By Staff Reporter
MUSINA-Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o recently visited De Beers’ Venetia diamond mine in Limpopo as part of her role as a De Beers global ambassador.
During her visit, she was introduced to the various facets of the production value chain and how each step supports sustainable development.
Nyong’o’s tour included a visit to the 32,000-hectare Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve, which is used by De Beers for nature conservation. This nature reserve is situated adjacent to the mine and plays a significant role in the company’s environmental efforts.
The Venetia mine, which began production in 1993, has grown to become the leading diamond mine in South Africa, contributing approximately 40% of the country’s natural diamond production.
Throughout her visit, De Beers showcased their commitment to empowering local communities through initiatives that support equal opportunities for women, as well as projects aimed at educational, entrepreneurial, and essential infrastructure development.
Nyong’o praised De Beers for their efforts in enabling women to break barriers and achieve success in an industry that has traditionally been male-dominated.
“Seeing how De Beers is empowering women to excel in this sector is truly inspiring,” Nyong’o commented. “Their commitment to sustainability and community development sets a commendable example.”
Moses Madondo, CEO of De Beers Group Managed Operations, emphasized the importance of showcasing the company’s best practices to dispel common misconceptions about diamond mining.
“We often face misperceptions about our industry,” Madondo said. “Hosting an ambassador like Lupita Nyong’o allows us to highlight our commitment to best practice employment and sustainability standards.”
Currently, the Venetia mine is undergoing a significant expansion to transition from open-pit to underground mining, a development project valued at $2.3 billion.
This investment represents the largest single investment in South Africa’s diamond mining industry in decades.
The transition to underground operations, which is expected to sustain the mine until the mid-2040s, involves retraining Venetia’s 4,000 employees, equipping them with the high-tech skills required to operate the largely mechanized new system.
