Free State Business 2022

FREE STATE 

BUSINESS 

2022 EDITION 

THE GUIDE TO BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT 

IN FREE STATE PROVINCE 

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Supporting the Free State’s 

fight against COVID-19 

Sasol donated World Health Organisationapproved 

equipment to the Free State 

Department of Health to support the 

rollout of COVID-19 vaccines as a further 

effort to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“In order to deliver on our community 

health focus area, and solidify our social 

partner status, we recognise the need 

to support the provincial government’s 

vaccination rollout strategy by donating 

essential equipment and resources,” 

said Charlotte Mokoena, Sasol Executive 

Vice President: Human Resources and 

Stakeholder Relations. 

The equipment include a Ford Ranger 

custom built mobile clinic, a Toyota Hi-Ace 

14-seater minibus, five -40 o C World 

Health Organisation-approved vaccine 

cold storage freezers, 25 vaccine carriers, 

25 temperature loggers and 20 laptops. 

Information pamphlets and posters were 

also included in the donation. 

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic 

in 2020, Sasol contributed vastly to the 

fight against the coronavirus. It produced 

and distributed more than 1,6 million litres 

of alcohol-based sanitiser to frontline 

workers in hospitals, clinics, communities, 

as well as local and national government. 

More than 12 000 masks, 36 000 pairs 

of gloves and 5 000 safety suits and 

overalls were donated towards responses 

in fenceline communities. Mobile science 

laboratories, usually used for school 

education programmes were converted 

into COVID -19 screening and testing units. 

The company last year also fast-tracked 

the manufacturing of its own handsanitisers 

for use at its own operations 

and immediate fence line communities in 

the Free State and Mpumalanga. Sasol 

furthermore donated a million litres of jet 

fuel to the Department of International 

Affairs for the repatriation of South 

Africans stranded abroad. 

“Our COVID-19 response has been multilayered, 

consultative and collaborative 

to support efforts to flatten the curve 

with particular focus on our fence 

line communities within Free State, 

Mpumalanga, Gauteng and KwaZulu- 

Natal,” Mokoena said. 

The Free State MEC for Health, Montseng Tsiu (right) received the equipment from Sasol’s Senior 

Vice President Sasolburg and Ekandustria Operations, Rightwell Laxa (middle) to assist in the fight 

against the COVID-19 pandemic. The acting HOD for Health, Godfrey Mahlatsi in on the left.

Programme achieves +25% water saving 

Through an extensive partnership between 

Sasol, the Metsimaholo Local Municipality, 

Rand Water and a German development 

agency (GIZ) a 30% water saving was 

achieved in the greater Sasolburg area of the 

Free State. 

This was achieved through a water demand 

managment programme that started in 

2016, promoting water conservation and 

addressing water losses. 

Interventions followed a baseline study 

done by WRP engineers that focused on 

resources engineering, water conservation 

and water demand management, including 

lost revenues from water that could 

otherwise have been sold. 

Interventions included installation of meters 

and loggers, repairing of leaks on the main 

reticulation system, reconfiguration of 

the Harry Gwala reservoir and advanced 

pressure management. 

The baseline assessment further indicated 

that water leaks at hostels, schools and 

households should also be addressed. 

Aquatrips were installed at 28 township 

schools and permanent loggers, supported 

by a ZNet monitoring system, now ensures 

continuous monitoring. All this is supported 

by an extensive education and awareness 

programme in local communities that also 

make use of techniques such as virtual 

industrial theatre and puppet shows to 

enhance the learning experience. 

Basic leak repairs and retrofitting 

at 10 000 homes in Metsimaholo 

are done by local plumbers and 

water warriors – youth who 

received basic plumbing training. 

They focus on basic leak repairs 

such as in piping, taps and 

cisterns.

THE GUIDE TO BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT 

IN FREE STATE PROVINCE 

CONTENTS 

CONTENTS 

Free State Business 2022 Edition 

Introduction 

Regional overview 10 

Both the Botshabelo Industrial Park and the Maluti-A-Phofung 

Special Economic Zone (MAP SEZ) are attracting investors to the 

country’s most centrally-located province. Covid-19 hit the tourism 

sector hard, but the province’s miners are enjoying good commodity 

prices and the Virginia Gas Project is steaming ahead. 

Economic sectors 

Agriculture 28 

Transnet Freight Rail aims to double grain volumes. 

Mining 30 

Mining activity is picking up in some sectors. 

Oil and gas 38 

The Virginia Gas Project will join a small global elite in 2022. 

Manufacturing 42 

A steel smelter is under construction. 

Tourism 43 

The Vredefort Dome is to be marketed internationally. 

Education and training 44 

Skills development programmes are expanding. 

References 

Key sector contents 26 

Overviews of the main economic sectors of the Free State. 

FREE STATE 

BUSINESS 

2022 EDITION 

ABOUT THE COVER: 

From top left: Sasol One; Golden Gate; industrial parks at Phuthaditjhaba and Botshabelo are 

managed by the Free State Development Corporation; new factories are being built; a shaft at a 

Harmony mine; wheat grows widely in the Free State, Melissa Askew on Unsplash. 

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WWW.GLOBALAFRICANETWORK.COM | WWW.FREESTATEBUSINESS.CO.ZA

FOREWORD 

Free State Business 

A unique guide to business and investment in the Free State. 

Credits 

Publishing director: 

Chris Whales 

Editor: John Young 

Business development 

manager: Shiko Diala 

Managing director: Clive During 

Online editor: Christoff Scholtz 

Designer: Tyra Martin 

Production: Aneeqah Solomon 

Ad sales: 

Gavin van der Merwe 

Sam Oliver 

Jeremy Petersen 

Gabriel Venter 

Vanessa Wallace 

Administration & accounts: 

Charlene Steynberg 

Kathy Wootton 

Distribution and circulation 

manager: Edward MacDonald 

Printing: FA Print 

The 2022 edition of Free State Business is the 12th issue of this successful 

publication that, since its launch in 2008, has established itself as the 

premier business and investment guide for the Free State. 

The Free State has varied investment and business opportunities in 

a wide range of sectors. Special features on investment incentives and starting 

a business are included in this edition. 

Significant investments are being attracted into the newly-established Maluti- 

A-Phofung Special Economic Zone (MAP SEZ) in the northern part of the province 

and a steel mill is under construction at the Botshabelo Industrial Park east of 

Bloemfontein. The MAP SEZ is strategically located on South Africa’s busiest road, 

the N3 highway that links the economic heartland of South Africa to the coast. 

Good progress is being made on the Virginia Gas Project and arrangements are 

being made for offtake agreements with companies in the logistics sector (for powering 

truck fleets) and manufacturing companies. A distribution network is being rolled out in 

conjunction with a company that already runs petrol stations around the country. 

In addition, overviews on each of the key economic sectors provide upto-date 

information on trends in the mining and tourism sectors, for example. 

Regular information about the size and nature of each sector is also included. 

To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the 

print edition, the full content can also be viewed online at www.freestatebusiness. 

co.za. Updated information on the Free State is also available through our monthly 

e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at www.globalafricanetwork.com, 

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, African Business, which was launched in 2020. ■ 

Chris Whales 

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

DISTRIBUTION 

Free State 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 

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 1993-0119 

COPYRIGHT | Free State 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. 

PHOTO CREDITS | Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, 

Francesco Bandarin/UNESCO, Free State Development Corporation, 

Harmony Gold, Renergen, SASKO, Sasol, SA Tourism, Sebedisan Group/ 

CUT, Emil Widlund on Unsplash, VKB. 

DISCLAIMER | While the publisher, Global Africa Network Media (Pty) 

Ltd, has used all reasonable efforts to ensure that the information 

contained in the Free State 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.

MESSAGE 

Domestic MESSAGE 

Investing and in the international Free 

investors State Investing Province are the invited to 

invest The 

Free 


State in South State 

Province Africa’s most 

centrally welcomes located investors province 

MESSAGE 

MESSAGE 

Dr Mbulelo Nokwequ, Head of Department at 

DESTEA, outlines some of the Free State’s 

Dr Mbulelo Nokwequ, Head of Department at DESTEA, outlines some of the 

unique selling propositions. 

MEC MEC Free for for State’s Economic, Economic, unique Small Small selling Business Business propositions. Development, Development, Tourism Tourism and and Environmental Environmental Affairs, Affairs, 

the the Honourable MP MP Mohale, Mohale, outlines relates how how human the province capital formation has supported is at the business heart of the in the 

creation Covid-19 of crisis a conducive and how environment investment for can investment spark further in Free development. State Province. 

Free State Province is situated in the heart of South Africa and 

The 

shares borders 

Free State 

with 

Province 

Lesotho 

is 

and 

situated 

six other 

in the 

provinces. 

heart of South 

It provides 

Africa 

and shares borders with Lesotho and six other provinces. 

It In is easy with response pleasure access to to and the the gratitude effects main ports of that Covid-19 we, of as Durban, the and department East the London subsequent charged and 

It provides easy access to the main ports of Durban, East 

with lockdown Port promoting Elizabeth. of the investment economy, into Free the State Free enterprises State Province, were introduce invited to 

London and Port Elizabeth. 

Free apply The 

The 

State Free for 


Business State economic is an 

State 

2020. attractive recovery 

is 

We 

an 

welcome business incentives. 

attractive 

this and 

business 

well-known Incentives investment 

and 

publication’s 

and destination. support 

investment 

The regular 

programmes province 

destination. 

description is at were the centre for 

The province 

of the 

businesses of economic South in Africa the 

is at the centre 

environment 

formal and the and dominant 

of South 

of 

informal 

Africa 

our province 

sectors 

and the 

and are and agriculture, 

dominant 

are 

were 

pleased 

focussed mining, 

economic 

to contribute 

on saving manufacturing existing 

sectors 

to 

are 

its 

agriculture, 

pages. 

jobs and the and tertiary creating sectors, new ones. making 

mining, manufacturing 

it ideal 

and A 

In 

brief the 

for effort transport overview 

to improve 

tertiary sectors, 

logistics of the 

the 

making investment and uptake agro-processing. 

of 

it ideal climate 

opportunities 

for transport in our 

presented 

province 

by 

logistics and is 

government, 

agro-processing. 

