Tharisa Minerals

About Tharisa Minerals

Tharisa Minerals runs the Tharisa Mine, an open-pit operation near Marikana in the Bojanala Platinum District of North West. The mine sits inside the Rustenburg Local Municipality. It produces platinum group metals (PGMs) and chrome concentrates. The parent group, Tharisa plc, has shares on both the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The mine is highly mechanised, so it does not need huge numbers of unskilled workers. As a result, the company puts weight on training people who live nearby and on building skills that carry over to other mines.

How Tharisa supports students and local people

Tharisa funds education through its Social and Labour Plan (SLP) and its wider corporate social investment. In its recent reporting, the group spent about R29.8 million on these programmes. It also reported that 70 employees received learnerships, bursaries, internships or other skills and enterprise training in the period.

Community education goes beyond university funding. The company has offered free basic numeracy and literacy classes, and some graduates of that training went on to qualify as artisans. In addition, Tharisa keeps a recruitment database of people from neighbouring communities so that it can match them to training openings. Roughly a third of the workforce and contractors come from the nearby Mmaditlhokwa community.

The Tharisa Bursary is the main route for school-leavers and students who want to study mining-related fields. Recent calls for applications listed qualifications such as mining engineering, mechanical, electrical and mechatronics engineering, metallurgy or chemical engineering, geology and analytical chemistry. Funding has covered tuition, accommodation, prescribed books and a monthly allowance, according to recent published adverts.

What to know before applying

Preference usually goes to students from the local community and labour-sending areas in North West. Applicants should be South African citizens with strong marks in Mathematics and Physical Science. A recent call asked for at least 60% in both subjects. You also need a place at an accredited South African institution, and you should not hold another bursary at the same time.

Expect some obligations. Recent adverts required annual vacation work at the mine and a graduate internship of at least one year after you finish your studies. However, terms can change from one intake to the next, so confirm the details in the current advert.

Applications go through the online portal on the Tharisa website. Prepare a certified copy of your ID, your academic results, proof of acceptance, a CV and proof of household income. Closing dates fall early in the year, for example in February, and late applications are normally not considered. Always check tharisa.com for the latest information before you apply.