North West Business 2023/24

Watched carefully by a local, a hot-air balloon glides gracefully through the ancient volcano crater that makes up the Pilanesberg National Park. The fourth-largest park in South Africa, Pilanesberg is home to more than 7 000 animals and 360 bird species. The park, which is administered by the North West Parks Board, offers a wide variety of accommodation options.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sun City Resort

Special features

Economic sectors

North West Business

A unique guide to business and investment in the North West.

Credits

Publishing director:

Chris Whales

Editor: John Young

Managing director: Clive During

Online editor: Christoff Scholtz

Designer: Tyra Martin

Production: Yonella Ngaba

Ad sales:

Gavin van der Merwe

Sam Oliver

Gabriel Venter

Vanessa Wallace

Shiko Diala

Administration & accounts:

Charlene Steynberg

Kathy Wootton

Sharon Angus-Leppan

Distribution and circulation manager: Edward MacDonald

Printing: FA Print

DISTRIBUTION

The 2023/24 edition of North West Business marks the 12th publication of this highly successful journal that, since its launch in 2009, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the North West Province.

Renewable energy is a huge global trend, and the impact this burgeoning sector is having on the North West can be seen in the development of several new solar farms which are under construction. The North West’s strong suit in platinum group metals (PGMs) already puts the province at the forefront of the drive towards a greener and renewable economy because of the applicability of so many of those minerals and metals for the cleaner energy movement.

North West Business includes news and analysis of the most important sectors. Best known for its platinum mines, grain and livestock farming and tourism, the province is making a concerted effort to bolster its manufacturing capacity through a dedicated new strategy which includes trying to attract solar panel manufacturing to the province.

To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online at www.globalafricanetwork.com. Updated information on the North West is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at www.gan.co.za, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces, our flagship South African Business title and the new addition to our list of publications, Journal of African Business, which was launched in 2020. ■

Chris Whales Publisher, Global Africa Network | Email: chris@gan.co.za

North West Business is distributed internationally on outgoing and incoming trade missions, through trade and investment agencies; to foreign offices in South Africa’s main trading partners around the world; at top national and international events; through the offices of foreign representatives in South Africa; as well as nationally and regionally via chambers of commerce, tourism offices, airport lounges, provincial government departments, municipalities and companies.

Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations

COPYRIGHT | North West Business is an independent publication published by Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. Full copyright to the publication vests with Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd.

PUBLISHED BY

Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd

Company Registration No: 2004/004982/07

Directors: Clive During, Chris Whales

Physical address: 28 Main Road, Rondebosch 7700

Postal address: PO Box 292, Newlands 7701

Tel: +27 21 657 6200 | Fax: +27 21 674 6943

Email: info@gan.co.za | Website: www.gan.co.za

ISSN 1996-1022

DISCLAIMER | While the publisher, Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd, has used all reasonable efforts to ensure that the information contained in North West Business is accurate and up-to-date, the publishers make no representations as to the accuracy, quality, timeliness, or completeness of the information. Global Africa Network will not accept responsibility for any loss or damage suffered as a result of the use of or any reliance placed on such information.

PHOTO CREDITS | Madikwe Game Reserve; Madikwe River Lodge; Implats; Magalies Water; MediPost Holdings; NWDC; RS Group; Saveways Crescent; Seboka Game Lodge; Simbra SA; Sun City Resorts; Supreme Chicken.

A REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF NORTH WEST PROVINCE

The North West is no longer restricting its involvement in the renewable energy economy to exporting important minerals. Solar farms are springing up and solar manufacturing may soon become a new subsector. Tourist numbers are recovering, agricultural products are attracting good prices and several big infrastructure projects are being planned.

By John Young

Mining and agriculture have always been the economic mainstays of the economy of the North West, and this is still true.

But whereas the platinum group metals (PGMs) mined on the parts of the Bushveld Igneous

Complex that lie beneath the province’s soils have been attracting good prices and the future of mining these particular minerals looks good because of the relevance that they have for the growing renewable energy economy, the North West is now expanding its interest in other parts

Visitor numbers are recovering post-Covid, and there is lots to see.

PHOTO: Madikwe Game Reserve

of that green economy. Large solar farms are now being built at an increasing rate in the North West. This development is covered in detail elsewhere in this journal, but it is significant for the regional economy that it is not only large organisations putting solar panels on roofs (although Sun City’s project is huge), but rather the involvement of the likes of AMEA Power and the Sola Group in rolling out big projects that is shifting the landscape.

Solar panel manufacturing is one of the areas which national government, through Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), is looking at as a way of growing the economy and creating jobs. The North West Provincial Government, through its agency, the North West Development Corporation (NWDC), will communicate with ISA with a view to bringing solar panel manufacturing to Stilfontein, a town in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality which is strategically placed on the N12 and near to more than one solar farm. A feasibility study is to be done.

A Panel of Experts on Mega Infrastructure Projects has been appointed by the provincial government. This is part of a concerted drive to change the way infrastructure is delivered in the province. The panel has identified 185 projects, with eight being prioritised based on a number of factors, including bankability and potential impact. These projects include the Smart City development, the Bojanala Special Economic Zone (SEZ), agro-processing and agro-hubs, water and bulkwater supply, health and large urban precinct developments, renewable energy and solar component production and broadband connectivity. It is hoped that these projects will contribute to being able to process more of the raw products that are produced by the agriculture and mining sectors.

Tenders for construction of Phase 2 of the heavy-industrial area within the Bojanala SEZ have gone out. The development will cover 486ha. The trade markets at Mamusa and Mahikeng have been allocated R10-million and R8-million respectively.

As part of the infrastructure drive, a Routine Roads Maintenance Plan has been drafted, covering roads in all four districts of the province. ISA has set aside R13-billion rand for the maintenance and upgrading of 39 roads in the province for

implementation in the 2023/24 financial year. The bulk of the money will be spent on rural roads projects, most of which will be labour-intensive paved roads in order to create jobs.

A public-private partnership has started to tackle the problem of potholes. In the first year of its existence, The Pothole Patrol fixed more than 100 000 potholes in Johannesburg. The concept has been extended to the North West Province.

Discovery Insure, Dialdirect Insurance and Sun City Resort are the private companies involved in the programme to repair potholes on the R556, the road that links Sun City to the N4 highway. Leisure travellers and conference delegates play a big role in the provincial economy and so making their journeys easier and safer is a good investment.

As the North West MEC for Public Works and Transport, MEC Gaoage Oageng Molapisi, said at the launch of the project: “Good roads attract business to an area. Gauteng is a very important market source for our province, but travellers want to know that they can reach their destination safely. Similarly, conference and event organisers are disinclined to plan workshops and conferences at venues with poor road infrastructure. The province is therefore extremely thankful for the work carried out.

“We appreciate the collaboration between the private sector and government. The government cannot do it alone,” he concluded.

Sun City is expanding its Vacation Club by building accommodation for an extra 400 guests

PHOTO: Sun City

Executive Mayor of Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, Councillor M Nondzaba, at the launch of The Pothole Patrol work being done on the R556.

in a development called Lefika Villas. There will be 48 three-bedroom villas and 10 four-bedroom villas in the development, together with amenities for children, a restaurant and a swimming pool.

The ability of local authorities to manage the infrastructure of towns and districts has been under scrutiny for some time and national government has signalled its intention to intervene.

The North West Provincial Government announced a series of steps taken within its administration which showed that accountability for bad behaviour was being implemented.

The establishment of the Mafikeng Digital Information Hub, a co-working 4IR hub in the centre of Mahikeng, is an indicator that the province is intent on joining the digital movement. The hub is led by Joseph Ndaba, who is serving on the Presidential Commission on 4IR.

Geography and economy

The North West is bordered on the west by the Republic of Botswana and on the east by Gauteng, the engine of the South African economy.

The North West Province makes up 6.8% of the population of South Africa (3.6-million), 8.7% of the land mass (105 076km²) and accounts for 5.8% of economic output in terms of gross value added.

