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A total of 147 children will receive financial assistance towards their education from the Sixteen Eight Memorial Trust Fund, enabling those who qualify to register for the 2013 academic year.  The Fund was set up by Lonmin and its Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) partner, Shanduka Resources, to assist the dependent children of colleagues who lost their lives during the violence that resulted from the strike at Lonmin’s Marikana operations.
 
The Fund, which was registered by the High Court on 11 January 2013 after some administrative delays, was capitalised at R5 million through seed capital from Shanduka and Lonmin.  It has since grown to over R6 million thanks largely to a R1 million contribution from Xstrata.
 
According to Natascha Viljoen, executive vice-president, Processing and Sustainability at Lonmin, the Fund will need to support the education of these children for some 25 years taking them through from primary to tertiary education.
 
Contrary to reports in some media, Lonmin started to release funds towards the end of last year to enable qualifying learners to register for the academic year.   Those who are eligible receive the following benefits, according to Fund rules:
•                     School fees
•                     Books – as per school specification
•                     Stationery
•                     School uniforms – as per school specification
•                     Boarding
•                     Transport subsidy
 
The Fund is strictly for the children of the Lonmin employees who lost their lives as a result of the events of Marikana.  According to Viljoen, it exists alongside other educational support programmes for employees, their families and communities in which the company operates.
“All these initiatives are designed to improve the living and working conditions of our employees, their families and host communities,” she said.
Lonmin is delighted that Thenjiwe Chikane has agreed to Chair the Fund. Ms Chikane is a retired South African Chartered Accountant who serves on the boards of three listed companies and the Institute of Directors in Southern Africa. Lonmin’s sustainability manager, Dr Mel Mentz, Shanduka Resources’ business transformation manager Thandeka Ncube and Sibongile Solombela, Lonmin's senior manager, Legal, have agreed to serve as interim trustees of the Fund until such time as the independent members are elected.
 
“We take the opportunity to thank all the donors who have opened their hearts by making generous donations to the Fund. We are grateful to the support we have received from TEBA, who have been assisting with the verification process and payments to schools,” said Viljoen.

Those who still wish to make donations are free to do so, and we thank them in advance. Details are as follows:
•                     Branch Name: Nedbank 100 Main Street (135 Rivonia Road, Sandown, Sandton, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyer Attorneys)
•                     Branch Number: 197905
•                     Trust Current Account: 1979312176
•                     Reference: 21941151
 
According to Lonmin’s records, all the families of deceased colleagues with children that qualify for assistance have been approached by a Lonmin representative.   Anyone who believes their dependants are eligible but hasn’t been approached is encouraged to contact the company immediately.