Tzaneen — About 50 people who are engaged in small scale mining activities in Limpopo have been provided with skills that will help them run their projects more effectively.

The beneficiaries, most of whom are women, were awarded certificates of competence in Tzaneen on Friday. "We want to see people in rural communities using natural resources to create a better life for themselves. They must share in the mineral wealth of our land," said project coordinator Keith Charles. He said the two-week long course was supported by the national Departments of Minerals and Energy, Economic Affairs and the provincial Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism.The certificates are endorsed by the Mining Qualification Authority.

The beneficiaries were taught small scale mining methods, statutory requirements for establishing a small scale mine, basic business and management principles. They were also trained in environmental impact management for small scale mining, the history of small scale mining and health and safety principles in and around a workplace."We want to see the beneficiaries going back to their communities and creating more job opportunities," said Mr Charles. He said the beneficiaries were invited to attend the capacity-building course because they are already engaged in quarry operations, coal, sand and clay mining, and salt production.

"They will receive further coaching and mentoring, monitoring, evaluation and assessment to ensure sustainability of their business development," he said. One of the beneficiaries is Beauty Mashele, 28, one of 20 women who are running a clay-pot making project in Zangoma village near Tzaneen.

"We are very happy about the workshop. This shows that government has not forgotten us. "They have even given us address of institutions which can help us with funding, registration and further training." The capacity-building course is part of a national skills programme that was launched in Kimberley, Northern Cape, in August 2007. More than 350 small scale miners have been trained in the Northern Cape, North West, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo provinces.

Small-scale miners in the Free State, Mpumalanga and Western Cape provinces will be trained before April this year.