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Societal contribution 

Making a meaningful contribution

We are committed to making a meaningful contribution to people’s lives by creating lasting social, environmental and economic value.

We create value in the communities where we operate and make a positive contribution to society more broadly by providing the commodities the world needs, paying taxes and royalties, providing jobs, developing local suppliers, investing in community programs and providing returns to shareholders.

FY22 at a glance

US$31.1m (↑40%)

investment in community iniatives

US$907m

local procurement

US$1,447m

payment of taxes and royalties

Our stakeholders work with our community specialists and operational leaders to design community investment programs that reflect their aspirations and needs and contribute to the social, economic and institutional development of host countries and communities.

Our global community investment program focuses on four areas:

  • Education and leadership – supporting lifelong learning and development, nurturing future leaders and promoting equal access to education, with a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics;
  • Good health and social wellbeing –supporting community health and social wellbeing and promoting inclusion;
  • Economic participation – supporting local employment, sustainable livelihoods and diversified local economies; and
  • Natural resource resilience – supporting communities to thrive within their environments, conservation and restoration of the natural environment, and the use of natural resources in responsible and sustainable ways.

No matter where we’re working, we have a rigorous process to understand our communities. We regularly complete and review Social Baseline studies, Social Impact and Opportunity Assessments, Community Perception Surveys and Stakeholder Identification and Analysis to identify and understand who our stakeholders are.

We always aim to build strong, honest and meaningful relationships with local communities, so that we’re ready to listen and act on their needs, wants and concerns.

The mining industry plays a critical role in South Africa’s economic development as a major contributor to the economy, significant employer and attractor of foreign investment.

The Broad-Based Socio-Economic Empowerment Charter for the Mining and Minerals Industry was implemented in 2004 to advance economic transformation and enhance the economic participation of Black People in the South African economy.

South Africa’s transformation imperative aligns to South32’s purpose. We recognise the role that we play in shaping a better future in South Africa through economic transformation and continue to focus on employment equity, Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD), community investment, employment, skills development and local economic development.

Growing and developing small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) is fundamental to the transformation of the South African economy. We collaborate and work with SMMEs on ESD.

Employment is an important way in which we contribute to socio-economic development.

We provide employment opportunities in all countries and jurisdictions where we operate or have a presence. We aim to be an employer of choice, providing an inclusive work environment and competitive remuneration to attract and retain great talent. Our internal human resources tandard guides the management of our people.

Supporting local suppliers helps to develop and strengthen local value chains. We source goods and services within local communities, where possible, and set targets at many of our operations for local business spend that take into consideration legislative requirements.

Our internal supply standard guides the sourcing of nontraded goods and services. 

We are committed to providing genuine access and support to build the capability and capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, to better enable them to work with South32.

The payment of taxes is a key mechanism where we contribute to the economies of the countries we operate in. Our approach is aligned with the ICMM Position Statement on Mineral Revenues and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which promotes open and accountable management of mineral resource wealth.

We contribute financially to the EITI through our membership of the ICMM. This supports the EITI’s ongoing activities which goes towards promoting open and accountable management of mineral resource wealth. The EITI confirmed that South32 meets all the expectations for supporting companies.

We support the public disclosure of payments made to governments and communities, and the public disclosure by governments on contracts and licences for the exploitation of minerals and other natural resources.

Each year, we publish a Tax Transparency and Payments to Governments Report, which allows us to demonstrate that our tax affairs are conducted in accordance with our commitment to ethical business practices. 

Learn more in our Tax Transparency ReportSubsidiaries Incorporation and Tax Residency by Country report and ESTMA Report.

We aim to maximise total shareholder returns over time. Our capital management framework guides our capital allocation priorities and returns excess capital efficiently.  

Learn more in the Investors section of this site.

Kotulong Community Centre Relocation Project

An aerial photo of Kotulong Community Centre in Meyerton, South Africa

Kotulong Community Centre Relocation Project

Earlier this year, construction was completed of the new sustainable Kotulong Community Centre (KCC), a local Non-Government Organisation working with vulnerable children in Meyerton, Gauteng.

The centre was developed and handed over in partnership with the Department of Social Development and the KCC management and Board. It will provide the children with a safe place to call home in a more suitable environment. The new building has seven three-bedroom units, a kitchen and laundry area, administration block, library and social worker unit.