Companies 

working 

locating 

with 

to Free 

different 

State not 

business 

only enjoy 

chambers 

the opportunity 

in the Free 

provided on the facing page. 

to 

source 

State, the 

The inputs 

department 

Department at competitive 

has assisted 

has prices, 

businesses 

developed but also a to Value benefit 

to meet 

Chains from 

the minimum 

Our department also published a dedicated investment prospectus. domestic, 

compliance requirements, like business, tax and other Economic licence 

The regional Transformation purpose and of international the Approach, Free State markets which Investment aims for their to Opportunities place products the economy and Prospectus services. on is 

registration. We would not like to see anybody left behind. a 

to Because path provide of South reconstruction, pertinent Africa has information recovery been engaging and about development with large-scale our economically post investment 

the Covid-19 large 

It is with pleasure and gratitude that we, as the department 

opportunities trading pandemic. partners, Maintaining currently access available to sound international relationships various markets sectors. with is facilitated the These private initiatives through 

charged with promoting investment into the Free State Province, sector 

represent various ensures trade that preferences government’s and free-trade economic agreements. 

introduce 

the 



State 

State’s 

Business 

response 

2021. 2022. 

to 

We 

President 

welcome transformation Ramaphosa’s 

this well-known 

clarion agenda 

call remains As far on long-term track. The department is is concerned, engaging with there sectors are industrial 

publication’s 

for increased 

regular 

long-term 

description 

investment 

of the 

necessary 

economic 

for 

environment 

inclusive growth such of our as 

and parks 

province property job and creation. and 

a developers Special 

are pleased 

Economic to issues contribute 

Zone such (SEZ) as to bulk its 

that services pages. 

are supported and the approval by the 

Department of While Our plans. department investment A of development Trade, is has an Industry essential also committee published 

and ingredient Competition. made a dedicated to economic up Industrial of government, 

investment growth, parks it • Free State Development 

should are prospectus, developers, situated be pointed the financing Free Maluti-A-Phofung, out State that at Investment institution the centre Botshabelo Opportunities and of the municipalities Free State and Prospectus. government’s 

Thaba will These Nchu. soon • an Corporation idyllic climate (FDC) support 

economic Maluti-A-Phofung initiatives be established. represent development SEZ the is Free strategy situated State’s is in response human Tshiame. capital to President formation Ramaphosa’s and de- 

MEC • recreational services for Economic, for and priority Small 

lifestyle sectors 

velopment clarion The Companies call Free through for State’s increased relocating strengths universities long-term for and to inward investment Free colleges, investment State and necessary not various are only boosted for institutions enjoy inclusive by: the 

Business facilities. such Development, as agro-processing Tourism 

and 

pursuing • growth opportunity openness and innovation job to to creation. business, source and offering trade inputs and proof-of-concept at foreign competitive investment services, prices, but to name also a to 

and manufacturing 

Environmental Affairs the the 

few. • benefit abundance While Indeed, from investment the of domestic, Free natural State is resources regional is an poised essential and to become international ingredient a laboratory markets economic for for excellence 

• growth, products low in factory education it should and rentals services. outcomes, be pointed research out that and at innovation, the centre particularly of the Free in include: • diverse cultures 

their 

Honourable Select • a large investment labour MP Mohale. pool opportunities 

the • State Africa’s fields There government’s of leading health, are industrial agriculture, telecommunications economic parks agro-processing, development and a Special network strategy, manufacturing, Economic as well Zone as water (SEZ) the • • Agriculture competitive and land agroprocessing 

costs. 

and building 

management, • Value that incentive Chains are supported packages Economic ICT, pharmaceuticals uniquely by Transformation the developed Department and rural Approach, for development. 

Special of Trade, is Economic human Industry capital Zones and 

• formation Competition. Domestic incentives and and associated development Industrial potential with parks investors the through revitalised are situated from universities industrial around Maluti-A-Phofung, 

the and parks world colleges, are • Tourism Select and property investment 

welcome • and Botshabelo Free various State to contact institutions and Development Thaba 

the DESTEA 

Nchu. pursuing Corporation The 

Head innovation Maluti-A-Phofung 

of Department (FDC) and support offering SEZ 

at: services is situated proof-ofconcept 

Tshiame, priority services, sectors Harrismith. to such name as agro-processing a few. The Free State and manufacturing 

is poised to become • • Medical Agriculture and and pharmaceutical 

agriprocessing 

for in opportunities developmentinclude: 

HoD_office@destea.gov.za. 

• a laboratory a large 

The Free 

labour for State’s excellence pool 

strengths in for education inward investment outcomes, are research boosted and by: • 

production 

tourism 

and 

and 

distribution 

property 

• innovation, • 

diverse 

openness 

cultures particularly to business, trade in the and fields foreign of health, investment agriculture, agroprocessing, 

competitive manufacturing, land and building water management, cost ICT, pharmaceuticals • Renewable and clean energy 

• Manufacturing 

development 

• abundance of natural resources 

• medical and pharmaceutical 

• 

• low factory rentals 

production and distribution 

• and world-class rural development. transport and telecommunications infrastructure • Medical tourism. 

• Africa’s Domestic leading and telecommunications potential investors network from around the world are • manufacturing 

welcome • incentive to contact packages the uniquely DESTEA developed Head of Department for Special Economic at: Zones • renewable and clean energy 


FREE and STATE industrial BUSINESS parks 2020 

6 

and medical tourism. ■ 

7 

FREE STATE BUSINESS 2020 


6 

7 FREE STATE BUSINESS 2021 

5 FREE STATE BUSINESS 2022

should prospectus, be pointed the Free out State that at Investment the centre Opportunities of the Free State Prospectus. government’s These 

economic initiatives represent development the Free strategy State’s is response human capital to President formation Ramaphosa’s and de- 

MEC for Economic, Small 

velopment clarion call through for increased universities long-term and investment colleges, and necessary various for institutions inclusive 

Business Development, Tourism 

pursuing growth FOCUSand innovation job creation. and offering proof-of-concept services, to name a 

and Environmental Affairs the the 

few. While Indeed, investment the Free State is is an poised essential to become ingredient a laboratory economic for excel- 

Honourable MP Mohale. 

lence growth, education it should outcomes, be pointed research out that and at innovation, the centre particularly of the Free in 

the State Empowering 

fields government’s of health, agriculture, economic agro-processing, development young 

strategy, manufacturing, as well as water the 

management, Value Chains Economic ICT, pharmaceuticals Transformation and rural Approach, development. is human capital 

formation Domestic and and development potential investors through from universities around the and world colleges, are 

welcome and people various to contact institutions the DESTEA to pursuing work 

Head innovation of Department and offering at: proof-ofconcept 

services, to name a few. The Free State is poised to become 


a laboratory for excellence in education outcomes, research and 

The YES4Youth Programme is creating thousands of work experiences. 

innovation, particularly in the fields of health, agriculture, agroprocessing, 

manufacturing, water management, ICT, pharmaceuticals 

and rural development. 

The Domestic and YES4Youth potential investors Programme from is around an the world to be part are of skills development among young 

welcome to Empowerment contact the DESTEA Initiative. Head of Launched Department at: individuals, while in turn ensuring that they 


FREE STATE in BUSINESS 2018, the 2020 programme has awarded 6 gain BBBEE levels and points. 

numerous young individuals an • Focuses on the employability of the youth for 

opportunity to gain on-the-job training while economic prosperity. 

building their professional profile and at the same 

FREE time STATE eliminating BUSINESS unemployment 2021 in the country. 6 Roles and responsibilities 

YES is fully focused on collaborating with DESTEA 

business to create quality work experiences 

for youth. Recruitment of youth into the work 

experiences that YES and its corporate clients 

create is handled by YES-affiliated implementation 

partners and employers. The goal is to create 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Liaison between SMEs and Standard Bank. 

Monitor performance and progress of employees. 

Support SMEs. 

Report back on SME and employee progress. 

thousands of work experiences for youth and to Standard Bank 

equip youth with a toolkit to make a life and be 

someone they have the potential to be. 

The partnership between DESTEA and Standard 

Bank continues to run with the aforementioned 

vision by supporting both SMEs and their respective 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Project management of initiative. 

Registrations of Youth with YES. 

Management administration. 

Pay stipends. 

employees as agreed upon, while ensuring the SMEs 

growth and progress of all participants. 

A total of 58 employees from the Free State have 

been placed in various companies where they continue 

to carry out their daily tasks and responsibilities resulting 

in the acquisition of quality work experience. 

The youth are provided with a minimum salary 

of R3 500 per month paid by Standard Bank. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Provide meaningful quality workplace experience. 

Provide learning opportunities. 

Manage day-to-day tasks and activities. 

Provide feedback to employees. 

Monthly submissions and documentation 

management. 

The unemployment rate in South Africa has 

risen to alarming levels. This shows the relevance 

and need for initiatives such as the YES For Youth 

Programme and the strong partnership with 

DESTEA and Standard Bank aimed at confronting 

the unfavourable aspects of youth unemployment. 

Not only does the programme place young 

people in spheres of work but it also ensures that 

the young employees receive real-time quality 

experiences coupled with a boosted professional 

profile, thus ensuring the youth’s employability 

upon completion of the 12-month placement. ■ 

The purpose of DESTEA and Standard Bank 

• Work hand-in-hand in the continued fight 

against the unemployment rate among young 

individuals in the Free State. 

• Encourage corporates to contribute to empowerment 

in areas of national priority, addressing 

youth unemployment and up-skilling young 

people through job placement. 

• Relieve host employers of stipend payments 

(Standard Bank). 

• Extend the opportunity to SMEs, allowing them 

FREE STATE BUSINESS 2022 

6

Investing in the Free 

State Investing Province 

the 

Free State Province 



Dr Mbulelo Nokwequ, Head of Department at DESTEA, outlines some of the 


Free State’s unique selling propositions. 

MESSAGE 

MESSAGE 


The 

shares borders 


with 

Province 

Lesotho 

is 

and 

situated 

six other 

in the 

provinces. 

heart of South 

It provides 

Africa 

and shares borders with Lesotho and six other provinces. 

easy access to the main ports of Durban, East London and 

It provides easy access to the main ports of Durban, East 

Port Elizabeth. 

London and Port Elizabeth. 

The Free State is an attractive business and investment destination. 

The Free State is an attractive business and investment 

The province is at the centre of South Africa and the dominant sectors 

destination. The province is at the centre of South Africa and the 

are agriculture, mining, manufacturing and the tertiary sectors, making 

dominant economic sectors are agriculture, mining, manufacturing 

it ideal 

and the 

for transport 

tertiary sectors, 

logistics 

making 

and agro-processing. 

it ideal for transport logistics and 

agro-processing. 

