Empowering communities through local procurement

In today’s episode, we’re looking at how unpacking how mining companies in South Africa can move from simply ticking boxes to creating lasting change in a community around a mine operation. We’re joined by Dr. Poobie Pillay, Head of Transformation Sustainability at Ivanplats, and Maritha Erasmus, who leads our social performance solution, Insite, here at Acquire. When it comes to social performance, South Africa has strict regulations when it comes to managing the people invested and involved in mining. But beyond the scorecards and reporting frameworks, today we discuss what real transformation of a local community surrounding a mine operation can look like and how does data play a role in this? Dr. Pillay shares his work on a local procurement model that partners established businesses with women and youth in rural areas — helping to build locally owned enterprises with the backing of mentorship and funding. We’ll also explore the powerful role of data in making social impact visible, and how companies can balance corporate procurement goals with genuine community empowerment. From enterprise development to impact measurement, this episode is all about using procurement as a lever for transformation.