Black equity newcomer Isizulu gets historic edge
April 26, 2004
By Neesa Moodley
Durban - In a first for South Africa, newly formed empowerment company Isizulu Timbers has been awarded a licence for the harvesting of indigenous trees, facilitated by Richards Bay Minerals (RBM).
The harvesting will take place before RBM starts mining the Richards Bay sand dunes.
Previous mining operations have led to indigenous trees being burnt, wasting timber and releasing carbon dioxide.
Buse Mthiyane, the owner of Isizulu Timber, said the project had created 15 jobs. "We hope to grow that to about 25 with plans for a commercial nursery in the pipeline," he said.
The company uses five chainsaws, two loggers and a bakkie, and Mthiyane estimated start-up and operating costs would be R2.5 million. He does not expect to recover these costs in the first year. "It is a pilot project and we hope the contract will be renewed so profit margins can be realised and job opportunities maximised."
Welile Kedama, the indigenous forest manager at the department of water affairs and forestry, said: "Conditions of the licence stipulate harvesting may take place within 150m but not more than 400m of the mining."
The licence was issued for one year, subject to renewal, and was free of charge since it qualified as a community project.
The clearing of vegetation will take place ahead of the advancing mine plant, a dredger which moves forward by between 2m and 3m a day. Dunes are rehabilitated after mining.
No restrictions have been placed on the rate at which harvesting takes place. However, to control illegal trade of indigenous timber, the forestry department has restricted log movement to as far as Sokhulu in the north and Mtunzini in the south.
Kedama said there was no restriction on export but logs had to be processed within the restricted area.
Niels Kristensen, RBM's general manager of mining and planning, said Mthiyane had approached the company after he spotted a good opportunity.
"This fitted in with RBM's policy of job creation and local community empowerment."
The CSIR has undertaken a feasibility study, funded by RBM, on the manufacture of cutlery with wooden handles.
Former policeman Mthiyane started Isolezwe Security last August, generating 20 jobs. It is responsible for the security of RBM's Zulti North mining area.
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