The Vaal River runs along the province’s southeastern border with the Free State, and the province also shares borders with the Northern Cape to the

south and Limpopo in the north. The mineral reserves in the province are enormous. Platinum group metals (PGMs) predominate but there are significant deposits of gold, uranium, diamonds, copper, vanadium, fluorspar and nickel. Stone and limestone are also found in large quantities.

Mining beneficiation takes place at many places, with Rustenburg being particularly strong in this sector. The economy of the town is closely linked to the fortunes of platinum mining, with the sector contributing about 70% of the city’s gross geographic product.

Automotive components firms are clustered in Brits, which in turn is close to the automotive manufacturing hub of Rosslyn (Pretoria) in Gauteng. Towns like Klerksdorp (agro-processing and engineering) and Potchefstroom (food and beverages) also have manufacturing capacity.

The North West is a major producer of maize and sunflower seeds and many other agricultural products. About 20% of South Africa’s maize comes from the province, as does 15% of its wheat.

The dry western part of the province is home to beef cattle, game ranching and hunting. The normally well-watered eastern and north-eastern regions carry varied crops, many of which are sold in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

The agricultural sector also generates largescale storage and logistics operations, particularly in Klerksdorp, Vryburg and Brits, together with a number of agro-processing plants. Senwes is one of the biggest with extensive silo infrastructure while Suidwes has 17 retail outlets and MGK makes full-fat soy at its manufacturing plant. Lichtenburgbased NWK makes liquid fertiliser and animal feed, processes sunflower seeds and runs 37 silos and three grain mills.

The province’s three Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and the well-respected North-West University all have several campuses catering to a wide range of educational disciplines. The university has a strong reputation as a research institution.

Major towns Mahikeng

The capital city of the North West Province lies on the banks of the Molopo River. Situated in the north-

PHOTO: Implats

Impala Rustenburg employs more than 40 000 people at its mining and concentrating and smelting plants.

west sector of the province near the Botswana border, the city has a strong services sector and a population of approximately 300 000.

The city’s main sectors are financial services, services, transport and trade. The Garona District houses the North West parliament and government buildings. The arts are promoted by the Mmabana Cultural Centre, while the North West Institute of Hotel and Tourism Management is one of three tertiary institutions in the city. North-West University’s Graduate School of Business and Government Leadership is located in the city, and Unisa has a presence. Other institutions are the Taletso TVET College and the International School of South Africa.

The town is well served by hotels such as the Mmabatho Palms, Hotel and Casino Convention Resort. White rhino and giraffe can be found at the Mahikeng Game Reserve.

Tlokwe

The city of Potchefstroom is administered by the Tlokwe Local Municipality. A large campus of North-West University and its business school is located in the city, as is the Vuselela TVET College and the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture. More than 120 000 people regularly attended the annual Aardklop Festival before Covid. The city has a population of about 173 000.

The sports facilities of NorthWest University are world class and have been the base for Spain’s soccer team and Australia’s cricket team in world cups. Tlokwe is a hub for the strong commercial agriculture of the region and has several food and beverage manufacturers including Nestlé. Some of the bigger enterprises include fertiliser companies such as Kynoch, munitions manufacturers and food processors like King Food. An army base contributes to the economy, and the airfield formerly used by the military is now run by the municipality.

The N12 Treasure Route passes through the city and holds potential for further development of tourist highlights such as Boskop Dam and the Mooi River on which the town is located.

Rustenburg

Rustenburg is a local municipality within the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality and the headquarters of both bodies are in the city of about 625 000 residents. Rustenburg straddles the N4 “Platinum Highway” about 120km west of the cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg in the Gauteng Province, the economic hub of South Africa. The N4 stretches across South Africa from Mozambique in the east, to the Botswana border in the west and, as the Trans Kalahari Route, ultimately to Namibia.

At the foot of the Magaliesberg Mountain Range, Rustenburg is only 50km from one of the country’s premier tourist resorts, Sun City, which in turn is adjacent to the 550km² Pilanesberg National Park and Game Reserve which has a small airport.

Orbit TVET College has a campus in Rustenburg, Unisa has a regional office and the Agricultural Research Institute’s Industrial Crops Division is also located in the city. The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace hosted five group matches in the 2010 World Cup.

Platinum mining began in 1929 and has driven the city’s growth ever since. ■

North West Development Corporation

NWDC is your economic growth, development and investment partner in the North West Province of South Africa.

It is the mission of the NWDC to create wealth and facilitate job creation where the people of the North West Province live.

From its head office situated in Mahikeng and supported by 10 regional branches, the NWDC fulfils its economic development mandate through:

• economic development and infrastructure projects

• attracting investment and facilitating trade opportunities

• developing and supporting SMMEs and co-operatives

• managing its property portfolio

• leveraging strategic partnerships

• programmes of the NWDC

The NWDC’s operational programmes create a synergy towards fulfilling its vision of promoting trade, attracting i nvestment and ensuring sustainable inclusive economic growth and transformation in the North West Province.

NWDC programmes

• Administration

• Property Development and Management

• SMME Development and Management

• Trade and Investment Facilitation

VISIT US AT:

NWDC Head Office

22 James Watt Crescent, Industrial Site, Mahikeng

Tel: 018 381 3663

Website: www.nwdc.co.za

Facebook: North West Development Corporation

Twitter: @Invest_NWDC

LinkedIn: North West Development Corporation

• Subsidiaries: Bojanala Special Economic Zone SOC Ltd

Values

The NWDC upholds the values of:

• Professionalism

• Integrity

• Respect

• Cooperation

• Innovation

Governance

The NWDC is a PFMA Schedule 3D-listed public business enterprise with a dual commercial and development mandate. NWDC’s Shareholder is the North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT). The NWDC is governed by a board of directors and board sub-committees, appointed by the Shareholder.

Its full mandate as outlined in the NWDC Act is: To plan, finance, coordinate, promote and carry out the economic development mandate of the province and its people in the fields of industry, commerce, finance, mining and other business, resulting in wealth and job creation where people live. ■

Newsletter: to receive the NWDC newsletter, see QR code, right.

Poised to transform the region

The Bojanala Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is poised to transform the region into a sustainable beneficiation hub for mineral processing of platinum group metals (PGMs), manufacturing of capital equipment and renewable energy components and agro-processing.

Why Bojanala SEZ?

Access to infrastructure

• 88 factories available

• Adequate water volumes available: Vaalkop Dam is 20km from site with a 160mm pipeline

• Sewerage: 200mm to the existing WWTW

• Electricity supply: 11MVA current. New substation at Ledig under construction

Access to transport logistics infrastructure

• Rail: 1km from site with unutilised sidings. Transnet Freight Rail is part of the Project Steering Committee

• Air: Pilanesberg Airport is 19km away

• Road: on the R510 connecting to the N4

Access to markets

• Platinum group metals (PGMs) is the major product of the mining sector in the North West as the province contributes 40% of the world’s platinum and 55% of the platinum in South Africa in 2017.

• The North West Province also produces 70% of the dimension stone and granite, 32% of the chrome and 20.7% of the gold of South Africa. Other minerals produced in the province include diamonds, vanadium, slate, limestone, nickel, silica, manganese, phosphate, fluorspar and zinc.

Sectoral focus

• Mineral beneficiation

• Renewable energy

The Bojanala Special Economic Zone is located in the Bodirelo Industrial Park in Mogwase. Mogwase is part of the Moses Kotane Local Municipality, which falls under the Bojanala District Municipality. The SEZ is on the R510 road, 50km from Rustenburg.

• Capital equipment

• Agro-processing

SEZ incentives and benefits for investors

• Corporate tax of 15%

• Accelerated allowance on buildings and improvement to buildings

• Salaried employees (below R6 000) to receive wage allowance

• Capital allowance: plant and machinery imports

• Special customs and VAT incentives

• Retain status for 10 years

• Sunset clause until 2024

The North West Province is ideally situated for trade

The North West Development Corporation stands ready to facilitate trade and to encourage investment in the province.

The location of the North West Province within South Africa and the African market makes it attractive to investors from both a national and continental perspective.

