Surface gold recovery company DRDGOLD has handed over an agriculture and entrepreneurship project to the community of Riverlea, west of Johannesburg, near its Ergo mining operation.

DRDGOLD is creating self-sustaining livelihoods in urban agriculture and entrepreneurship through the development of the Ergo Riverlea Livelihoods programme, which forms part of Ergo’s social and labour plan and the larger Sustainable Livelihoods initiative.

The programme was established in response to a request from the Federation for a Sustainable Environment and the Riverlea Mining Forum for DRDGOLD to create economic opportunities for the people of Riverlea and the Zamimpilo informal settlement.

DRDGOLD is investing R3-million into agricultural livelihoods and farming entrepreneurship development in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni between 2024 and 2025.

The Riverlea project is supported by the City of Johannesburg, as well as nonprofit organisation Let’s Grow SA, with the organisation having transformed an unused agricultural facility into a bustling agricultural, training and entrepreneurial hub.

In addition to project infrastructure such as greenhouse tunnels, rainwater harvesting tanks and drip irrigation systems, the facility’s shared space is used for agriculture and business training and has created the potential for additional income streams.

A seedling nursery, for example, can provide for agricultural activity at the centre, but also for sales to community farmers and beyond.

DRDGOLD human and social capital senior manager Wayne Swanepoel says the project captures the ethos of Ergo’s Sustainable Livelihoods initiative, which is to bring about a shift from prevailing scarcity, dependency and welfare mindsets to productive economic activity, self-reliance and value-creation mindsets.

“This is our flagship and staple programme for providing social and economic livelihood opportunities for thousands and thousands of people living in poverty and facing unemployment who come to Ergo for opportunities.

“The project uses regenerative, climate-smart, organic deep trenching methodologies that enhance soil fertility, promote healthier crops and are cost-effective and environmentally sustainable,” Swanepoel explains.  

In addition to a dedicated area for seed propagation, four open land planting areas have been created for a variety of crops such as maize, tomatoes, green peppers and watermelon, as well a variety of fruit trees and creeping fruits, including kiwi and grapes, are being established, alongside a dedicated herb section for propagation.

As part of the ongoing Ergo Sustainable Livelihoods programme, training of interested community members will continue in Riverlea, Zamimpilo and surrounds in an effort to achieve a broader impact.

Ergo’s flagship programme is open to anyone interested in participating in or presenting opportunities to create self-sustaining livelihoods through agriculture and entrepreneurship.

DRDGOLD designed and established Ergo Sustainable Livelihoods as a unique development initiative in 2018 to reach as many underdeveloped communities as possible with livelihoods skills development. Its intention is to enable greater participation by previously excluded people in the local economy, especially women and youth.

The programme stretches from Ergo’s ‘home’ communities from the East Rand (Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality) to the West Rand (Johannesburg metropolitan municipality), and towards Carletonville (Merafong municipality). Various subprogrammes are offered, including vegetable production, cattle and poultry rearing, economic activation and business fundamentals.

Swanepoel says the programme has achieved an extensive and broad-based reach, and has successfully mobilised people in need, providing them with food security and opportunities to earn a living for their families.

“Much of this has been achieved through the establishment of learning groups, with a dedicated cohort of beneficiaries located in a central point of a specific community area. The Learning Group is where they receive structured training, mentorship, skills and implementation application,” he adds.  

The training is closely located to their households, production areas and business areas. The beneficiaries then implement what they have learnt in their agricultural business or economic activities.

Since the Sustainable Livelihoods programme started, more than 11 200 community members have directly benefited, with 215 learning groups in 42 communities having been established across Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Merafong.