Companies locating to Free State not only enjoy the opportunity to 

source The inputs Department at competitive has prices, developed but also a to Value benefit Chains from domestic, Economic 

regional Transformation and international Approach, markets which aims for their to place products the economy and services. on a 

Because path of South reconstruction, Africa has recovery been engaging and development with our economically post the Covid-19 large 

trading pandemic. partners, Maintaining access to sound international relationships markets with is facilitated the private through sector 

various ensures trade that preferences government’s and free-trade economic agreements. transformation agenda 

remains As far as on long-term track. The investment department is is concerned, engaging with there sectors are industrial such as 

parks property and a developers Special Economic issues Zone such (SEZ) as bulk that services are supported and the approval by the 

Department of plans. A of development Trade, Industry committee and Competition. made up Industrial of government, parks 

are developers, situated in financing Maluti-A-Phofung, institution Botshabelo and municipalities and Thaba will Nchu. soon 

Maluti-A-Phofung be established. SEZ is situated in Tshiame. 

The Companies Free State’s relocating strengths for to inward Free investment State not are only boosted enjoy by: the 

• opportunity openness to to business, source trade inputs and at foreign competitive investment prices, but also to 

• benefit abundance from of domestic, natural resources regional and international markets for their 

• products low factory and rentals services. 

• Africa’s There leading are industrial telecommunications parks and a Special network Economic Zone (SEZ) 

• that incentive are supported packages uniquely by the developed Department for Special of Trade, Economic Industry Zones and 

• Competition. incentives associated Industrial with parks the revitalised are situated industrial Maluti-A-Phofung, 

parks 

• Botshabelo Free State and Development Thaba Nchu. Corporation The Maluti-A-Phofung (FDC) support SEZ services is situated for in 

Tshiame, priority sectors Harrismith. such as agro-processing and manufacturing 

• a large 

The Free 

labour 

State’s 

pool 

strengths for inward investment are boosted by: 

• 

• 

diverse 

openness 

cultures 

to business, trade and foreign investment 

• abundance of natural resources 

• competitive land and building cost 

• low factory rentals 

• world-class transport and telecommunications infrastructure 

• Africa’s leading telecommunications network 

• incentive packages uniquely developed for Special Economic Zones 

and industrial parks 

7 

• Free State Development 

• an Corporation idyllic climate (FDC) support 

• recreational services for and priority lifestyle sectors 

facilities. such as agro-processing and 

manufacturing 

Select • a large investment labour pool opportunities 

include: • diverse cultures 

• • Agriculture competitive and land agroprocessing 

costs. 

and building 

• Tourism Select and property investment 

opportunities developmentinclude: 

• • Medical Agriculture and and pharmaceutical 

agriprocessing 

• 

production 

tourism 

and 

and 

distribution 

property 

• Manufacturing 

development 

• medical and pharmaceutical 

• Renewable and clean energy 

production and distribution 

• Medical tourism. 

• manufacturing 

• renewable and clean energy 

and medical tourism. ■ 




PROFILE 

Free State Development 

Corporation (FDC) 

Driving enterprise development and investment in South Africa’s 

most central province, the Free State. 

The FDC contributes to the Free State’s 

economic development through four service 

delivery pillars: 

SMME/co-operative funding and support 

The FDC provides products and services to SMMEs 

and co-operatives in the form of financial support 

(business loans) as well as business development 

support (facilitating training and mentoring service 

providers). The principal loan products offered to 

Free State entrepreneurs by the FDC are: 

• Start-up loans for recently established businesses 

that are mainly at formative stages. 

• Expansion loans offering viable and existing 

businesses the capital needed to expand. 

• Business take-over finance to assist potential 

clients to acquire a business as a going concern. 

• Bridging finance for SMMEs with short-term cashflow 

problems with contracts or tenders. 

Property management 

The FDC administers a diverse property portfolio 

and can offer small to medium enterprises suitable 

premises at affordable rates. The corporation has 

some 253 commercial properties, 290 industrial 

properties and a large number of residential and 

vacant land for development. 

The corporation aims to use them to facilitate 

commercial and industrial activity, while assisting 

new investors looking for suitable premises. 

The FDC offers advice and guidance in terms of 

the following incentives: 

• Subsidised rental rates. 

• Rental holidays of up to three months. 

• Special incentives and discounts for BEE 

companies or individuals. 

FREE STATE BUSINESS 2021 2022 

18 8

is renting out 18 850 sqm standalone factory including Furniture 

FDC 

Machinery, Equipment, and Furniture for Business 

Manufacturing 

PROFILE 

I N D U S T R I A L P R O P E R T Y T O R E N T I N H A R R I S M I T H 

FDC is renting out 18 850 sqm standalone factory including Furniture 


Manufacturing Machinery, Equipment, and Furniture for Business 

Operation.. 

The factory is Situated at Site 2277 in Harrismith and close proximity to all amenities, on 

Operation.. 

main arterial routes and Quick access onto N3 Freeway. 

This factory offers the following: 


Sprinkler System. 


4 Roller Doors 

factory offers the following: 

Security Guard House 

This 


Well fenced and secured 

Investor services 

Export-related services 

parking 

Ample 

Roller Doors 

4 

The FDC offers a range of services to investors and The FDC services to exporters include the 

with 100 amps 

3 phase power 

businesses looking to trade in the Free State. These Export Promotion 

Security House 

Programme, which aims 

Guard 

to 

boardroom, toilets, reception, kitchen separate warehouse with 

8 6 offices ablutions and 

fenced and secured 

include the following: 

grow demand for Free State products in global 

Well 

shower 

• Project appraisal and packaging. 

Ample parking 

markets through capacity-building workshops, 

• Promotion and facilitation of investment projects the dissemination of trade leads, networking 

phase power with 100 amps 

Occupation available immediately. Please contact Mr Tefo Matla for more 

3 

and facilitation of access to finance. 

opportunities with inbound trade missions, 

and and separate 6 warehouse boardroom, ablutions toilets, with 

reception, information offices or kitchen to 8 view: 

• Providing access to business and government product promotion through participation in 

networks 

shower 

and 4000 assistance 800 with Email: business tefo@fdc.co.za retention 

www.fdc.co.za 

outbound group missions and on national Tel: and 

051 

and expansion. 

international exhibitions, access to national exportincentive 

• Information Occupation available immediately. Please contact Mr Tefo Matla for more 

on statutory 

FDC IS ZERO 

requirements, 

TOLERANCE TO FRAUD AND CORRUPTION.PLEASE 

programmes, 

REPORT FRAUD 

market 

AND 

access information 

investment advice and assistance CORRUPTION with investment 

INCIDENTS TO THE and FRAUD technical HOTLINE 0800 advice 212 on 154 exporting procedures. ■ 

view: to or information 

incentive applications and business permits. 

www.fdc.co.za 

tefo@fdc.co.za Email: 800 4000 051 Tel: • Assisting with the development of local 

Contact details 

and international markets and facilitating 

joint ventures/equity partnerships through Free State Development Corporation 

FDC IS ZERO TOLERANCE TO FRAUD AND CORRUPTION.PLEASE 

identification of local partners. 

Tel: +27 51 4000 800 

REPORT FRAUD AND 

CORRUPTION INCIDENTS TO THE Emails: FRAUD HOTLINE wecare@fdc.co.za 0800 212 154| invest@fdc.co.za 

Website: www.fdc.co.za 

919 FREE STATE BUSINESS 2022 

2021

A REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF 

FREE STATE 

Both the Botshabelo Industrial Park and the Maluti-A-Phofung 

Special Economic Zone (MAP SEZ) are attracting investors to 

the country’s most centrally-located province. Covid-19 hit the 

tourism sector hard, but the province’s miners are enjoying good 

commodity prices and the Virginia Gas Project is steaming ahead. 

By John Young 

The announcement in 2021 by Renergen, 

the owners of the Virginia Gas Project, 

that it had signed an agreement with 

Consol, one of the country’s leading glass 

manufacturers, gave new impetus to the country’s 

only onshore gas project. 

Having previously targeted the logistics 

sector for offtake agreements, and successfully 

concluded several agreements together with 

a joint venture to roll out gas supplies to filling 

stations across the country with TotalEnergies, the 

Consol pact marked a significant new customer 

for the gas explorers and potentially opens up a 

new market. 

Renergen said in 2021 that their findings 

continued to confirm early reports of substantial 

reserves. One of the key facts to emerge is that 

the gas contains helium of up to 12%, a good 

percentage. 

Other good news came in the form of news 

that the Maluti-A-Phofung Special Economic Zone 

(MAP SEZ), the strategically located area on the N3 

highway, is attracting new investment to the Free 

State Province. 

Sectors prioritised at the MAP SEZ include 

logistics, ICT, automotive, pharmaceuticals, 

manufacturing and agro-processing. The 1 000ha 

site has four zones: agro-processing, light industrial, 

heavy industrial and a container terminal. Control 

of the project now rests with the provincial 

Department of Small Business Development, 

Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA). 

Infrastructure 

Other areas that are being upgraded to provide 

infrastructure to encourage manufacturing are the 

Phuthaditjhaba Industrial Park and the Botshabelo 

Industrial Park, where a foreign firm has started 


10

SPECIAL FEATURE 

province which is also well served by rail and air links. 

The Bram Fischer International Airport serves the 

provincial capital. 

Links to the west (Kimberley and on to Namibia) 

and east (to Lesotho) underpin the planning 

behind the N8 Corridor concept which covers 

Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu. A plan 

for the coordinated development of the N8 Corridor 

has been approved by a range of bodies and is being 

funded by the Development Bank of Southern Africa 

(DBSA) and the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. 

Sasol’s complex at Sasolburg. Credit: Sasol 

construction of a new steel mill (which is covered in 

the Manufacturing Overview). 

Telecoms company Vodacom is investing 

heavily in its infrastructure in the Free State. 

Several new base stations have been established 

in villages such as Clocolan, Fauresmith and 

Fouriesburg, greatly improving coverage in rural 

areas. The Rural Coverage Acceleration Programme 

allocated R207-million to the region in 2020/21. 

Bloemfontein is the site of one of Vodacom’s 

new solar-powered facilities, helping in the 

company’s drive to reduce its carbon emissions. 

Vodacom saved 11 971MW in 2020 through its 

energy management programme. 

The N3 is South Africa’s busiest road and the 

Highway Junction truckstop at the entrance to 

Harrismith claims to be Africa’s biggest. More than 

1 500 vehicles pass through every day and three 

forecourts cater to three fuel brands. Refuelling, 

storage and handling take place here, highlighting 

the province’s strengths in logistics as the country’s 

most central province. 

The country’s two great highways pass through 

the province. The N3 links the ports of Richards 

Bay and Durban with the industrial heartland and 

the N1 provides north-south connectivity. The 

provincial capital, Bloemfontein, is another logistics 

hub. Three other national highways intersect the 

Provincial assets 

International fuel, gas and chemicals company 

Sasol regularly invests in new technologies and in 

expanding production of its many products. Mining 

is reduced in importance but remains a significant 

employer. Harmony Gold has several assets in the 

province and Sibanye-Stillwater has undertaken a 

feasibility study on a property adjacent to its existing 

Beatrix mine. 