Bordering Botswana, the province is ideally positioned to access the 14 countries comprising the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The North West Province of South Africa is ideally located as one of the gateways to the SADC. The province benefits from the N4 highway that connects the Walvis Bay Port in Namibia with the Maputo Port in Mozambique, running through the province.

The North West offers easily available skills and distribution channels imperative for agricultural commercial ventures and plays a significant role in the supply of energy, transport and communications to the African continent.The North West Development Corporation (NWDC) is the province’s trade and investment facilitation agency. It offers the following:

• Positioning the province as an attractive investment destination

• Provides a one-stop shop for investment promotion and facilitation, investor services and aftercare support for investors

• Supports the development and growth of Black Industrialists in the province

• Grows trade and exports by leveraging provincial imperatives and competitive advantages

• Creating platforms for trade, export and investment for the province

• Promotes the Bojanala SEZ as a means for investment attraction

• Identifies key markets and facilitate market access for North West-based exporters

• Facilitates synergistic initiatives with local and district municipalities

Trade and export facilitation

The NWDC offers the following services to clients interested in sellin g their products on international platforms:

• Company registration.

• Through the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), assist in identifying the type of registration required, supply application forms and provide guidance with regard to document completion and advice about lodging applications and monitoring registration progress

• Export registration and processes

• Customs at SARS offices: assist in facilitating export permit requirements

• Access to both local and international market, including local exhibitions, international missions and electronic platforms

• Export awareness and development training

• Product development

• Product certification

• Quality Management System

• Support: export awareness workshops

• Orientation courses

• Pre-exhibition training

• Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) scheme facilitation, through the National Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic).

The purpose of the EMIA scheme is to partially compensate exporters for certain costs incurred in respect of activities aimed at developing export markets for South African products and to recruit new foreign direct investment into South Africa. EMIA offers ex porters financial assistance with market research, trade missions and showcasing

products and services at international exhibitions.

Investment services

• Facilitate joint venture and equity partnerships

• Provide information on financing options and investment incentives

• Provide advice on feasibility studies and business plans

• Assist investors to obtain work and business permits

• Provide assistance in obtaining suitable factory space

• Assist existing firms to expand and reinvest

• Assist companies to find export markets for their products

• Provide advisory services to improve company growth and performance

• Provide competitiveness improvement support

• Advise on productivity and process improvement

• Facilitate market access to businesses in the province

Infrastructure keeps the wheels of commerce going. A new intersection has been built on the R512.

Credit: Sanral

Beneficiating minerals, especially PMGs, is a major goal of the North West Province. Credit: Unsplash.

Impala Platinum (Implats) gained control of Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) in 2023. Impala Rustenburg comprises mining shafts and concentrating and smelting plants.

Agriculture and agro-processing

South Africa’s “Texas” breeds superb cattle.

SECTOR INSIGHT

has succeeded on the back of hard work in the citrus market. Batlhako Temo Services, a former co-operative which started life cultivating sunflowers, is now a Brits-based company exporting to the Middle East and Taiwan. Over the years, the group of farmers has received support from the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform and from the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) which has enabled them to invest in equipment and expand their workforce.

Arevival of the citrus industry in the North West is one of the intended results of a training programme for previously unemployed young people sponsored by Sun City Resort.

Six young people from Moses Kotane Municipality completed a 12-month Citrus Business Management learnership through the Citrus Academy and 100 trees were planted at two schools with the assistance of consulting group Sigma Industry South. Sun City sponsored soil and water testing, soil preparation, irrigation and fencing worth R130 000, as well as a vegetable garden at Sedibelo with a borehole worth R155 000 at the schools, Sedibelo Secondary School in Moruleng and Temogo Special Needs School in Mogwase.

Lwazi Mswelanto, Sun City Sustainability Manager, said, “These trees will provide a crop for the schools to feed their pupils or for them to sell to raise funds to buy things such as stationery. North West Province is historically known as a citrus area, which is why Sun City selected orange trees, so that we reduce the impact of our operations through the carbon-dioxide minimisation provided by trees, while at the same time reinvigorate farming within the communities.” Although cattle and maize crops feature strongly in any discussion of North West agriculture, a black-owned company

The remarkable success of doctor-turned-farmer Obakeng Mfikwe is creating opportunities for other emerging farmers through a partnership between KMF Feedlot and Abattoir and the Provincial Government of the North West.

Mfikwe turned from medicine to farming in 2010 and has since built up a diverse and successful enterprise, KMF Farm Holdings, which ranges from poultry, feedlots and grain to the breeding of Simbras, Black Angus and Simmentalers.

As part of a drive to help more farmers get connected to the more profitable end of the value chain, a beef beneficiation project is under consideration. To be located in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, a feasibility study is investigating whether a public-private partnership

Citrus is making a comeback in the North West.

Citrus trees, carefully protected, have been planted at two schools as part of a training programme which doubles as a carbon-offset project and is sponsored by Sun City.

PHOTO: Sun City Resort

for constructing abattoirs and other relevant infrastructure would work.

The Provincial Government is working with the Independent Development Trust on four agricultural projects, namely, Springbokpan Grain Silos, Kgora Farmer Training Centre and the Selame Poultry and Melton Research Farm.

The dry western region of the province is home to large beef-cattle herds, and this is where the growing game-ranching and hunting industry has its base. The eastern and north-eastern parts of the province receive relatively good rainfall and are suitable for the cultivation of crops.

The North West has approximately 1.6-million beef cattle, representing 12% of South Africa’s herd. Major breeds include Simmental, Brahman, Bonsmara and Simbra, a cross between the Brahman and Simmental breeds.

The North West is sometimes called “The Texas of South Africa” because of its superb cattle herds but the province also produces good crops of onions and other vegetables. Proximity to the large urban concentrations of Pretoria and Johannesburg are advantages for the horticulture subsector.

Kalahari Red and Boerbok goats are found in large numbers in the dry west. The number of goats for the province is estimated at 701 587 which is 12% of South Africa’s total. There are estimated to be 318 843 pigs, which is 20% of South Africa’s total drove. For those who know the North West as a water-scarce region, it may be surprising to learn that a priority in 2021 has been the repair of earthen dams and fences damaged by flooding.

Nearly two-million hectares is planted with summer cereals, with about 50 000ha given over to winter cereals. The North West produces about 20% of South Africa’s maize and about 15% of its wheat. The central and southern sections of the province are dominated by maize and wheat farming. When it comes to sunflower seed, the North West is responsible for 33% of South Africa’s stock, and 23% of the nation’s groundnuts. The North West supplies 5.4% of South Africa’s potatoes, but parts of the Kalahari are ideally suited to the cultivation of seed potatoes.

Companies

Senwes has a strong grain division and it controls 68 silos. Its headquarters are in Klerksdorp and it has increased its stake in KLK so that it now controls 57.44% of the company most strongly associated

ONLINE RESOURCES

Grain SA: www.grainsa.co.za

with the Northern Cape. Suidwes is based south of Klerksdorp in Leeudoringstad. More than 90% of the shares in the company are held by farmers. Grain handling is the main business and there are divisions for retail (17 outlets and one animal-feed depot), mechanisation, finance and research and agricultural economics (Terratek).

Brits is the location of the headquarters of the MGK Group. The company runs five divisions and a plant that makes full-fat soy, a component in animal feed. NWK is another company with manufacturing capacity. The Lichtenburg-based enterprise makes liquid fertiliser (up to 10 tons per month), animal feed (Opti Feeds), processes sunflower seeds (Epko), and runs three grain mills. Another subsidiary, Opti Chicks, has a capacity of 600 000 chicks per week.

NWK also deals in grain, runs several retail outlets and has a half-share (with Senwes) in CertiSure Brokers. The company has 37 silos with a capacity of 2.5-million tons. ■

North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: www.dard.nwpg.gov.za

Red Meat Producers Organisation: www.rpo.co.za

PHOTO: Simbra SA

A Senior and Grand Champion cow owned by KMF Farm Holdings.

Mining

Impala Platinum has gained control of Royal Bafokeng Platinum.

SECTOR INSIGHT

Harmony Gold and Sedibelo Pilanesberg Platinum are investing.

