NEAL FRONEMAN: Earning the trust of our neighbours is crucial for miners
The first step towards full reconciliation within our communities is to honestly acknowledge the role of our industry in the past
Developing and maintaining trust, and getting the support of stakeholders, are fundamental bases for companies to be successful and sustainable. And while this is critical in any business anywhere in the world, it is even more important in the mining industry in SA given our demographic profile and social challenges. For mining companies, a primary focus needs to be on the stakeholders at and around our operations; in essence, our neighbours.
It’s a homily that trust is earned, but that doesn’t make it less true. Only through a process of constructive and transparent engagement can we achieve mutually acceptable and constructive ends: where listening is more important than telling; where time is given and taken to collaboratively work through problems and solutions; where engagement is inclusive and broad-based rather than exclusive; and where we approach any challenge with humility and vulnerability because we don’t have all the answers, and in fact may never have them...
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