In agriculture, the Free State is looking forward 

to the implementation of the African Continental 

Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the free trade agreement 

that was stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Free 

State’s agricultural export basket is well suited to 

trading with African states and strategies are being 

considered to promote apples, asparagus, cherries, 

cut flowers, sorghum, venison and wine. 

The Free State produces significant proportions 

of South Africa’s wheat (30%), sunflowers (45%) and 

maize (45%) and is ranked third in contribution to 

national GDP in agriculture. 

The Free State shares borders with six other 

provinces, in addition to the Mountain Kingdom 

of Lesotho. A summer-rainfall region with a mean 

Commercial agriculture is a key element of the Free State 

economy, with companies like VKB farming and storing vast 

quantities of grain. Credit: VKB 



annual rainfall of 532mm, the Free State’s climate, 

soil types and topography vary greatly within the 

province, with plains in the west and mountains 

in the east. The western and southern areas are 

semi-desert, with some Karoo vegetation occurring 

in the south. The southernmost region of the Free 

State is a largely dry area with open grasslands 

predominating, although it is also home to the 

Gariep Dam, South Africa’s largest dam. 

Municipalities in the Free State 

The Free State has one metropolitan municipality 

(Mangaung), four district municipalities and 19 

local municipalities. 

Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality 

Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality is a Category 

A municipality which governs Bloemfontein, 

Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu. The sixth-largest city 

in the country, the Mangaung municipal area covers 

more than 6 263km² and has a population of about 

850 000 people. Bloemfontein is responsible for 

about 25% of provincial GDP. 

Xhariep District Municipality 

Towns: Trompsberg, Zastron, Philipollis, Smithfield, 

Wepener 

The southernmost region of the Free State is a largely 

dry area with open grasslands predominating, 

although it is also home to the Gariep Dam, South 

Africa’s largest dam. The dam is also the site of small 

hydro-power and aquaculture projects. The nearby 

Tussen die Riviere Nature Reserve and the Mynhardt 

Game Reserve are popular. Crops are produced in 

the northern parts of the district and sheep farming 

is the biggest activity in the south. Diamonds, gravel 

and clay are mined at Koffiefontein. Jagersfontein is 

one of the first places where diamonds were found. 

Lejweleputswa District Municipality 

Towns: Welkom, Virginia, Boshof, Christiana, 

Bultfontein, Bothaville 

Mining is the most important economic activity in 

this area, also known as the Free State Goldfields, 

but it is also the most important maize-growing 

area in South Africa. A large natural gas field has 

been discovered on what used to be gold turf. 

Bothaville hosts the annual NAMPO maize festival 

and the headquarters of Grain SA. Welkom is the 

major urban centre in the district. 

The area has tourist assets such as a holiday 

resort on the Allemanskraal Dam, the Goldfields 

Wine Cellar in Theunissen and the Willem Pretorius 

Game Reserve. 

Fezile Dabi District Municipality 

Towns: Sasolburg, Parys, Kroonstad, Frankfort, 

Heilbron, Viljoenskroon 

The chemical complex at Sasolburg is the economic 

driver in the district, which shares a border with 

Gauteng province along the Vaal River. Kroonstad is 

the district’s second-largest town and has a number 

of engineering works and a railway junction. 

A good proportion of South Africa’s grain crop 

is sourced from this district and when the vast fields 

of sunflowers and cosmos flowers are in bloom, a 

marvellous vista is created. The Vaal River presents 

opportunities for yachting, rafting and resort-based 

enterprises. Parys is a charming town and Vredefort 

is home to a World Heritage Site – the Vredefort 

Dome where a meteor crashed to earth. 

Fezile Dabi District Municipality is the biggest 

contributor towards the provincial GDP, accounting 

for approximately 35%. The Fezile Dabi area is mostly 

dominated by the industrial power of Sasol, with 

the manufacturing of refined petroleum, coke and 

chemical products adding largely to its GDP. 

Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality 

Towns: Phuthaditjhaba, Bethlehem, Ladybrand, 

Clarens, Harrismith, Ficksburg 

Tourism and fruit farming are the two principal 

economic activities of this area which is 

characterised by beautiful landscapes: the Maluti 

and the Drakensberg mountain ranges, wetlands in 

the north, well-watered river valleys and the plains 

of the north and west. The most famous asset is the 

Golden Gate National Park. 

Industrial activity is undertaken at Harrismith and 

Phuthaditjhaba, where the Free State Development 

Corporation is promoting investment. The Maluti- 

A-Phofung Special Economic Zone (MAP SEZ) at 

Harrismith is a multi-modal transport and logistics 

hub. The commercial centre of the district is 

Bethlehem while Clarens and Ficksburg have become 

famous for their artists and cherries respectively. ■ 


12


Free State Gambling, 

Liquor and Tourism 

Authority 

Driving economic transformation in the Free State. 

Free State Province 

Center yourself in the heart of South Africa 

Vision 

A transformed economy and a prosperous society with an 

effective, well-regulated gambling and liquor industry and a vibrant 

tourism sector. 

Mission 

To be a leading developmental institution that drives economic 

transformation, regulation and adaptation to the ever-changing 

industry dynamics to benefit the Free State. 

CEO of Free State Gambling, 

Liquor and Tourism Authority, 

Mr Kenny Dichabe 

The Free State Gambling, 

Liquor and Tourism 

Authority (FSGLTA) 

is one of the two 

entities of the Department 

of Economic, Small Business 

Development, Tourism and 

Environmental Affairs (DESTEA). 

The FSGLTA was established by 

the FSGLTA Amendment Act 4 

of 2017, which was amended 

to incorporate the former Free 

State Tourism Authority and 

Free State Gambling and Liquor 

to form the new entity which is 

known as FSGLTA. 

Mandate 

The mandate of of the the Free Free State State Gambling, Gambling, Liquor Liquor and Tourism and Tourism 

Authority is is to to regulate the the gambling and and liquor industries within within 

the province and to to market and promote tourism in in the the province. 

The Authority’s purpose is to promote legally compliant, responsible, 

sustainable and transformed gaming and liquor industries through 

effective licensing, regulating and and reporting on the on activities the activities of of 

the industries, and to to position the the Free Free State State Province as a as tourist a tourist 

destination of of choice. 

The gambling industry 

• Invite applications for licences (gambling) 

• Consider, grant or refuse applications 

• Cancel, suspend, vary, renew or revoke a licence or registration 

approved 

• Implementation of norms and standards in the gambling industry 

as determined by the National Gambling Act 

• Ensure that gambling activities are effectively regulated, licensed 

and controlled 

• Ensure compliance to the act, rules and regulations 

The liquor industry 

• Receive applications for registrations (liquor) 

• Reduce the socio-economic and other costs of alcohol 

• Promote the development of a responsible and sustainable liquor 

industry in relation to gambling 

• Generate revenue for the Free State Province 

FREE STATE BUSINESS 2021 2022 

22 14


Image: iStock 

The tourism industry 

It is important that the FSGLTA intensifies 

its efforts to ensure effective marketing 

of the province in order to attract 

domestic tourists as well as international 

tourists. The province continues to 

enhance tourism infrastructure, up-skill 

the sector, inculcate the culture of service 

excellence and enhance the provision 

of world-class visitor experiences. The 

Authority has partnered with event 

organisers and tour operators to market 

and promote the Free State as a tourist 

destination. These are achieved through 

the following: 

• Forging strategic partnerships with the 

public and private sectors to leverage 

from each the capability and capacity 

to improve the industry 

• Streamlining the impact of events 

through partnerships and sponsorships 

• Improving on Meetings, Incentives, 

Conferencing and Events (MICE) as a 

focused growth area of the market 

• Continuous review of the marketing 

plans to stay on par with the industry 

trends. ■ 

GAMBLING AND LIQUOR CONTACT DETAILS 

• Mangaung Metro Abraham Classen 

classena@fsglta.gov.za | 051 404 0320 | 079 506 0272 

• Thabo Mofutsanyana Peter Moleko 

molekop@fsglta.gov.za | 078 309 4178 

• Lejweleputswa Thabo Tlake 

tlaket@fsglta.gov.za | 057 492 0001 | 072 533 6681 

• Fezile Dabi Bongakele Nzunga 

nzungab@fsglta.co.za | 056 492 0001 | 082 256 5926 

• Gariep Abraham Classen 

classena@fsglta.gov.za | 051 404 0320 | 079 506 0272 

TOURISM ROUTE CONTACT DETAILS 

• Cheetah Route Nthabiseng Methola 

cheetah@freestatetourism.org | 073 125 1614 

• Eagle Route Bonolo Molefe 

eagle@freestatetourism.org | 072 056 6090 

• Flamingo Route Dineka Lephowane 

flamingo@freestatetourism.org | 073 796 8577 

• Lion Route Keakabetse Ramokonopi 

lion@freestatetourism.org | 084 951 1564 

• Springbok Route Kefiloe Molefe 

molefek@fsglta.gov.za | 079 496 2999 



FOCUS 

Environmental 

sustainability 

The Environment and Conservation Branch is working to promote a pristine 

environment that facilities economic transformation. 

FOCUS 

Environmental sustainability within the Free 

State Province is conducted within the 

prescripts of promoting Section 24 of the 

South African Constitution, recognising 

and promoting environmental rights as contained 

in the Bill of Rights. We also recognise our 

responsibility to promote a pristine environment 

that facilitates a transformative economic agenda 

to create jobs and a just society. 

The main focus areas are: 

• Environmental Quality and Protection: 

environmental education and awareness; waste 

and air quality management; environmental 

impacts and assessments; EPWP. Also promoting 

the circular economy with a particular focus on 

waste and recycling. 

• Biodiversity Conservation and Research: 

maintenance of resorts and reserves; 

protected areas maintenance and expansion; 

biodiversity research; game culling and 

auctions including the transformation 

and promotion of Biodiversity Economy; 

transformative entrepreneurship; development 

and promotion of the wildlife economy. 

Current considerations 

• Ensuring sustainable environmental 

management. 

• Improve national and provincial state of 

environmental reporting. 

• Integration of environmental objectives in 

national, provincial and instruments and tools. 

• Implementation of Chapter 4 of NEMA provisions 

in relation to fair decision-making and conflict 

management (conciliation, arbitration and 

investigations). Responding to EIA complaints 

and appeals without compromising on 

economic transformation, job creation and the 

promotion of spatial integration. 

Conservation priorities 

The Free State is 128 000km² in extent, or 

12.8-million hectares. This means that it is the 

third-largest province in South Africa. Located 

in the centre of the country, with ideal soils and 

climate, the province is an extremely important 

food producer and the environmental health of 

the province is therefore vital to the food security 

of the country. 