Impala Rustenburg employees and contractors, and stability for the more than 495 000 people who depend on its mining activities and social contributions. With more years of continuous operation at scale, the intensity of benefits will continue for longer, delivering tangible socioeconomic benefits for the region and its communities.”

Asale that has been in the works since 2021 was finally resolved in June 2023 when Northam Platinum agreed to sell its stake in Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) to Impala Platinum (Implats).

That sale took Implats’ holding in RBPlat to 91% after it had bought 9.26% of the company from Public Investment Corporation (PIC) earlier in the year to give it a majority holding. The RBPlat platinum group metals (PGM) facility, which lies directly south of Sun City, is adjacent to Implats Rustenburg’s land. The Impala Rustenburg operation comprises a nine-shaft mining complex and concentrating and smelting plants.

Implats CEO Nico Muller was quoted in the Financial Mail as saying that the RBPlat acquisition would effectively extend the lifeof-mine of the combined Rustenburg operations by “at least 10 years”.

In a press release announcing the IDC transaction, Muller said: “Securing control of RBPlat solidifies a stronger, more sustainable future for the Rustenburg region, the North West province and the South African PGM sector – collectively a major employer in the mining sector and a key driver of economic activity for the country. It will contribute to job security for more than 42 000

Pilanesberg Platinum Mines has been active 80km north-west of Rustenburg since 2009. Mining operations are conducted by contractors while PPM manages the concentrator (screen, crush, mill, float, thicken and dry). The operation has annually achieved an average of about 150 000 ounces of PGM concentrate. PGM miner Sibanye Stillwater will spend a further R3.9-billion on an expansion project at its Marikana mine, after previous owner Lonmin spent more than R4-billion on it. The aim is to be producing 250 000oz per year of platinum, gold, palladium and rhodium in 2028.

It is not only PGMs that are sparking interest in expanded operations. In his annual State of the Province Address, Premier Kaobitsa Bushy Maape made

PHOTO: RS Group

The Mining & Technical Exhibition (MTE) is a popular event and was held on consecutive days in Mooinooi and Rustenburg in 2022. Amandelbult and Zondereinde are other venues on the exhibition roster.

special mention of two significant recent investments in the mining sector: Sedibelo Pilanesberg Platinum Mine R9.4-billion injection into the Moses Kotane Local Municipality will create 3 000 job opportunities and the City of Matlosana will be 6 000 jobs better off as a result of a R7-billion investment from Harmony Gold.

The 2022 iterations of the Mining and Technical Exhibitions (MTE) took place in two platinum-mining towns, Rustenburg and Mooinooi, which is roughly halfway between Rustenburg and Brits. The travelling exhibition company, a division of IMD Conferences Exhibitions and Workshops, celebrates its 30th birthday in 2023.

Small business support

Pilanesberg Platinum Mines created Community Crusher as a nonprofit enterprise but with 14 employees and a steady set of orders for building projects run by the company, the small business is starting to show signs of becoming a bigger business.

Many mines run similar programmes, sourcing goods and services from local community-based companies and sometimes providing mentoring and advice on how to improve as businesses.

Implats has a programme of procurement in which it supports local business and black-owned businesses through enterprise and supplier development programmes.

The Provincial Government of the North West is in talks with several mining companies in the Matlosana Local Municipality area (which includes Klerksdorp and Orkney) as some mines are being closed down. One of the initiatives to extract more value from mining is the proposed Platinum Valley Special Economic Zone. Creating a base for companies to supply the mining industry is one of the key drivers behind the scheme.

The Seda Platinum Incubator (SPI) is an initiative of the Platinum Trust of South Africa and is funded by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) through its Seda Technology Programme (Stp) with the support of the North West Provincial Government and private companies.

Mineral resources

The North West Province is aligned with the Western Limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex, a remarkably rich minerals formation.

ONLINE RESOURCES

Council for Geoscience: www.geoscience.org.za

MTE: www.mteexpos.co.za

National Department of Mineral Resources and Energy: www.dmr.gov.za

North West Development Corporation: www.nwdc.co.za

Mines in the province produce 50% of the platinum produced in the world, and 65% of South Africa’s PGMs. Chromite is the other major mineral mined throughout the province, and there are several ferrochrome smelters and other processing plants. South Africa produces about 70% of the world’s chrome. Gold and uranium are found along the border of the province with Gauteng and the Free State (in Klerksdorp and Orkney).

Diamonds are mined at Christiana, Bloemhof and Lichtenburg. Other minerals include fluorspar, vanadium, rhodium, uranium, copper, limestone, slate, phosphate, manganese, coal and nickel. Limestone quarries run by G&W Base and Industrial Minerals in the Marico District are located next to a PPC cement factory.

One of the last economically viable limestone deposits in South Africa is mined and processed by Sephaku Cement. Sephaku runs a 6 000-tonper-day clinker plant near Lichtenburg.

AfriSam, PPC and Lafarge are active in the Mahikeng/ Lichtenburg area, but Sephaku is confident that its clinker and cement-production facilities will be supported by raw materials for at least 30 years. AfriSam has taken measures to reduce carbon emissions at its Dudfield cement plant. ■

Economic Inclusion Centre boosts SMMEs

Impala Rustenburg makes a positive contribution to its communities.

based engagement platform with 14 mine host community business forums.

Empowering SMMEs

Impala Rustenburg recently invested R8.6-million into developing an Economic Inclusion Centre that serves as a small business hub for minecommunity small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs). The multi-functional venue provides SMMEs with services including enterprise and supplier development, assistance with market access and funding facilitation, as well as various shared business facilities. The initiative forms part of our ongoing commitment to collaborate with stakeholders and communities to ensure the growth of mine-community SMMEs.

Investing in education

Impala Rustenburg is 96% owned by Implats and has operations situated on the western limb of the worldrenowned Bushveld Complex near Rustenburg. The operation comprises a multi-shaft mining complex and concentrating and smelting plants. At Impala Rustenburg, the long-term viability of our business is linked to the well-being of our local communities. Our socio-economic investments towards mine-community well-being include initiatives defined in our social and labour plans, as well as our corporate social investment projects. The mining operation contributes to communities both directly and indirectly through the jobs we create, the local workforces we upskill, the local business opportunities we generate, the infrastructure we build and the education and community health initiatives we support. To strengthen relationships with the local business community, Impala Rustenburg established an impactful, mutually beneficial and outcomes-

Impala Rustenburg has made a significant commitment to youth education through its multimillion-rand bursary programme that will see 34 Class of 2022 matriculants from the operation’s mine communities take the first step on their journey to the career of their dreams. A further 21 bursaries were awarded to students from the greater Rustenburg area and Impala Rustenburg’s labour-sending areas. This brings the total number of bursaries awarded in 2023 to 55. In 2022, the innovative mobile Career Expo showcased a wide range of career opportunities in the mining industry to 6 500 youth in grades 9 and 11. This was the second Career Expo in a two-year cycle, bringing the total number of high school learners reached to 12 200. ■

Alice Lourens, Group Head: Investor Relations and Corporate Communication

Tel: 011 731 9033

E-mail: alice.lourens@implats.co.za

better future through the way we do business Creating a

Skills Development

Access to quality education

Ensuring ef cient water re-use.

Bringing our values driven approach to everything we do.

Educational support projects

Energy

The sun will power Sun City.

Sun City is living up to its name with the installation of a R16million roof-based solar system.

The power produced will be the equivalent of what 329 average-sized South African households consume over a year. When the sun is shining, the panels will provide about 14% of the resort’s electrical demand. The investment is expected to pay for itself within five years and have a lifespan beyond 25 years. The plant will reduce Sun City’s annual CO2 equivalent emissions by an estimated 2 510 tons.

Stilfontein, on the N12 highway between Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp, has been identified as the possible site of a solar panel manufacturing plant. A feasibility study is to be done and the North West Development Corporation will lobby Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) for the Stilfontein concept to be included in national plans with regard to solar panel manufacturing.

