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  • August 2026

 Powering possibility, one step at a time

Exxaro and the DMPR provided 1 650 learners with school shoes to walk into their future with confidence.

Every learner deserves to participate in their education with dignity and confidence. In celebration of Youth Month, we partnered with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) to donate 1 650 pairs of school shoes to learners at Mana High School in Kwa-Mdakane, a community in the Dannhauser area of Kwa-Zulu Natal, as part of the Ministerial Outreach Programme.

The initiative supports our broader focus on youth development and education in communities, while responding to a practical need experienced by learners. Addressing learners, Minister Gwede Mantashe shared a personal story about receiving his first pair of school shoes as a child and encouraged them to pursue their education regardless of their circumstances.

“Growing up in a rural community is not a curse,” he said, encouraging learners to embrace the opportunities ahead.

Speaking on behalf of Exxaro, Nicholas Makola, Environmental Practitioner at our Durnacol Mine in Closure, reinforced our belief in the potential of young people and how investing in their future helps create opportunities for them to power their possibilities.

Why this matters: Supporting education also means understanding the practical barriers learners face. Through partnerships such as this, we can respond to immediate needs while contributing to our broader social impact focus on young people and education.

The reason that we’re here is that we want to power the possibility that is in you.”

Nicholas Makola, Environmental Practitioner, Durnacol Mine in Closure

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