationships with First Nation Australians, particularly the Kalkadoon People and Mitakoodi and Mayi People. The region created an interim social investment framework addressing obligations under the Native Title Agreement and broader community investment initiatives. The framework included a community grants programme supporting SDGs 1, 2 and 4, events and sponsorships celebrating local traditions, and active citizenship from the Eva Copper project team.

We implemented various community support initiatives, including contributions to local schools, sporting clubs, and cultural activities. Under the Australian Jobs Act 2013, the region established processes to provide full, fair and reasonable opportunities for Australian businesses to participate in the project’s supply chain. Cultural heritage management was a key focus, with extensive pre-clearance surveys conducted and the development of cultural heritage induction programmes for employees and contractors.