In addition, the Provincial Government of the North West intends revising its Provincial Energy Strategy to take into account the rapidly changing global energy environment. A joint technical team of experts has been established with the North-West University to revise the document with special attention to be given to the issues

SECTOR INSIGHT

of energy security and how to mitigate loadshedding.

Tronox and Sola have signed Africa’s biggest corporate renewable energy power purchase agreement award to date, related to two solar plants near Lichtenburg in the Ditsobotla Local Municipality. This agreement takes advantage of recently promulgated changes to regulations, whereby energy wheeling is allowed. Wheeling means the power will be supplied through the national grid but it is generated and purchased in geographically distinct locations. The reduction in annual CO2 emissions related to these facilities is expected to be 595 tons.

When De Wildt Solar near Brits started commercial operations in January 2021, it became, according to Engineering News , the “fourth utility-scale plant that has come on line in the North West in under five months”. The province had been lagging in terms of projects undertaken through the national private producers’ renewable energy programme, but now it’s making up for lost time. With 169 140 solar modules, the South African-owned plant delivers 123 186MWh/year and

Solar panels may be made at Stilfontein on the N12.

PHOTO: Sun City

Sun City Resort is taking advantage of its sunny location.

will bring economic benefits to many residents and businesses of the Madibeng Local Municipality and beyond. A brickmaking co-operative was involved in the solar farm’s construction.

Pilanesberg Platinum Mines introduced its Kell processing plant in 2021, a technology that reduces electricity usage and eliminates sulphur dioxide emissions in smelting. With platinum group metals (PGMs) attracting good prices partly because of the role they can play in the hoped-for lower-carbon economy, cleaner and cheaper methods of extraction and processing offer even sunnier projections for the miners of PGMs.

Alternative sources

Most of South Africa’s energy requirements are met by Eskom’s coalfired power stations but the drive to start producing renewable energy is growing, and researchers and companies in the North West are investigating several options. Big mining companies are among the biggest users of energy and many belong to the Energy Intensive Users Group of Southern Africa.

The Bio-Energy research group, located within the Faculty of Engineering at the North-West University, is active in the field of second and third-generation bio-refinery research, covering both biochemical and thermochemical production. The group comprises chemists, biochemists, microbiologists and chemical engineers and falls under the university’s Centre of Excellence in Carbon-based Fuels which has two other components, researchers looking into the future of coal and another investigating how best to control emissions.

Bioethanol, biodiesel and methane gas from waste and renewable resources are among the types of biofuels under discussion. Sunflower seeds and sweet sorghum are suitable for converting into biofuel and bioethanol.

Silversands Energy is a North West company that produces ethanol fuel for an ethanol-powered bus made by Scania South Africa for the City of Johannesburg.

South Africa’s nuclear research centre is located at Pelindaba near Hartbeespoort Dam and is run by the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation. The NWU Nuclear Engineering Department is the only one of its kind in the country, and the National Department of Science and Technology has allocated a chair in Nuclear Engineering to the university. One of the key focus areas for the planned Platinum Valley Special

ONLINE RESOURCES

Energy Intensive Users Group of Southern Africa: www.eiug.org.za

South African Independent Power Producers Association: www.saippa.org.za

South African Photovoltaic Industry Association: www.sapvia.co.za

South African Renewable Energy Council: www.sarec.org.za

Economic Zone (PVSEZ) is the promotion of renewable energy. The PVSEZ is in the Mogwase industrial area in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality and has already attracted the interest of several investors.

Sibanye-Stillwater, which started its life as a gold company in South Africa and swiftly became a global leader in mining PGMs, bought a share in a Finnish mining and chemicals company Keliber in early 2021 with the aim of producing battery-grade lithium hydroxide in that country. The South African firm has subsequently increased its stake to 79%.

The partnership will invest in lithium mines, a concentrator plant and a lithium hydroxide plant. Sibanye-Stillwater is the world’s largest primary producer of platinum, second-largest primary producer of palladium, third-largest producer of gold and the world’s leading global recycler and processor of spent platinum group metals (PGM) catalytic converter materials. Two of the company’s three South African PGM assets are in the North West, Marikana and Rustenburg, and it is the majority shareholder in the Platinum Mile tailings retreatment facility near Rustenburg, which recovers PGMs from the tailings of the Rustenburg operations. ■

Manufacturing

Solar panels could be made in the North West.

SECTOR INSIGHT

Supreme Chicken has invested R180-million at Tigane.

in the SADC region. Chassis manufacturer KLT Group has acquired the Brits plant which comprises a pressing, welding, assembly and e-coating facility. The KLT Group has four plants in South Africa and employs more than 1 000 people.

The announcement that AMEA Power has been awarded a 120MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project at Doornhoek is interesting beyond the implications for energy generation.

Doornhoek is near Klerksdorp which in turn is near Stilfontein, and that is the site chosen by the North West Provincial Government as the possible location for a factory that will produce solar panels. The nascent renewable energy manufacturing sector has great potential.

Just north of Klerksdorp is the small town of Hartbeesfontein, and it is in the Tigane area of that town that Supreme Chicken has spent R180-million upgrading facilities and expanding production capabilities. A million chickens per week will now be processed, 300 000 more than was previously possible. Improved chilling technology allows the company, a part of Country Bird Holdings, to reduce its water usage.

The Centre for Advanced Manufacturing (CFAM) at North-West University specialises in extruder technology and the recent introduction by NWU of a new qualification in mechatronic engineering will give graduates a head start in a wide range of enterprises.

Bridgestone South Africa’s investment in new technology at its plant in Brits is allowing the company to produce 19-inch tyres for the BMW X3 being assembled in Pretoria. Bridgestone’s factory is one of only four in the world that produces runflat tyres. About 850 people are employed at the plant.

Also in Brits are Bosch and Dubigeon Body and Coach. SOS Tie & Die is a manufacturer of precision pressings, components and press tools. AVMY Steel Science is the largest supplier of small-quantity steel

ONLINE RESOURCES

Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC): www.aidc.co.za

National Department Trade, Industry and Competition: www.dtic.gov.za

North West Development Corporation: www.nwdc.co.za

In addition to Brits (automotive components and tyres), other concentrations include mining equipment and engineering (Klerksdorp) and food and beverages (Potchefstroom).

Rustenburg has a mixture of enterprises, the biggest of which are mining-related smelters.

Production of non-metallic mineral products is concentrated around Lichtenburg and Mahikeng (cement), and Rustenburg (stone). Totpak is located in Ventersdorp. RCL Foods has a large processing plant at Rustenburg, an EPOL feeds facility. Clover’s decision in 2021 to leave Lichtenburg because of a lack of reliable services was a blow for employment opportunities in the Ditsobotla Local Municipality.

About 30% of the country’s grain and oil-seed crop pass through Senwes silos every year. Sasko operates a white-maize mill in Klerksdorp. The SAB Rosslyn Brewery supplies the North West with most of its beer. ■

PHOTO: Supreme Chicken

Supreme Chicken has expanded its operations.

Water

Plans are in place to address shortfalls in water delivery.

The inability to deliver water to consumers reliably continues to affect municipalities and several steps are being taken to fix the problem.

In addition to a Provincial War Room on water which was announced in 2022, a Steering Committee has been established with the National Department of Water and Sanitation. A mobile app is to be introduced to enable citizens to alert authorities to water problems quickly.

A panel of experts has identified water and bulkwater supply as among the sectors that should be prioritised when it comes to creating “Mega Infrastructure Projects”. The projects were identified based on stage of readiness, bankability, socio-economic impact and ability to be implemented timeously.

The N12 highway was badly flooded in November 2022, causing huge delays to traffic and damaging the road itself. The sum of R100million has been allocated to repair it.

The community of Deelpan, near Sannieshof, has agreed to a relocation from the low-lying land which they current occupy and which was prone to flooding.

The province has 83 sewage-treatment plants, and the national Blue Drop award system has found that most of them need improvement.

JB Marks Local Municipality, which has Potchefstroom as its main town, is one of only three municipalities in the country that acts as a water-service authority and as a service provider. It has won awards for its levels of service. The biggest service providers active in the North West are:

• Rand Water.