The province boasts a strong conservation 

mindset, not only from within the DESTEA but 

also from land owners generally. 

Prior to the adoption of the Free State Protected 

Area Expansion Strategy there were already 240 

formally declared Nature Reserves in the province. 

Since the inception of the Biodiversity Stewardship 

programme an additional 53 000 hectares of 

private land have been declared and added to 

the conservation estate. Priority focus is now 

on extending these conservation areas into the 

remaining natural areas of the province thereby 

conserving wetlands, rivers, terrestrial ecosystems 

and species for future generations. 

In addition to the formal conservation areas, 

there are over 300 000 hectares of game and 

mixed-species ranches. The province generates 

over R600-million per annum from the local 

hunting industry, which maintains many huntingsupport 

businesses such as taxidermists, curio 

producers, etc. ■ 



16

State Province 

FOCUS 

Growing the 

tourism sector 




FOCUS 

The Tourism Unit of DESTEA is providing market access for local operators. 


DESTEA’s shares borders with Tourism Lesotho Unit’s and objective six other provinces. is to It provides 

easy access grow the tourism sector’s contribution 

to Free the State main economy. ports of In Durban, achieving 

East London and 

Port Elizabeth. 

The Free State this, is various an attractive activities business and functions and investment are destination. 

The performed, province is which at the include: centre of South Africa and the dominant sectors 

are 

• 

agriculture, 

Creating a 

mining, 

conducive 

manufacturing 

environment 

and 

for 

the 

tourism 

tertiary 

to 

sectors, making 

it ideal 

thrive 

for transport logistics and agro-processing. 

• Formulating and implementing a Provincial 

Companies locating to Free State not only enjoy the opportunity to 

Tourism Sector Strategy to guide tourism activities 

source inputs at competitive prices, but also to benefit from domestic, 

in the province 

regional and international markets for their products and services. 

• Providing market access opportunities both 

Because South Africa has been engaging with our economically large 

locally and internationally to provincial tourism • Promotion of tourism safety through among others, 

trading partners, access to international markets is facilitated through 

enterprises 

programmes such as the Provincial Joint 

various 

• Roll 

trade 

out programmes 

preferences and 

to enhance 

free-trade 

visitor 

agreements. 

services Operational and Intelligence Structure (Provjoints), 

As 

and 

far 

experience 

as long-term investment is concerned, there are 

with 

industrial 

law enforcement agencies, and also through 

parks • Facilitate and a Special and promote Economic tourism Zone (SEZ) education that are and supported implementing by the the Tourism Monitors Programme. 

Department capacity-building of Trade, for Industry the tourism and sector Competition. Industrial parks 

are • Promote situated in the Maluti-A-Phofung, culture tourism Botshabelo and service and Thaba Journey Nchu. to Service • an Excellence idyllic climate 

Maluti-A-Phofung excellence SEZ is situated in Tshiame. 

The J2SE will focus • recreational nominating and lifestyle a small town 

• The Promote Free State’s transformation strengths of for the inward tourism investment sector for are boosted in the rural by: tourism facilities. nodes and assisting the 

• 

• 

• 

• 

openness inclusive tourism business, economy, trade and as well foreign as providing investment 

abundance support to of youth natural and resources women in tourism 

• low Facilitating factory rentals events tourism to reduce seasonality 

Africa’s and enhance leading geographic telecommunications spread network 

town to develop a service excellence-orientated 

culture in their Select organisations investment opportunities 

and different 

structures with include: strong media attention and focus 

during the activation. • Agriculture A town and will agroprocessing 

be identified 

• 

• 

• 

of Service Excellence will be 

• incentive Facilitate packages funding uniquely for initiatives developed that for seek Special to Economic and the Zones principles 

incentives develop and associated grow tourism with the in the revitalised province industrial parks communicated • to all Tourism organisations. and property A criterion has 

Free State Development Corporation (FDC) support services been for developed development for the nomination which 

priority sectors such as agro-processing and manufacturing has been shared • Medical and discussed and pharmaceutical with relevant 

• 

• 

a large labour pool 

diverse cultures 

stakeholders. production A number of and activities distribution will be 

implemented • Manufacturing 

anticipation of the big media 

• competitive land and building cost 

event to launch • Renewable J2SE Town. and clean energy 

• world-class transport and telecommunications infrastructure At its core, • the Medical J2SE aims tourism. 

bring together 

the entire town including restaurants, 

accommodation facilities, tourist attractions, 

police, banks and petrol attendants, among 

7 others, to be informed, FREE trained STATE and BUSINESS exposed 2020 to 

the four components of the SANS 1197:2012. 

A secondary objective of this programme is 

to establish a local Tourism Service Excellence 

structure or to link with existing structures to 

build a sustainable service culture. ■ 


1728 

FREE STATE BUSINESS 2022

PROFILE 

Maluti-A-Phofung SEZ 

investment opportunities 

The SEZ is booming with investment to the tune of R1.1-billon for 2020. 

MAP SEZ CEO Mpho Mgemane 

of the traffic to different locations in South Africa and neighbouring 

countries such as Lesotho and Swaziland. Through its cross-docking 

precinct and its logistics and warehousing sectors the MAP SEZ 

presents itself as a solution to lighten the traffic pressure on the N3. 

This Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is part of the Free State leg 

of the massive Durban-Free State-Gauteng logistics and industrial 

corridor that is intended to strengthen the logistics and transport 

corridor between South Africa’s main industrial hubs to: 

• Ignite the economy of the region through industrialisation. 

• Attract foreign and direct investment. 

• Create access to export and import markets. 

• Integrate Free State industrial strategy activities into the corridor. 

• Create job opportunities and grow the economy within the region. 

Maluti-A-Phofung 

Special Economic 

Zone (MAP SEZ) has 

been established in 

terms of the Special Economic 

Zones Act No 16 of 2014. The 

programme is intended to 

deepen industrial development 

and improve manufacturing 

competitiveness in the Maluti- 

A-Phofung region. 

Since the Durban port is 

the busiest in the southern 

hemisphere, it therefore means 

that the N3 carries the majority 

Objectives 

As part of its mandate, the MAP SEZ is intended to establish 

manufacturing opportunities and create a regional and international 

trade environment with added value-chain benefits. It has also been 

established to simulate social and economic benefits and regional 

development and to create 

a prosperous trade city and 

functional trade ecosystem. 

Finally, to encourage 

beneficiation activities that 

promote value-added benefits 

and help to create a prosperous 

trade city and functional trade 

ecosystem. 

FREE STATE BUSINESS 2022 2021 

20 18

PROFILE 

Priority sectors 

Some of the many MAP SEZ 

priority sectors are: 

• Automotive 

• Agro-processing 

• Logistics 

• General processing 

• ICT 

• Pharmaceuticals. 

From this pipeline MAP SEZ is proud to 

pronounce that it has secured investments 

from five investors to the value of R1.1-billion 

in various sectors. The operations of 

these investors were established in June, 

September and November 2020. 

These investors are a source of great pride 

for the MAP SEZ as they have created 103 137 jobs since the start of their 

operations and are projected to create 466 jobs collectively, once 

they are fully operational. 

The MAP SEZ is now gaining momentum in terms of attracting 

local and foreign investors and is supported by its healthy investment 

pipeline of approximately R3.2-billion, R2.6-billion in which the next is project-ed five years, which to create will 

create 12 000 an work estimated opportunities. 22 130 permanent ■ and temporary jobs. ■ 

Investor benefits 

Some of the many investor 

benefits that can be derived 

from locating within MAP SEZ 

include but are not limited to 

the following: 

• 15% corporate tax instead of 

28% corporate tax. 

• Building allowance tax. 

• Employment incentive tax. 

• 12i tax allowance. 

MAP SEZ milestones 

Maluti-A-Phofung SEZ was 

granted an operator permit in 

2017 by the Minister of Trade, 

Industry and Competition after 

cabinet approval. MAP SEZ was 

gazetted as a Special Economic 

Zone on 2 June 2017 and its tax 

incentives were gazetted on 6 

July 2018. 

SEZ project pipeline 

Since inception the MAP 

SEZ has engaged numerous 

investors and through these 

engagements has built a 

pipeline of lucrative local and 

international investments to the 

tune of R2.3-billion. 


Any investor interested in establishing their business within 

the SEZ can contact: 

Ms M Setai, Manager in the Office of the Chief Executive Officer 

Maluti-a-Phofung A Special Economic Zone 

Tel: +27 51 4000 800 | Cell: +27 73 210 0935 

Email: maphoika@mapsez.co.za | Website: www.mapsez.co.za 

21 19 FREE STATE BUSINESS 2022 2021


Establishing a business 

in South Africa 

South Africa has eased the barriers to doing business for locals as well as 

international companies and individuals. 

new legislation, no new Close Corporations can 

be created but CCs can convert to companies. 

Registration of company 

The company must be registered with the 

Companies and Intellectual Properties 

Commission, (CPIC) in Pretoria within 21 days of 

the company being started. There are a range of 

administrative procedures that need to be fulfilled. 

Bank account 

A business bank account must be opened in the 

company’s name with a bank in South Africa. 

South Africa has a sophisticated legal, 

regulatory and banking system. Setting 

up a business in South Africa is a relatively 

straightforward process with assistance 

being offered by organisations such as the 

Department of Trade, Industry and Competition 

and provincial investment agencies like the Free 

State Development Corporation (FDC). 

South African law regulates the establishment 

and conduct of businesses throughout the 

country. Tax, investment incentives, regulations 

governing imports, exports and visas are uniform 

throughout the country. 

The particular environment varies from 

province to province with regard to the availability 

of human and natural resources, the infrastructure 

and support services, business opportunities and 

the quality of life. In this respect, the FDC can offer 

specific advice about the business environment in 

the province. 

Business is regulated by the Companies Act 

and the Close Corporation Act, which cover 

accounting and reporting requirements. Under 

Registration with the receiver of revenue 

• As a Provisional Taxpayer 

• As a VAT vendor 

• For Pay As You Earn (PAYE) income tax payable on 

money earned by employees 

• For Standard Income Tax on Employees 

Registration with the Department of Labour 

Businesses employing staff will have to contact the 

Department of Labour regarding mandatory contributions 

to the Unemployment Insurance Fund 

(UIF). Register with Compensation Commissioner 

for Compensation Fund: Files with the Compensation 

Fund (in the Department of Labour) for 

accident insurance (Workmen’s Compensation). 

Registration with the local authority 

Relevant only to businesses dealing in fresh 

foodstuffs or health matters. 

Other procedures 

• Checking exchange control procedures (note 

that non-residents are generally not subject to 

exchange controls except for certain categories 

of investment). 


