Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has had a fascinating visit to South Africa, with a stop at the renowned Venetia diamond mine in Limpopo, where she got a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes.
Nyong’o, who is De Beers’ global ambassador, was shown how each facet of the production value chain supports sustainable development during her visit to the mine.
She was also taken on a tour of the 32 000-hectare Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve adjacent to the mine, which is owned and managed by De Beers.
The reserve provides a safe and protected habitat for a wide array of flora and fauna, including threatened and endangered species, as part of De Beers Group’s wide-ranging conservation efforts.
Nyong’o also witnessed De Beers’ Venetia’s Social and Labour Plans, empowering local communities through equal opportunities, education, early childhood development, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure support.
Speaking about the experience, she said: “I have had a relationship with De Beers jewellery for a while now, and I was very curious to go to the source and experience the journey a diamond makes first-hand. It was a pleasure to meet with the people at the mine, and I was especially struck by the female staff who are breaking barriers and having real success in a sector that has traditionally been the realm of men. It was illuminating and inspiring to meet women from the surrounding communities who occupy and thrive in technical roles, as drill operators, geologists, and engineers.’’
De Beers Group Managed Operations CEO Moses Madondo said: “We were delighted to host Lupita at Venetia and to showcase our world-class operations. There have been a lot of misperceptions about diamond mining, so it was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to show Lupita the best-practice employment and sustainability standards we have at Venetia, highlight some of the vital ways in which the mine supports and advances the local community, and take her to our majestic Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve, which is home to some of South Africa’s most celebrated wildlife. We’re incredibly proud of the positive impact that natural diamonds create in our host countries and communities, where they are a true catalyst for sustainable development.”
It is explained that South Africa’s leading diamond mine is transitioning to underground operations for the first time, a $2.3 billion (R42bn) project aimed at extending its life and providing jobs until the mid-2040s and retraining its workforce in hi-tech skills.
The Star
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za