• Sedibeng Water (which has taken over the service area of Botshelo Water).

• Midvaal Water Company, which supplies water to Matlosana (Klerksdorp).

• Magalies Water serves two of the local municipalities in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, Moses Kotane and Rustenburg. It also supplies water to five mines in the province and is active in the provinces of Gauteng and Limpopo.

ONLINE RESOURCES

Blue Drop Awards: www.ewisa.co.za

National Department of Water and Sanitation: www.dws.gov.za

South African Association of Water Utilities: www.saawu.org.za

South Africa is a water-scarce country and water management is critical to economic planning. The western part of North West Province is particularly dry.

In the eastern part of the province, national government has sent water tanks to some parts, and has upgraded the treatment plants upstream from the Hartbeespoort Dam.

Three of South Africa’s six major catchment areas are located in the province: the Limpopo, the Orange and the Vaal. Within these catchment areas, only the Vaal River has a strong-enough flow to allow for significant amounts of water to be taken from it directly to support irrigation or industry. There are four water-management areas in the province, three of which are linked to the Vaal River. Water is imported into the provincial system through transfers between water basins. ■

Floods damaged roads in 2022.

SECTOR INSIGHT

PHOTO: Magalies Water

Magalies Water’s contribution on Mandela Day in 2023 was to clean up the Dorpspruit in Rustenburg.

Tourism

Tourism revenues have recovered after Covid.

SECTOR INSIGHT

The North West Parks Board will spend R4-million on skills development.

Lowveld, has more than 7 000 animals, 360 bird species, and more than 200km of roads.

The North West relies heavily on tourism to generate revenue and to create and support jobs. The diversity of the province’s tourism offering gave the sector a good chance of recovering more quickly from Covid than some other less agile sectors.

Sun City (golf, conferencing and hotels) and several game lodges within game reserves are world famous, with several private lodges being recognised in international annual awards on a regular basis. Birding, fishing, hunting and hot-air ballooning are among other popular pursuits and Potchefstroom has outstanding sporting facilities.

According to the provincial government, tourism revenue reached R6-billion in 2022, a marked recovery from the R1.1-billion recorded in 2020. The 2023 State of the Province Address included these projections for the period to the end of 2023:

• international arrivals to grow to an estimated 700 000

• tourism revenue to grow to an estimated R8-billion

• tourism-supported jobs to grow to an estimated 25 000

The Provincial Government of the North West is trying to leverage the tourism and hospitality sector to foster employment opportunities. In 2022, the sector recruited and placed 100 unemployed youth at various participating host companies so that they could obtain workbased experience. They were paid a monthly stipend. A further 444 work opportunities were created in the environmental sector and the intention is to create a further 250 job opportunities in the 2023/24 financial year.

The malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park, located in the ecologically-rich transition zone between the Kalahari and the

Although the reserve that lies just to the north of Sun City is known as Pilanesberg National Park, in fact it falls under the North West Parks Board and is one of many parks and reserves controlled by the province. Both Pilanesberg and Madikwe have gained international reputations.

The Seboka Game Lodge, pictured from above, has officially been launched by the MEC responsible for the North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT). The four-star lodge, a redistribution project initiated by the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, is located on the Koster Dam within 700ha of bush that is home to 13 kinds of buck, giraffe, buffalo and zebra, along with vibrant bird life.

Hotels and conferences

Sun City has a range of venues available for hire ranging from a 12-seater Council Room to the Superbowl which can accommodate 6 000, and just about everything in between. With six

PHOTO: Madikwe River Lodge

Madikwe River Lodge is close to the Botswana border in the Madikwe Game Reserve. It presents an opportunity to see game in a non-malarial environment.

kinds of accommodation, two outstanding golf courses, casinos and a choice-filled entertainment complex, the Sun City Resort is a major tourism asset and significant employer in the province.

Sun City is far from being the province’s only conference venue. Tourism North West lists on its website a range of venue from small guesthouses with conference facilities in towns such as Rustenburg and Brits to lodges on the banks of the Hartbeespoort Dam.

In the provincial capital, Mahikeng, there are several options: among them are the Mmabatho Palms Hotel Casino Convention Resort, part of the Peermont group, which has hotels and casinos in six of South Africa’s provinces. Mmabatho Palms offers eight gaming tables and slot machines. Gaming is controlled in South Africa and licences are restricted to certain operators.

The Seboka Game Lodge, pictured from above, has officially been launched by the MEC responsible for the North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT). The four-star lodge, a redistribution project initiated by the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, is located on the Koster Dam within 700ha of bush that is home to 13 kinds of buck, giraffe, buffalo and zebra, along with vibrant bird life.

North West Parks and Tourism Board

The North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) is investing in the province’s 12 smaller parks with the intention of creating jobs.

In partnership with the National Department of Tourism, work has begun on the Manyane Game Lodge in Mahikeng, with a budget allocation of R43-million. Another project envisages a mega-park in the north-western sector of the province, the Heritage Park.

An additional 24 000 hectares of land is to be conserved through a biodiversity stewardship programme that forms part of the North West Protected Areas Expansion Strategy and Implementation Plan.

The NWPTB aims to protect representative ecosystems in ways that make them resilient to climate change and create opportunities for local communities to make a sustainable living. Finding a balance between agricultural activities and tourism is not the only challenge in an area that also frequently experiences droughts.

The NWPTB is unique in South Africa in that it is the only provincial government entity that runs a hotel school. The Institute of Hotel and Tourism Management (IHTM) has two campuses, one in Mahikeng

ONLINE RESOURCES

Marico Tourism: www.marico.co.za

North West Development Corporation: www.nwdc.co.za

North West Parks Board: www.northwestparks.org.za

Tourism North West: www.tourismnorthwest.co.za

and one at Ga-Rankuwa outside Pretoria. High tea in Mahikeng, pictured, can be a special experience.

Several regional tourism organisations market local products:

• Harties Tourism Association

• Matlosana Tourism Association

• Mooinooi: Buffelspoort Valley

• N12 Treasure Route Association

• Potch Tourism Association

• Vredefort Dome Tourism Association

• Taung is the site of the first discovered fossil of Australopithecus africanus.

• The Vredefort Dome is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its significance as the landing site of a meteorite many millions of years ago.

The Fac ulty of Economic and Management Sciences at the North-West University offers Tourism Management and the professors and researchers are at the top of their profession. ■

Education and training

Bicycles make learning easier.

Rural pupils attending classes at Olefile Secondary School in Pitsedisulejang no longer face a long walk to and from school. The village, in the far north-western corner of the province, is part of the Moses Kotane Local Municipality. Medipost Holdings has donated R300 000 worth of mountain bikes for the use of pupils. Bikes4ERP, the NGO which distributed the bicycles, gives bicycles to students, teachers and school volunteers with the main aim to increase access to education.

The CSI initiative responds to the findings of a StatsSA survey that found that more than half of the 690 000 pupils in the province who walk to an educational institution are from rural areas.

In the 2022 academic year, an amount of R16.2-million was allocated by provincial government in terms of the renamed Victor Thebe Sifora Provincial Bursary Scheme. The scheme will disburse R21.4-million in the 2023 academic year.

The North West Parks Board has allocated an amount of R4-million to be spent on youth skills development.

At North-West University, a new qualification, Mechatronic Engineering, has been added to the courses offered by the Faculty of Engineering. The Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering programme has been approved by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), enabling graduates to compete internationally.

The university and its researchers are leaders in many fields, including astrophysics, tourism, solar energy and extruder technology.

The University of South Africa (Unisa) has three branches in North West, at Rustenburg, Potchefstroom and Mmabatho.

Technical Vocational and Educational Training colleges teach skills that are relevant to the workplace. North West has three TVET colleges with several campuses each. Vuselela TVET College has its headquarters in Klerksdorp, where there is also an accredited trade test centre. There are a further four campuses: Jouberton Centre for Engineering Studies; Matlosana Campus; Potchefstroom Centre for ICT and Taung Campus.