20 26


FDC 


Manufacturing 


• Obtaining approval for building plans 

• Applying for industry and export incentives 

• Applying for import permits and verifying import 

duties payable 

• Registering as an exporter if relevant and 

applying for an export permit. 

Business entities 

There are a variety of forms which businesses can 

take, including private and public companies, 

personal liability companies, non-profit companies, 

state-owned companies and even branches of 

foreign companies (or external companies). 

Branches of foreign companies fall under 

Section 23 of the Companies Act of 2008 and are 

required to register as “external companies” with 

the CIPC. An external company is not required 

to appoint a local board of directors but must 

appoint a person resident in South Africa who 

is authorised to accept services of process and 

any notices served on the company. It must also 

appoint a registered local auditor and establish a 

registered office in South Africa. 

Patents, trademarks and copyrights 

Trademarks (including service marks) are valid for 

an initial period of 10 years and are renewable 

indefinitely for further 10-year periods. Patents are 

granted for 20 years, normally without an option 

to renew. The holder of a patent or trademark 

must pay an annual fee in order to preserve its 

validity. Patents and trademarks may be licensed 

but where this involves the payment of royalties 

to non-resident licensors, prior approval of the 

licensing agreement must be obtained from 

the dtic. South Africa is a signatory to the Berne 

Copyright Convention. 

Permits for foreign nationals 

Work permits 

In considering whether or not to grant a work 

permit, the Department of Home Affairs will first 

evaluate the validity of the offer of employment 

by conducting a number of checks to confirm the 

following: 

• Has the Department of Labour been contacted? 

• Has the position been widely advertised? 

• Is the prospective employer able to prove that he 

or she has tried to find a suitably qualified local 

employee prior to hiring a foreigner? 

• Is the prospective employee appropriately 

qualified and do they have the relevant 



O P E R T Y T O R E N T I N H A R R I S M I T H 


R P L A I R T S U D N I 

Operation.. 

experience? 


Operation.. 


Business permits 

Foreign nationals who wish to establish their own 

business or a partnership in South Africa must, 

apart from having sufficient funds to support 

themselves and their family, be able to invest at 

least R2.5-million in the business. 

FDC IS ZERO TOLERANCE TO FRAUD AND CORRUPTION.PLEASE REPORT FRAUD AND 

CORRUPTION The INCIDENTS funds TO THE FRAUD HOTLINE must 0800 212 154 originate overseas, be 

transferable to South Africa and belong to the 

applicant (ie emanate from the applicant’s own 

CORRUPTION INCIDENTS TO THE FRAUD HOTLINE 0800 212 154 

bank account). The business must also create 

jobs for South African citizens. After six months 

to a year, proof will have to be submitted that the 

business is employing South African citizens or 

permanent residents, excluding family members 

of the employer. 

Applications for work permits for selfemployment 

can only be lodged at the South 

African Consulate or Embassy in the applicant’s 

country of origin. The processing fee is US$186. The 

applicant would also have to lodge a repatriation 

guarantee with the consulate/embassy equivalent 

to the price of a one-way flight from South Africa 

back to his or her country of origin. 

This guarantee is refundable once the 

applicant has either left South Africa permanently 

or obtained permanent residence. Any application 

for an extension of a business permit may be 

lodged locally. The processing fee per passport 

holder is R425. Some countries also need to pay 

R108 per return visa. 

A list of countries to which this applies is 

available from the Department of Home Affairs. 

The FDC assists investors in applying for the 

relevant work permits to conduct their business. 


2277 in Harrismith and close proximity to all amenities, on 

Site at Situated is factory The 


and Quick access onto N3 Freeway. 

routes arterial main 



This 

System. 


Sprinkler 

Ample parking 

Doors 

Roller 4 

3 phase power with 100 amps 

House 

Guard Security 

8 toilets, 6 offices and boardroom, reception, kitchen and separate warehouse ablutions with 

secured 

and fenced Well 

Ample parking 



3 

toilets, 6 offices and boardroom, reception, kitchen and separate warehouse ablutions with 

information or to view: 

8 

shower 


shower 

Tel: 051 4000 800 Email: tefo@fdc.co.za www.fdc.co.za 





What can the FDC do for you? 

The FDC will help new businesses by assisting in 

project appraisal and packaging, putting investors 

in touch with relevant agencies and government 

departments, alerting investors to investment 

incentives and setting up joint ventures where 

required. ■ 

27 

FREE STATE BUSINESS 2021 2022


South African 

investment incentives 

The South African government, particularly the Department of Trade, Industry 

and Competition, has a range of incentives available to investors, existing 

companies, entrepreneurs and co-operatives across many sectors. 

South Africa wishes to diversify its economy 

and incentives are an important part 

of the strategy to attract investors to 

the country. 

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition 

(the dtic) is the lead agency in the 

incentives programme, which aims to encourage 

local and foreign investment into targeted 

economic sectors, but the Industrial Development 

Corporation (IDC) is the most influential funder of 

projects across South Africa. 

There are a variety of incentives available 

and these incentives can broadly be categorised 

according to the stage of project development: 

• Conceptualisation of the project – including 

feasibility studies and research and develop- 

ment (grants for R&D and feasibility studies, 

THRIP, Stp, etc) 

• Capital expenditure – involving the creation 

or expansion of the productive capacity of 

businesses (MCEP, EIP, CIP, FIG, etc) 

• Competitiveness enhancement – involving the 

introduction of efficiencies and whetting the 

competitive edge of established companies and 

commercial or industrial sectors (BBSDP, EMIA, 

CTCIP, etc) 

• Some of the incentives are sector-specific, for 

example the Aquaculture Development and 

Enhancement Programme (ADEP), Clothing 

and Textile Competitiveness Improvement 

Programme (CTCIP) and the Tourism Support 

Programme (TSP). 


22 24


FDC 


Manufacturing 


Manufacturing 

Key components of the incentive 

programme are the Manufacturing 

Incentive Programme 

(MIP) and the Manufacturing 

Competitiveness Enhancement 

Programme (MCEP). The initial 

MCEP, launched in 2012, 

was so successful that it was 

oversubscribed with almost 890 

businesses receiving funding. 

A second phase of the programme 

was launched in 2016. The grants are 

not handouts as the funding covers a maximum 

of 50% of the cost of the investment, with the 

remainder to be sourced elsewhere. 

The Enterprise Investment Programme (EIP) 

makes targeted grants to stimulate and promote 

investment, BEE and employment creation in the 

manufacturing and tourism sectors. 

Aimed at smaller companies, the maximum 

grant is R30-million. Specific tax deductions are 

permissible for larger companies investing in the 

manufacturing sector under Section 12i of the 

Income Tax Act. 

Other incentives 

Other incentives that are available to investors as 

well as existing businesses in more than one sector 

include the following: 

• Technology and Human Resources for Industry 

Programme (THRIP) 

• Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII) 

• Black Business Supplier Development Programme 

(BBSDP), which is a cost-sharing grant offered to 

black-owned small enterprises 

• Critical Infrastructure Programme (CIP) that covers 

between 10% and 30% of the total development 

costs of qualifying infrastructure 

• Co-operative Incentive Scheme, which is a 

90:10 matching cash grant for registered primary 

co-operatives 

• Sector Specific Assistance Scheme, which is a 

reimbursable 80:20 cost-sharing grant that can be 

applied for by export councils, joint action groups 

and industry associations. 



O P E R T Y T O R E N T I N H A R R I S M I T H 


R P L A I R T S U D N I 

Operation.. 


Operation.. 



2277 in Harrismith and close proximity to all amenities, on 

Site at Situated is factory The 


and Quick access onto N3 Freeway. 

routes arterial main 



This 

System. 


Sprinkler 

Ample parking 

Doors 

Roller 4 

3 phase power with 100 amps 

House 

Guard Security 

8 toilets, 6 offices and boardroom, reception, kitchen and separate warehouse ablutions with 

secured 

and fenced Well 

Ample parking 



3 

toilets, 6 offices and boardroom, reception, kitchen and separate warehouse ablutions with 


8 

shower 


shower 


available immediately. Please contact Mr Tefo Matla for more 


Occupation 



Incentives for SMMEs 




A lot of emphasis is placed on the potential 

role of small, medium and micro enterprises in 

job creation and a number of incentives are 

designed to promote the growth of these 

businesses. These include: 

• Small Medium Enterprise Development Programme 

Programme (SMEDP) (SMEDP) 

• Isivande Women’s Fund 

• Seda Technology Programme (Stp). 

• Seda is the Small Enterprise Development Agency, 

an agency of the Department of Small Business 

Development that exists to promote SMMEs. 

Trade-related incentives 

The Export Marketing and Investment Assistance 

(EMIA) Scheme includes support for local 

businesses that wish to market their businesses 

internationally to potential importers and 

investors. The scheme offers financial assistance 

to South Africans travelling or exhibiting abroad 

as well as for inbound potential buyers of South 

African goods. ■ 

Online Resources 

De partment of Trade, Industry and Competition: 

www.thedtic.gov.za 

Free State Development Corporation: 

www.fdc.co.za 

Industrial Development Corporation: 

www.idc.co.za 

Official South African government incentive 

schemes: www.investmentincentives.co.za 

2523 FREE STATE BUSINESS 2021 2022

PROFILE 

Lesotho National 

Development Corporation 

Profiling the endowments of Lesotho in the Free State neighbourhood. 

To fulfil its mandate, LNDC offers 

four core services: investment and 

trade promotion, investment and 

trade facilitation, aftercare and 

development financing services. 

These core services are offered to 

foreign and indigenous investors 

primarily through serviced industrial 

and commercial sites and buildings. 

In addition to serviced sites, LNDC 

offers an array of financing solutions. 

Ha Belo Industrial Estate Construction Site. 

Lesotho National Development Corporation 

(LNDC) is a corporate body mandated by 

the Government of Lesotho to “initiate, 

promote and facilitate the development of 

manufacturing and processing industries, mining 

and commerce in a manner calculated to raise the 

level of income and employment in Lesotho”. LNDC 

also promotes Lesotho as an attractive investment 

location for both foreign and indigenous investors. 

The Government of Lesotho is the sole 

shareholder in the Corporation and the Ministry of 

Trade and Industry is responsible for providing overall 

policy direction on investment and industrialisation. 

The Corporation is charged with the implementation 

of the country’s industrial development policies and 

investment strategy. 

The vision of the Corporation is to be “A catalyst 

for a diversified, globally competitive economy, 

underpinned by manufacturing and high-tech agroprocessing 

industries”. Its mission states that “Our 

aim is to deliver excellent and speedy services to 

our clientele as we partner to achieve inclusive and 

sustainable economic growth”. 

