Friday 13th lucky for Palabora

2007-04-16

Friday the thirteenth might be considered unlucky, but it certainly wasn’t a bad night for Palabora Mining Company and the Palabora Foundation. Mopani Country Lodge hosted a gala dinner on Friday night for Phalaborwa’s Chamber of Business awards, attended by well over a hundred local business people and special guest Alec Erwin, Minister of Public Enterprises.

Palabora and the Foundation proved their worth to Phalaborwa once again by scooping three of the seven major awards and three certificates of excellence, as well as having been nominated in four categories. The mine and its related non-profit organisation took home the following accolades:

Tourism Contributor of the Year: Bollanoto Tourism Office

Opened in July 2006 with a grant from the European Union and staff from the Palabora Foundation, the Bollanoto Tourism Office has proved itself indispensible already. They have secured fantastic publicity for our town including TV appearances on the Ladies & Legends Golf Tournament, Kyknet’s Tuin, a feature on the Africa Travel Channel, articles in countless national magazines, and they have been instrumental in starting the new Limpopo Birdlife SA route.

Newsmaker of the Year: Palabora Mining Company

Palabora, through its work at the Palabora Foundation, secured two prestigious national awards during 2006. Palabora won the Corporate Category in the Sowetan/Old Mutual/SABC Community Builder of the Year Competition, as well as the Nedbank Capital Green Mining Award for the best corporate socio-economic programme. Although all mines in South Africa are required to take part in such programmes, Palabora has taken its responsibilities very seriously and regularly surpasses the legal requirements to the benefit of Phalaborwa’s future.

Employee of the Year: Nadia Hanekom and Koketso Moagi (joint winners)

Nadia and Koketso are the cheerful pair who greet visitors to the Bollanoto Tourism Office. It is said, “they can’t be faulted on going the extra mile, giving the extra smile, and making our visitors want to return”. They have made a great contribution to promoting tourism in Phalaborwa.

Other awards

Palabora and the Palabora Foundation also picked up some of the certificates of excellence that were presented by Minister Alec Erwin at the gala evening. These included:

PMC Management Team: in recognition of their economic contribution to the region.

PROTEC Phalaborwa: for assisting disadvantaged learners in reaching tertiary education. The PROTEC programme is funded by Palabora, Foskor Ltd and Sasol Nitro.

Phalaborwa Trade & Tourism Council: in recognition of their contribution to the development of trade and tourism in Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality. (The Palabora Foundation is a key member of the Council and the award was accepted by their representative from Bollanoto, Mark Glanvill.)

Last, but by no means least, SHE Rasebotsa was nominated for Community Builder of the Year for her work on the Foundation’s HIV and AIDS community programme. The Ba-Phalaborwa HIV and AIDS awareness programme was initiated in the area at the beginning of 2001 and is funded by Palabora Mining Company, the Limpopo Province Department of Health and Social Development, Foskor Limited, Sasol Nitro, Oxfam Australia and the National Development Agency.

She was pipped to the post by worthy winner, Maatjie Wandrag, who has founded many worthwhile community services in Phalaborwa, from Frangipani School for the Disabled to Maroela House, the refuge for women and children.

Full list of winners

Certificates of Excellence:

Phalaborwa Hospital Laboratory
Palabora Mining Company
Foskor Ltd
Mopani South East FET College
PROTEC Phalaborwa
Phalaborwa Trade & Tourism Council
NTT Toyota
Dr Basil Khosa
MEC Seaparo Sekoati

Awards:

Tourism Contributor of the Year: Bollanoto Tourism Office
Community Builder of the Year: Maatjie Wandrag (Magnus Kleuterskool)
Upcoming Entrepreneur of the Year: Ilanga Construction
Accommodation Establishment of the Year: Forever Resorts Safari Park
Newsmaker of the Year: Palabora Mining Company
Employee of the Year: Nadia Hanekom and Koketso Moagi (Bollanoto Tourism Office)
Business Person of the Year: Bill Smith (LA Crushers)

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