NEWS

As part of Rössing Uranium’s Bigger-Than-Me Programme, the mine officially handed over an upgraded children’s traffic school to the Walvis Bay Municipality’s Traffic division.

Rössing Uranium in collaboration with the Namibia Institute of Mining Technology (NIMT), Walvis Bay Municipality and Kneumeyer renovated the traffic school, with funding of N$ 430 000 by Rössing Uranium. Wire cars to be used by learners during lessons were also donated as part of the project.

Speaking at the official hand over, Rössing Uranium’s Corporate Communication Manager Daylight Ekandjo said, annually Rössing implements projects under its Bigger-Than-Me Programme for the benefit of the communities in which the mine operates.

“With our 2024 Bigger-Than-Me project we have invested in raising road awareness among our children; we have supported NIMT in getting the needed practical experience for their apprentices – in the process providing a platform on which these apprentices become multiskilled. While with the municipality we supported in maintaining infrastructure, as we all jointly will benefit from the outcome of these areas of support,” she said.

Ekandjo noted that the traffic school will be a catalyst in raising road safety awareness among our children from a very young age and will also address courteous driving and how important the right mindset on the road is for all road users.

“Safety, more specifically road safety, is a key driver and non-negotiable value at Rössing Uranium. Do we always get it 100% right? No, but we never waiver in proving visible leadership to continuously build on a supportive safety culture,” she said, adding that, the mine’s safe work environment does not open and close at the boom gates at our Mine site: as it relates to this initiative, we work to bring and take our employees safely to work and back home each day and, in this quest, we encounter among others, other road users on the roads from Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Arandis on our daily commute.

Ekandjo highlighted that Rössing has through the years embarked on various community-based initiatives in Walvis Bay.

“In 2017 we together with the Traffic division were instrumental in having the Roads Authority install the Rumble strips as one enters Walvis Bay from Swakopmund. This to audibly remind road users that they are entering a high pedestrian area and should reduce their speed.”

“In 2020 Rössing spearheaded an initiative that saw us install stimsonite road studs from where the current roadblock is as one leaves Swakopmund to the turn-off in Arandis. This aids with visibility in adverse weather conditions.”

She further added that, Rössing is a proud member of the Erongo Regional Road Safety Forum and annually supports the West Coast Safety Initiative.

“As such Rössing is privileged to contribute to road safety under the Sustainable Development Goal 11 which deals with Sustainable cities, Human settlements and Communities and SDG 17 Partnering for the Goals. Together we accomplished this end goal for the benefit of our children and our communities.”

Also speaking at the handover ceremony on behalf of the Municipality of Walvis Bay Chief Executive officer, Piet van Niekerk – (Manager Community Development) said civic education, more especially education for the budding minds and hearts of our children is a key driver for long term success

“We are thankful for this contribution by Rössing Uranium, and we commit to maintaining this facility which will benefit learners from our town,” he said.