Organisational structure 

In terms of its establishment Act, the 

strategic leadership of the Lesotho 

National Development Corporation 

is vested in the 11-member Board 

of Directors appointed by the Minister of Trade and 

Industry. The Board provides direction and oversight 

over the affairs of the Corporation. 

The operations of LNDC are managed by the 

Chief Executive Officer, supported by the Executive 

Management Team. 

The CEO’s office comprises the Internal Audit and 

Risk Management Division, Corporate Governance 

Division and Public Relations Section. 

The Executive Management Team comprises four 

General Managers who head four strategic business units: 

• Development finance institution 

(semi-autonomous) 

• Property development and management 

(semi-autonomous) 

• Investment and trade promotion 

• Corporate services. 

Investment and Trade Promotion (ITP) 

Strategic Unit 

ITP is responsible for initiating, promoting and 

facilitating investments from foreign and indigenous 

investors, promoting and facilitating trade and 


24

PROFILE 

exports, facilitating implementation of new and 

expansion investments, securing international 

buyers, providing technical assistance to new and 

existing investors, business expansion and retention 

(aftercare services), policy advocacy and investment 

climate reforms and Lesotho nation branding and 

marketing. ITP is divided into six sub-functions: 

investment promotion, trade promotion, investment 

climate reforms, nation branding and marketing, and 

aftercare services. 

Investment and trade promotion relates primarily 

to promotional activities and campaigns aimed at 

either potential investors or generally promoting 

trade and development for Lesotho, generating 

leads, and developing prospects until they are ready 

for commitment and implementation. Aftercare 

services includes investment facilitation, business 

expansion and retention. These are meant to elevate 

and manage Lesotho’s reputation as a strategic 

investment and trading location and to continuously 

pursue improvements in efficiencies for service 

delivery to investors, hence positioning Lesotho as 

the best in Ease of Doing Business in the region. 

Development Finance (DF) Strategic 

Business Unit 

The LNDC Strategic Plan of 2018-23 instituted the 

creation of the Development Finance (DF) Strategic 

Business Unit with the mandate to “develop a 

portfolio of financing solutions to support private 

sector led industrial development and economic 

diversification”. The unit currently offers four financing 

instruments: 

• Partial credit guarantee (PCG) – fully operational 

• Equity finance 

• Quasi-equity finance 

• Project preparation facility. 

This unit manages LNDC’s equity portfolio of 10 

companies. These companies operate in different 

sectors ranging from agriculture, construction, 

wholesale, retail and services. 

The role of DF is extracted from the LNDC Act 

No. 20 of 1967 to raise, lend or borrow money; 

make advances to any company, form or person; 

lend and advance money to companies, firms 

or persons owning or engaging in any business 

similar to or related to that of the Corporation; 

guarantee payment of cash or performance of 

contracts by any such company, firm or person 

on any terms as maybe agreed upon and to issue 

debentures, bills of exchange and other negotiable 

or transferrable instruments. 

It also can direct expenditure on or towards the 

implementation of the project or undertaking or 

any of the objectives of the project or undertaking; 

make loans or grants for the purposes of the project 

or undertaking; invest any moneys belonging to the 

Corporation in any project, undertaking or enterprise; 

provide technical, advisory or managerial assistance 

and services; provide plant or machinery for the 

purposes of any project, undertaking or enterprise. 

Property Development Management (PDM) 

Strategic Business Unit 

The PDM unit is one of the main cogs that drive 

the Corporation, as without property there is no 

established investment. Investment prospects look 

for globally competitive locations for investment. 

The PDM division is responsible for acquiring and 

developing LNDC properties in an effort to create work 

space for industrialists and other commercial entities. 

PDM is primarily responsible for the management 

of all LNDC property which include: 

• Acquiring and developing LNDC properties 

• Managing leases 

• Marketing commercial properties 

• Providing maintenance support to tenants. 

Corporate Services (CS) Strategic Business Unit 

LNDC’s Corporate Services division contains the 

shared support functions of the organisation. 

These services include Human Resources and 

Administration, Legal Services, IT, Planning and 

Research and Finance. The unit is the membrane that 

allows the Corporation’s operational processes to run 

as smoothly as possible. ■ 

CONTACT DETAILS 

Lesotho National Development Corporation 

Email: info@lndc.org.ls 

Email: moremoholo@lndc.org.ls 

Website: www.lndc.org.ls 


KEY SECTORS 

Overviews of the main economic 

sectors of the Free State 

Agriculture 28 

Mining 30 

Oil and gas 38 

Manufacturing 42 

Tourism 43 

Education and training 44 

A lake near Clarens in the Eastern Free State. Credit: SA Tourism

OVERVIEW 

Agriculture 

Transnet Freight Rail aims to double grain volumes. 

Eleven mill workers in Bethlehem shared a celebration with 

their place of work in 2021 – all of them started at the 

SASKO Bethlehem Mill (pictured) when it opened in 1991. 

The mill has a total of 96 employees and mills 144 000 tons 

of wheat every year. 

Three production lines are responsible for cake flour and whitebread 

flour and a blending facility makes brown-bread meal and 

complete mixes. Bethlehem was chosen because of its proximity to 

excellent wheat-producing areas and for its strategic location in terms 

of logistics: the busy N3 freeway is just 90km away. 

Engineering News reported in June 2021 that Transnet Freight 

Rail (TFR) plans to double volumes of grain transported out of its 

Bethlehem facility. VKB Agriculture is one of the companies that 

will benefit if TFR can increase its capacity to 550 000 tons for the 

season, as it plans. 

Veld fires caused serious damage in 2020 in parts of the 

Lejweleputswa District. More than 100 farms and 100 000ha were 

affected. When these fires were followed by flooding, a disaster was 

declared by the Provincial Government of the Free State in order to 

facilitate emergency aid. 

Provincial initiatives 

Initiatives of the Provincial Government of the Free State to improve 

access to the sector for previously excluded people include: 

• The Chicky Piggy piggery in the Xhariep District, which has been 

constructed and is operational. The facility has a bio-security facility, 

office block, laundry, a reservoir, a tractor and a splitter tanker. 

• The Free State Poultry Hub Investment Plan which is targeting 

Virginia, Parys, Frankfort and Reitz. 

Five agri-parks are being constructed in each of the Free State’s 

district municipalities. The concept brings together farmers, 

traders and agro-processors at convenient sites. Support for rural 

smallholders will be available in terms of equipment hire from a 

central source, storage facilities, packaging of produce and getting 

products to market. 

As part of the agri-parks programme a warehouse is under 

construction at Springfontein and the Thaba Nchu abattoir is being 

upgraded. In Sediba, Farmer Production Support Units supplied 

SECTOR INSIGHT 

SASKO’s Bethlehem Mill is 

celebrating three decades 

of milling. 

a tractor and implements to 

participants. 

Key to the growth of these 

small-scale operations is access 

to finance and the Industrial 

Development Corporation 

(IDC) is a key role-player in 

the Free State. The launch of 

the Maluti-A-Phofung Special 

Economic Zone (MAP SEZ) has 

created another platform to 

boost the agro-processing and 

agro-logistics sectors. 

Company news 

The Agriculture RSA division 

of chemical group Omnia has 

bought Oro Agri Opportunities, a 

producer of agriculture biologicals, 

for a reported $100-million. 

The purchase of a 21% 

stake in BKB by VKB has given 

the latter company extended 

geographical reach and 

opportunities in new markets. 

While VKB is strongest in the 

Free State and Limpopo with 

a grain focus, BKB is wellestablished 

in the Eastern Cape, 

deals mainly in wool and mohair 

and runs many auctions. 

VKB is already a diverse 

group, with the capacity to 


28

OVERVIEW 

produce soybean meal and soybean cake and flour from its plants, 

mills and factories. Grain Field Chickens, a large abattoir in Reitz, 

is one of the company’s biggest facilities in the province. The 

Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), which has a 23% stake in 

the project, aims to help develop the Free State as the poultry hub 

of South Africa. VKB has six agro-processing companies including 

VKB Flour Mills and Free State Oil and is active in auctioning, storage, 

packaging and fuel sales, among other activities. VKB’s headquarters 

are in Reitz in the eastern part of the province and the group is one 

of the province’s largest employers. 

The Imbani Homsek Group is an integrated dairy-products 

producer with one of the biggest Ayrshire herds in the world. The 

head office of Country Bird Holdings is in Bloemfontein: its brands 

are Supreme Chicken, Nutri Feeds and Ross (breeding). Country Bird 

Logistics controls 45 chilled and frozen vans. 

Clover has three factories in the Free State: Bethlehem (milk 

powder, whey mixtures and creamers); Frankfort (butter, the 

largest such factory in the country, where ghee and roller dried 

ONLINE RESOURCES 

Credit: SASKO 

Agricultural Research Council: www.arc.agri.za 

Bothaville: www.bothaville.info 

Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: 

www.ard.fs.gov.za 

Grain SA: www.grainsa.co.za 

milk powder is also made) 

and in Heilbron (whey, 

buttermilk, condensed milk 

and packaging). 

When lockdown restrictions 

are not in place, Bothaville 

hosts the country’s largest 

agricultural festival, NAMPO 

Harvest Day. In 2019, Grain 

SA’s big day had 775 exhibitors 

catering to 81 345 visitors. 

Bothaville is on the 

western edge of the Free 

State and the town falls 

under the North West in the 

organisational chart of giant 

agricultural company Senwes, 

which has its headquarters 

in Klerksdorp. The rest of the 

Free State is divided into three 

regions by Senwes, which 

deals with about 20% of the 

country’s oilseeds and grain 

through its 68 silos. 

The province supplies 

significant proportions of 

the nation’s sorghum (53%), 

sunflowers (45%), potatoes (33%), 

groundnuts (32%), dry beans 

(26%), wool (24%) and almost all 

of its cherries (90%). Red meat 

and dairy are other important 

products. Game hunting is a 

significant sector, and several 

large Free State farms have 

been converted from stock to 

game farms. Crop production 

represents about two-thirds of 

the province’s gross agricultural 

income. The main crops are maize 

and wheat. Sunflowers, sunflower 

seeds, sorghum and soy beans are 

other major crops. The Mangaung 

Fresh Produce Market plays a 

vital role in the sector, catering 

as it does to householders, bulk 

buyers, informal traders, agents 

and farmers. ■ 

29 


OVERVIEW 

Mining 

Mining activity is picking up in some sectors. 

The Lejweleputswa District Municipality in the northwest 

of the province is the site of considerable activity 

in the mining of industrial minerals, with six companies 

currently active. Matsopa Minerals, for example, runs 

a bentonite mine at Koppies between Heilbron and 

Vredefort. Sandstone and sand-mining operations are 

underway in Qwaqwa, Fouriesburg, Senekal, Sasolburg 

and Zastron. 

