Siyathemba is a suburb situated about 20 km outside Kathu and 25 km away from Dingleton in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. Siyathemba means “we trust” or “we hope” in isiXhosa.
Located on the outskirts of Kathu, the Siyathemba suburb was built from scratch by Kumba Iron Ore, a subsidiary of Anglo American, to relocate residents of Dingleton, allowing the mining giant to expand its Sishen iron mine operations to the town of Dingleton. The Sishen iron mine is one of the largest open-pit mining operations in the world.
Both Kathu town and Siyathemba suburb rely on Sishen for their existence.
Siyathemba suburb falls within the Gamagara Local Municipality and the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality.
Background
In 2007, Kumba Iron Ore needed the town of Dingleton to expand the Sishen iron mine. The company, therefore, started negotiations with Dingleton’s homeowners and the local government.
In 2014, construction of the Siyathemba suburb commenced after all three parties (Kumba Iron Ore, Dingleton’s homeowners, and the local government) reached an agreement.
Dingleton’s residents were given two options.
The first, which 70% opted for, saw Kumba Iron Ore build them a house in Siyathemba, equal in size and quality to their Dingleton house – if not better. In the second option, those who did not want to move to Siyathemba could choose a payout. In these cases, the company facilitated the purchase of a home elsewhere.
Kumba Iron Ore also agreed to pay the increase in municipal rates and taxes for about 20 years.
The relocation of Dingleton residents to Siyathemba suburb was a R3 billion project that saw Kumba Iron Ore move over 450 families, equaling to about 3,400 people.
Siyathemba suburb is made up of 500 facebrick houses, 17 parks with jungle gyms, benches and trees, a community hall fitted with a wooden podium and room dividers, a hostel, seven churches, a police station, schools, a youth centre, a library lined with books, a clinic, and 2,750 trees – mostly willows, mountain karee and white stinkwood. Two or three trees are planted on each property, depending on its size.
Some residents have described the facebrick houses as modern and attractive with pretty exteriors, but a mess inside.
Kumba Iron Ore also initiated a rainwater harvesting programme, which means each house was fitted with a Jojo tank. In addition, each homeowner received a R15,000 inconvenience allowance, a curtain allowance, and R100,000 as a community benefit fund.
The Siyathemba Youth Centre was built with a computer centre with free internet and tables for reading, counselling rooms, a football table, and chess sets inside. Outside the youth centre, there is a picnic area with braai facilities. There’s also an Astroturf soccer field and netball court.
Outside, the buildings are surrounded by lawns and flowerbeds. Large concrete bins with “Siyathemba, don’t litter” signs.
