Exxaro and Hope for The Blind expand access to life-changing cataract surgery in Limpopo
Exxaro Resources is helping transform access to specialised eye care in Limpopo through its support for Hope for The Blind, a non-profit ophthalmological hospital based in Modimolle. The funding included R15 million worth of advanced medical equipment, enabling the hospital to scale access to cataract surgery and specialist eye care services for underserved rural communities.
The investment is addressing one of South Africa’s most pressing healthcare challenges: preventable blindness caused by cataracts, particularly in rural and low-income communities where access to specialist treatment remains limited. With Exxaro’s support, Hope for The Blind now has the capacity to restore sight to underserved community members, significantly improving quality of life, economic participation, and personal independence for people across Limpopo.
The initiative forms part of Exxaro’s broader commitment to community development by investing in sustainable social infrastructure that delivers long-term value for communities. Over the past 20 years, Exxaro has invested more than R70 billion in social impact initiatives for its host communities.
Neo Monareng, Executive Head of Sustainability at Exxaro, said: “At Exxaro, we recognise that meaningful sustainability is measured not only by operational performance, but by the positive and lasting impact we create in people’s lives. Our partnership with Hope for The Blind demonstrates how strategic collaboration can strengthen healthcare access, restore dignity, and unlock opportunities for communities that have historically been underserved.”
The hospital provides ophthalmological services across income groups through an inclusive healthcare model inspired by internationally recognised best practice. Revenue generated from paying patients helps subsidise treatment for patients who cannot afford care, creating a financially sustainable pathway to expanding access to specialist services.
After more than a decade of planning, licensing, and fundraising, the hospital became operational in 2022 through its partnership with Exxaro. The donated equipment has enabled the facility to perform advanced diagnostic assessments and high-volume cataract procedures with greater efficiency and precision.
“In ophthalmology, diagnostic equipment is extremely costly. Exxaro made a significant contribution that enabled us to acquire the much-needed diagnostic equipment. As a result, we have been able to assist close to 3,000 patients,” says Dr Precious Phatudi, ophthalmologist at Hope for the Blind.
As an independent specialist facility, Hope for The Blind is able to operate outside many of the capacity constraints experienced within the public healthcare system.
Equipped advanced technology, the hospital can now operate on patients, helping reduce the burden on overstretched public healthcare facilities while expanding access to critical specialist care in rural Limpopo.
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About Exxaro
Exxaro Resources Limited is a South Africa-based diversified natural resources company and one of the largest black-empowered businesses listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
Exxaro has operations in South Africa, with business interests extending to Europe and Australia. The company’s primary assets include coal, manganese, a growing energy solutions business, equity-accounted investments in iron ore and base metals, predominantly zinc, with acquisitive growth ambitions in energy transition metals.