Orbit TVET College has three sites, Rustenburg, Mankwe and Brits, with about 15 000 students overall. The Rustenburg campus of Orbit College hosts a Microsoft IT Academy while the Mankwe campus offers automotive training, the result of a partnership between the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related SETA

ONLINE RESOURCES

North West Department of Education: www.desd.nwpg.gov.za

North-West University: www.nwu.ac.za

NWU Business School: www.commerce.nwu.ac.za

SECTOR INSIGHT

North-West University now offers Mechatronic Engineering.

(MerSETA), Lelethu Training and Ford South Africa. Orbit TVET College hosts an electronics academy courtesy of sponsor Samsung Electronics on the Mankwe campus, and in partnership with the MerSETA. Mankwe also offers Automotive Repair, Maintenance and Transport and Logistics and is a Centre of Specialisation in Diesel Trade.

The Taung Agricultural College is accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) to offer the NQF level 6 Diploma in Agriculture specialising in Irrigation Technology. ■

Banking

African Bank has bought Ubank.

Ubank, which had a significant presence in the North West, has been sold to African Bank.

Having started its life as a savings fund for mineworkers, Ubank was converted to a commercial bank in the early 1990s but mineworkers continued to have a say in how it was run. The relationship of Ubank with the North West was close, an example being the branches located at the Dishaba and Thumela hostels of the Amandebult Mine.

Ubank was placed under administration in May, with the banking authorities citing concerns over insufficient capital, corporate governance and weak internal control.

African Bank’s acquisition of Ubank was completed in November 2022 and adds 4.7-million customers to its operation. Coming within months of African Bank’s purchase of Grindrod Bank for R1.5-billion, the R80-million transaction indicates the scale of Africans Bank’s ambitions – an indication of how far the bank has come since it was put into administration itself in 2014. The Reserve Bank still has a 50% shareholding in the bank, which it intends to sell.

TymeBank, one of the newer entrants onto the South African banking scene, is taking the concept of “retail banking” to another level. Having run banking kiosks within retailers such as Pick n Pay and Boxer for several years, TymeBank has signed a deal with TFG, a group that has a big presence in the North West.

What used to be known as the Foschini Group has 34 brands, including Markhams, Totalsports, Jet and Dial a Bed, and 30-million customers. In the short term, TymeBank will have access to 600 TFG kiosks, taking the bank’s total in South Africa to 1 450. There are Exact stores in Rustenburg, Mahikeng and Zeerust.

Another relatively new bank is Capitec. Investment holding company PSG has reduced its holding in Capitec Bank from 32% to 4%, earning about R4-billion by selling those shares.

Discovery Bank officially launched in March 2019 and is experiencing rapid growth with deposits of R3.7-billion. Discovery Bank is applying the behavioural model it uses in its health business to reward good financial behaviour.

In 2022, financial services group Old Mutual received permission from the prudential authority of the South African Reserve Bank to apply for a banking licence. The bank will spend R1.75-billion on setting up the bank and intends to launch in 2024.

All of the big banks have agricultural desks where experts can offer relevant advice. Nedbank is making a point of making funding available for climate-change mitigation such as more efficient irrigation and water-use technologies. All of the large agricultural companies have finance divisions.

Association for Savings and Investment South Africa: www.asisa.org.za

Auditor-General of South Africa: www.agsa.co.za

Chartered Institute for Government Finance, Audit and Risk Officers: www.cigfaro.co

Partners in the programme include the National Union of Mineworkers, Sanlam and Coronation. ■

TymeBank customers can bank in shops.

SECTOR INSIGHT

SMME and development finance

SMMEs are preparing to export.

Having access to foreign markets goes a long way to creating a bigger business out of a small business.

With many interventions in the SMME sector being designed to give small business owners access to the mainstream economy, the Export Awareness Workshops, jointly hosted by the North West Development Corporation (NWDC) and the National Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), exactly fit the bill.

Held in Rustenburg, Mahikeng and Potchefstroom in 2022, the workshops covered every aspect of the exporting process for interested business owners.

Some of the topics that were included in the workshops were:

• Export-readiness assessment

• Registration as an exporter, SARS Customs Division

• Certificate of Origin, to prove a product is authentically South African

• Marketing plan and strategy

• Licences and permits

• Trade leads

• Services offered by the dtic’s Export Helpdesk

• Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) and how to qualify

• Sector Specific Assistance Scheme (SSAS), application through provincial agencies

• Participation at an international expo pavilion

• Industry-specific export councils

At the conclusion of the workshop, anyone showing an interest in taking up exporting was encouraged to register with the dtic and to attend two fourday intensive workshops on the department’s Global Export Passport Programme (GEPP).

As one of the biggest enterprises in the province, Impala Rustenburg naturally makes a big impact on the provincial economy through its supply chain. The company’s Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Programme has similarly had a big impact. Since 2021, 400 SMMEs have benefitted from various initiatives under the programme.

A training programme designed to help informal businesses become formalised invites SMMEs to attend a five-day workshop. From that, candidates are selected to be part of a 12-month programme to learn further skills. This programme is run for Impala Rustenburg by Classic Oriental Consulting and Accuracy Group, two local SMMEs which operate within the mine communities.

More recently, Impala Rustenburg has opened an Economic Inclusion Centre (EIC) that will serve as a small business hub for mine-community SMMEs. It

The Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub incubated 60 businesses.

SECTOR INSIGHT

PHOTO: NWDC

Export Awareness Workshops held by the NWDC and the dtic help small business owners get access to markets.

offers shared facilities and a number of services, ranging from funding facilitation to advice on market access.

A construction company that had a total of six employees, two of whom were permanent, has increased its payroll to 22 on the back of a contract secured with Sun City.

CPKM Services, run by Charlotte Mosito, had previously done subcontracting work on drains, road construction and indoor security fencing but being part of an expansion project at Sun City, Lefika Villas, marks a significant step up for the BCom Business Management graduate who has also completed a Construction Management short course through UCT.

The first phase of development of Lefika Villas started in October 2022. The finished project will comprise 48 three-bedroom villas and 10 four-bedroom villas, providing accommodation for an additional 400 guests.

The deal included a provision that 30% of the build value must be allocated to local contractors. “This arrangement will see skills transferred, helping them to secure further work opportunities in the future. The bulk of workers will come from Moses Kotane municipality and staff will also be sourced from the Sun City doorstep communities,” says Tebogo Mokgejane, Sun City’s Socio-Economic Development and Stakeholder Engagement Manager, pictured above.

Digital development

The North West Provincial Government is investing in digital infrastructure through the Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub which is both a co-working environment and place to get support in using digital tools.

A Digital Covid-19 SMME Business Recovery training intervention was carried out by the Hub in partnership with the Department

ONLINE RESOURCES

Mafeking Digital Innovation Hub: www.mafihub.co.za

North West Development Corporation: www.nwdc.co.za

Small Enterprise Development Agency: www.seda.org.za

Tholoana Enterprise Programme: www.sabfoundation.co.za

of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT). This resulted in more than 180 entrepreneurs from all four districts of the province receiving training. A Youth Digital Skilling programme aims to teach skills such as software and app development, Artificial Intelligence and robotics.

In the 2022/23 financial year, 60 youth-owned businesses were incubated at the Hub and the provincial government has budgeted R12-million to further support these businesses.

In 2022 a two-day Youth Summit followed by the Integrated Youth Development Strategy 2025 workshop in partnership with National Youth Development Agency. A youth development coordinator has been appointed in the Office of the Premier.

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has nine contracts covering more than 2 300km in the province. A set of subcontracts is being negotiated for routine maintenance such as the patching of potholes, fencing and the cutting of grass verges.

The Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) is an agency of the DSBD and gives nonfinancial support to entrepreneurs through training, assistance with filling in forms, marketing and creating business plans. The Seda Technology Programme helps potential businesses become trading entities. The Industrial Development Corporation is a strategic lender and plays a strong role in supporting small and emerging enterprises. ■

PHOTO: Sun City

North West Local Government

North West Provincial Government

An overview of the North West municipalities.

