Rio Tinto is one of the biggest mining groups in the world. The workers at one mine in South Africa had become unsettled about rumours the mine was to close and about safety standards.
The dream: To quell rumours about closure and to improve safety standards and worker satisfaction.
The result: The Kgotla Company organised an operations-wide Kgotla over a 10-day period, during which 4,000 people expressed their thoughts. Some 500 ideas emerged during the sessions and 35 decisions were taken. Some of these focused on improving safety procedures. Others involved utilising suggestions for improving mining techniques.
The Kgotla process gave us clarity about the future, better understanding about our company and a calmness about the destiny of everyone involved.
Tony Lennox, Managing director Palabora Mining Company – Rio Tinto