FOCUSING ON PEOPLE
In the rural communities around Venetia Mine, livelihoods are closely tied to the land, small businesses, and the everyday choices people make to provide for their families. For Venetia, focusing on people means recognising these realities and investing in pathways that help communities build lasting economic futures beyond the mine.
In 2026, Venetia Mine employed around 4,400 people, but its impact reaches far wider. Across Musina, Blouberg and surrounding villages, local farmers, entrepreneurs and families are creating opportunity through livelihoods programmes designed to turn potential into progress.
At the heart of this work is agriculture. In Blouberg, the Blouberg Agri Hub has become a catalyst for change. What began as a response to subsistence farming challenges has grown into a shared platform where emerging farmers gain access to infrastructure, technical support and routes to market. For many, this marks the first time farming feels like a viable business – one that supports household income, food security and dignity.
The Blouberg Agri Hub is strengthened by Venetia’s Rural Farmer Support Programme, which works closely with smallholder farmers across the region. Through practical training, mentoring and production support, farmers grow more, diversify crops and improve resilience to climate and market pressures. The result is not only jobs, but greater confidence and independence within households that have traditionally faced limited opportunity.
Opportunity also grows beyond the fields. Venetia’s Enterprise and Supplier Development Programme supports local entrepreneurs – some linked to agriculture, others providing services, logistics or manufacturing – with skills, mentorship and access to procurement opportunities. These small businesses create jobs of their own, keep money circulating locally and anchor economic activity within communities.
Together, these initiatives reflect Venetia Mine’s belief that development is most powerful when it starts with people – their skills, ambitions and capacity to shape their own futures. By investing in farming, enterprise and local capability, Venetia Mine is helping communities build livelihoods that can endure well beyond the life of the mine.
BUS DEAL FOR VENETIA
Venetia Mine’s employee transport service has become a practical example of how supplier development and financial support can unlock sustainable local ownership.
Through a structured transition, locally owned bus companies now hold 100% ownership and full operational responsibility for transporting employees to and from the mine. The transition was underpinned by targeted financial support and supplier development assistance, enabling the businesses to strengthen governance, build technical capability and meet the operational standards required for a critical mining service.
This support has helped position the companies for growth beyond Venetia. One of the operators has since expanded its operations independently, launching a new cross border route between Botswana and Johannesburg - demonstrating increased confidence, scalability and long term viability.
By combining access to opportunity with focused supplier and financial support, Venetia Mine is helping local enterprises move from reliance to ownership, resilience and sustainable growth.