A guide to North West Province’s government departments. Visit www.nwpg.gov.za

Office of the Premier

BOJANALA PLATINUM

Premier: Professor Tebogo Job Mokgoro

DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

Tel: +27 14 590 4500 | Fax: +27 14 592 6085

Garona Building, South Wing, 3rd Floor, Dr James Moroka Drive, Mmabatho 2735

Website: www.bojanala.gov.za

Tel: +27 18 388 3040 | Fax: +27 18 388 3008

City of Matlosana Local Municipality

Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism

Tel: +27 18 487 8000 | Fax: +27 18 464 2318

MEC: Keneitswe Mosenogi

Website: www.matlosana.gov.za

JB Marks Local Municipality

NWDC Building, 1st Floor, Cnr Provident Street and University Drive, Mmabatho 2735

Kgetleng Rivier Local Municipality

Website: www.nwpg.gov.za

Tel: +27 14 543 2004 | Fax: +27 14 543 2480

Website: www.kgetlengrivier.gov.za

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Madibeng Local Municipality

MEC: Desbo Mohono

Tel: +27 12 318 9203 | Fax: +27 12 318 9203

Website: www.madibeng.gov.za

Agricentre Building, Cnr Dr James Moroka Drive and Stadium Road, Mmabatho 2735

Moretele Local Municipality

Tel: +27 18 389 5111 | Fax: +27 18 392 4377

Tel: +27 12 716 1000 | Fax: +27 12 716 9999

Website: www.moretele.gov.za

Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation

Moses Kotane Local Municipality

MEC: Tsotso Tlhapi

Tel: +27 14 555 1300 | Fax: +27 14 555 6368

Website: www.moseskotane.gov.za

House No 1, Lowe Complex, Modiri Molema Road, Mmabatho 2735

Rustenburg Local Municipality

Tel: +27 18 388 4494 | Fax: 086 651 7885

Tel: +27 14 590 3111 | Fax: +27 14 590 3006

Website: www.rustenburg.gov.za

Department of Community Safety and Transport Management

DR KENNETH KAUNDA

MEC: Sello Lehari

DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

Tirelo Building, Albert Lithuli Drive, Mahikeng 2745

Tel: +27 18 299 5111

Tel: +27 18 387 7700 | Fax: +27 18 384 9440

Website: www.jbmarks.co.za

Department of Education

Maquassi Hills Local Municipality

MEC: Mmaphefo Lucy Matsemela

Tel: +27 18 596 1067 | Fax: +27 18 596 1555

Website: www.maquassihills.co.za

2nd Floor, Garona Building, Dr James Moroka Drive, Mmabatho 2735

Tel: +27 18 388 2970 | Fax: +27 18 384 5016

DR RUTH SEGOMOTSI MOMPATI

DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

Department of Health

Tel: +27 53 928 4700 | Fax: +27 53 927 2401

MEC: Madoda Sambatha

Website: www.drrsmdm.gov.za

Cnr 1st Street and Sekame Road, Mahikeng 2745

Tel: +27 18 391 4000

Greater Taung Local Municipality

Tel: +27 53 994 9400 | Fax: +27 53 994 3917

Department of Public Works and Roads

Website: www.gtlm.gov.za

MEC: Gaoage Oageng Molapisi

Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality

Tel: +27 53 998 4455 | Fax: +27 53 933 0035

Ngaka Modiri Molema Road, Old Parliament Complex, Provincial Head Office, Mmabatho 2735

Website: www.kmlm.gov.za

Tel: +27 18 388 1435 | Fax: +27 18 388 4021

Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality

Department of Social Development

Tel: +27 53 441 2206 | Fax: +27 53 441 3735

MEC: Boitumelo Theodora Moiloa

Website: www.lekwateemane.co.za

Tel: +27 18 200 8401

Tel: +27 18 473 8000 | Fax: +27 18 473 2523

Website: www.kaundadistrict.gov.za

Department of Cooperative Governance,

Provident House, University Drive, Mmabatho 2735

Tel: +27 18 388 2000 | Fax: +27 18 494 1213

Garona Building, East Wing, 2nd Floor, Cnr James Moroka and University Drive, Mmabatho 2735

Municipalities in North West Province

Mamusa Local Municipality

NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2019

Tel: +27 53 963 1331 | Fax: +27 53 963 2474

Mahikeng Local Municipality

Tel: +27 18 389 0111 | Fax: +27 18 384 4830

Website: www.mamusa.gov.za

Naledi Local Municipality

Tel: +27 53 928 2200 | Fax: +27 53 927 3482

NGAKA MODIRI MOLEMA DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

Rustenburg straddles the N4 “Platinum Highway” about 120km west of the cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg in the Gauteng Province, the economic hub of South Africa. The N4 stretches across South Africa from Mozambique in the east, to the Botswana border in the west and, as the Trans Kalahari Route, ultimately to Namibia.

Tel: +27 18 381 9400 | Fax: +27 18 381 0561

Website: www.mahikeng.gov.za

Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality

Tel: +27 18 642 1081 | Fax: +27 18 642 3586

Website: www.ramotshere.gov.za

Ratlou Local Municipality

Tel: +27 18 330 7000 | Fax: +27 18 330 7019

Website: www.ratlou.gov.za

Website: www.nmmdm.gov.za

Ditsobotla Local Municipality

Tel: +27 18 633 3800 | Fax: +27 18 632 5247

Website: www.ditsobotla.co.za

At the foot of the Magaliesberg Mountain Range, Rustenburg is only 50km from one of the country’s premier tourist resorts, Sun City, which in turn is adjacent to the 550km² Pilanesberg National Park and Game Reserve which has a small airport.

Orbit TVET College has a campus in Rustenburg, Unisa has a regional office and the Agricultural Research Institute’s Industrial Crops Division is also located in the city. The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace

Tswaing Local Municipality

Tel: +27 53 948 0900 | Fax: +27 53 948 1500

Website: www.tswaing.gov.za

31 NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2023/24

Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati

Molopo Kagisano Naledi

Greater Taung

Mamusa Lekwa-Teemane

Moses Kotane

Bojanala Rustenburg

Moretele Madibeng Kgetlengrivier

Ngaka Modiri Molema Ratlou

Tswaing

Ditsobotla

Ramotshere Moiloa

Mafikeng

Dr Kenneth Kaunda

Matlosana BOTSWANA

Marks Limpopo Gauteng Free State

Northern Cape

Klerksdorp (City of Matlosana)

Chamber of Commerce for Women in Business

Rustenburg’s newest chamber is empowering women and advocating for small business.

Services

Get easy access to the services, programmes and events that will be difference makers for your business and add your voice to the development of policy and advocacy positions.

Pillars of CCWB

• Advocacy

• Membership development

• Business and personal development

• PR and brand development

• Governance and finance

The Chamber of Commerce for Women in Business (CCWB) is a Rustenburgbased pioneer.

Established in 2020 and registered as an NPC in 2022, it is the newest chamber in the city and the first such organisation in the North West. A group of entrepreneurs came together to advocate and empower women of all colours. One of the goals of the chamber is to help disadvantaged women be integrated into the mainstream of business in order to improve their livelihoods.

More than 600 women in business are currently registered with CCWB. These members have access to networking sessions, SMME training and assistance with industry-related documentation. Over and above training seminars and workshops, CCWB also hosts gala dinners, luncheons and golf days.

Since its inception, the CCWB has been actively involved in acting as a voice of reason to be able to defend the rights of women-owned businesses, advocating policy reforms that foster inclusion of women entrepreneurs, and representing the voice of small and medium-sized enterprises. Meetings have been held with the major mining houses active in the area and memorandums of understanding have been signed.

We are a Proudly South African organisation, founded on the true spirit of equality, stakeholder partnerships and the understanding of various economic industries and the needs of emerging and established women in business. The CCWB is a registered NPC, POPIA-registered and affiliated to the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI). ■

Contact details

Tel: +27 82 936 9611

Email: info@ccwb.org.za

Website: www.ccwb.org.za

Oratilwe Nameng, President of the CCWB

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS

The CCWB visited the SACCI head offices in Johannesburg.

SCA N TO APPLY