Limestone and calcrete occur in the western Free State 

where salt is also panned. Production is concentrated 

around the Florisbad salt pan, north-west of Bloemfontein. 

Historically, the north-west part of the province 

was famous for gold, with Harmony Gold’s Bambanani 

mine forming an essential part of Welkom’s economy 

for many years. Bambanani is in the final stages of its 

life-of-mine but there are other areas where Harmony 

Gold is still extracting gold and investigating possible 

expansion programmes. 

The company is conducting an exploration 

programme to confirm the geological model of Target 

North and further define a potential block of wellmineralised 

Ventersdorp Contact Reef. Tshepong 

contributed 19% of the group’s gold production in FY20, 

even though production was somewhat down (7 293kg 

vs 7 967kg in FY19). Various challenges, not least of which 

was the Covid-19 pandemic, caused the reduced volume 

but this was outweighed by an increase in the recovered 

grade. Harmony Gold has announced that it will build a 

30MW solar plant to help power its operations. 

AngloGold Ashanti sold most of its assets to Harmony Gold, 

two of which, Great Noligwa and Kopanang, are in the Free State. 

The complex includes one uranium plant, four gold plants and one 

sulphuric acid plant. 

These assets increased Harmony’s underground resource 

base in South Africa by nearly 40%. The mines include Tshipong 

and Phakisa (near Odendaalsrus), Virginia, Target (near Allanridge), 

Masimong (Riebeeckstad), Joel (near Theunissen) and Bambanani at 

Welkom. The plant at Joel was closed in 2019 and ore mined there 

is now processed at Harmony One. Phakisa has mineral reserves 

of just over five-million ounces of gold and Harmony has invested 

heavily in the project. 

Sibanye-Stillwater is also investigating a possible new project next 

to its existing Beatrix mine. Gold prices rose appreciably during the 

Covid-19 pandemic. The company’s Beatrix mine, with a life-of-mine 


Harmony Gold is investing in 

solar power. 

Credit: Harmony Gold 

projected to 2025, produced 

196 698 ounces of gold in 2019. 

Beatrix also holds 26.97-million 

pounds of uranium resources. 

Mining rights to the Southern 

Free State project adjacent to 

Beatrix have been approved 

and a feasibility study on part of 

it, the Bloemhoek decline, has 

been completed. The company 

reported that the Southern Free 

State property had surface and 

underground gold reserves 

of 2.1-million oz and mineral 

resources of 8.2-million oz. 

The mining sector makes 

FREE STATE BUSINESS 2021/22 

30

OVERVIEW 

Harmony Gold is exploring new possibilities. Credit: Harmony Gold 

up 11% of provincial GDP. A minerals beneficiation strategy has 

been developed because this is a key area for potential growth. 

Gold mines in the Free State also supply a substantial portion of 

the total silver produced in the country, and large concentrations 

of uranium occurring in the gold-bearing conglomerates of the 

goldfields are extracted as a by-product. 

Petra Diamonds’ Koffiefontein mine is on the western edge of 

the province, about 80km from Kimberley. The mine is regarded as 

a low-grade deposit, but the diamonds produced are of high value. 

White stones of excellent quality are produced, and fancy pink 

diamonds are sometimes found. The Voorspoed mine of De Beers 

Consolidated Mines closed in 2018. 

De Beers, the South African government and the South African 

diamond-cutting industry have launched a project to encourage 

diamond beneficiators. Among the first companies involved are 

Thoko’s Diamonds, African Diamonds, Nungu Diamonds and 

Kwame Diamonds. 

Coal is mostly found in the northern part of the Free State. The 

Sigma-Mookraal mine is run by Sasol Mining and has the capacity 

to supply Sasol Infrachem in Sasolburg with two-million tons of 


Minerals Council South Africa: www.mineralscouncil.org.za 

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

South African Mining Development Association: www.samda.co.za 

coal per year. Seriti Resources 

has purchased the New Vaal 

Colliery from Anglo American. 

Together with two other mines 

in Mpumalanga Province, Seriti 

paid R2.3-billion. New Vaal 

is in the middle of a triangle 

of three towns that play an 

important part in industrial 

production: Vereeniging, 

Sasolburg and Vanderbijlpark. 

The mine employs more than 

900 people and supplies about 

15-million metric tons of coal 

to Eskom’s Lethabo power 

station annually. 

The Free State Provincial 

Government announced in 

February 2020 the creation of a 

company that will manufacture 

mining equipment, to be 

called Newco. Small mining 

companies have been promised 

technical support and with 

health and safety and access to 

beneficiation opportunities. ■ 

31 

FREE STATE BUSINESS 2021/22

INTERVIEW 

Ensuring sustainability 

and a positive legacy 

PJ Jordaan, Closure Manager of De Beers Voorspoed Mine, gives an overview of the 

complex and detailed procedures that have to be followed in closing a mine. 

What stage in the mine closure process has been reached? 

The mine officially closed in December 2018 and has entered 

the decommissioning and rehabilitation phase. The overall 

rehabilitation goal is to manage the mine site and continue with 

rehabilitation in order to meet the end land use of agricultural and 

grazing for stock after final closure. A decision was taken at the end 

of 2019 to defer certain closure activities for two to three years, as 

further work is required to improve the closure cost estimate to an 

acceptable level and to address uncertainty regarding post-closure 

monitoring requirements. 

Petrus Jordaan, Closure 

Manager, De Beers Group, 

Voorspoed Mine 

BIOGRAPHY 

PJ Jordaan is a geologist with more 

than 25 years of experience in gold 

and diamond mining with Anglo 

American and De Beers. He has a 

passion for the diamond industry 

with a strong interest in all aspects 

of diamond mining and mine 

closure. In 2018 he took on the 

role of Closure Manager, where he 

leads the Voorspoed closure team 

by managing all closure activities, 

focused on reimagining asset 

retirement deliverables to improve 

communities in the company’s zone 

of influence. 

What are the remaining timelines? 

A three-year period of active closure and rehabilitation is planned 

to start in January 2023, provided an environmental authorisation 

(EA) has been issued by the DMRE. The intent of the closure and 

rehabilitation programme will be to remediate the site to the 

approved final closure plan standards. Follow‐up monitoring will 

continue beyond the rehabilitation phase, ie until 2031, as required 

by the various regulatory authorities. 

What are some considerations in a mine closure process? 

The key consideration of the mine closure process is to ensure 

sustainability beyond mine closure and to leave a positive legacy 

behind. Successful closure can further be defined as meeting the 

guidelines established by internal corporate requirements with 

regard to mine closure (Anglo American Mine Closure Performance 

Standard and associated Mine Closure Toolbox), as well as the 

statutory requirements in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum 

Resources Development Act, 2002. 

What are the key environmental standards that have to be 

met, and how is Voorspoed executing these requirements? 

The overarching framework governing South Africa is the 

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996). 

Various rights are entrenched in the Constitution, including the 

right to an environment that is not harmful to the health or wellbeing 

of the population, otherwise called the environmental right. 

The mining industry is further regulated by mining, 


32

INTERVIEW 

environmental, human health and safety 

legislation. The interaction between various acts 

of parliament that deal with the environment 

is varied and complex, as is the range of 

environmental issues that are regulated. Some 

of the applicable legislation includes the Mineral 

and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 

2002 (MPRDA), and the National Environmental 

Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA). 

The Voorspoed closure plan has been prepared 

to give effect to the various legal and corporate 

requirements that govern the process and 

requirements for the closure of Voorspoed Mine. 

Is Voorspoed expected to rehabilitate the area? 

Yes. The MPRDA is the main source of rehabilitation 

obligations. It requires rights holders to “as 

far as reasonably practicable” rehabilitate the 

land affected by the operation “to its natural 

or predetermined state”, or to a land use which 

conforms to the generally accepted principle of 

sustainable development. 

Concurrent rehabilitation commenced in 

2014 when the mine was still in operation and 

the mine has already successfully rehabilitated 

the Waste Rock Dump (WRD) as per the agreed 

commitments in the approved EMPR and 

closure plan. 

Have you been working with the 

Moqhaka and Ngwathe Municipalities 

in terms of their Local Economic 

Development plans? 

Certainly. Delivering lasting positive socioeconomic 

change in our mine communities 

is fundamental. Thus, we have managed to 

maintain a long-standing relationship with 

our local municipalities. We have worked 

and continue working collaboratively to 

contribute towards the effective delivery 

of their Local Economic Development plan 

needs, including infrastructure, healthcare, 

education and Enterprise Development. 

That’s why one of the three global pillars 

of our Sustainable Mining Plan is Thriving 

Communities. We are reimagining mine closure to 

improve people’s lives. 

Has Voorspoed been involved in training mine 

workers for work in other sectors? 

The mine introduced a dedicated, fully funded 

re-skilling programme from 2017 until closure 

(or as agreed), which provided employees with 

a range of portable skills allowing them to 

meaningfully compete for opportunities post 

closure. The programme focussed on nonmining-related 

training, entrepreneurial and 

other programmes in line with the Workplace 

Skills Plan. ■ 


FOCUS 

Rethink, Restrategise, Reconnect 

Focus on SMMEs at Youth Empowerment Week. 

From left: Jade Wheelock, Trio-Plus, Lebogang Mphaka, De Beers Group 

De Beers Voorspoed Mine, in partnership 

with My Arts International, held the 

12th Mangaung Youth Empowerment 

Week in April 2021. Free State SMMEs 

were invited to the event in order to gain a better 

understanding of their challenges within the 

business world as well as for them to connect 

with other SMMEs. 

The theme for the event was to Rethink, 

Restrategise and Reconnect. Through the De Beers 

Voorspoed Mine’s GODISA Programme, facilitated 

by Trio-plus Development, entrepreneurs were 

introduced to the programme and its benefits 

at the Youth Empowerment week held earlier 

in 2021. GODISA, which stands for Growth, 

Opportunities, Decision-making, Innovation, 

System and Accountability/Action, coaches, 

mentors and trains with the aim of creating selfsufficient 

businesses. 

During the event, one of the De Beers 

Zimele entrepreneurs, S’busisiwe Sithebe, 

the owner of Buska Foods, was provided an 

opportunity to showcase her products and 

share her personal growth journey as well as 

some of the challenges she has encountered 

during this journey. Our commitment and 

desire to actively encourage the development 

of our local SMMEs has enabled the GODISA 

programme to “Make Life Brilliant” in our 

communities, especially in addressing the 

impact of Covid-19 on small businesses. 

Over 40 local SMMEs are enrolled for the 

GODISA programme for the 2021 period, as 

part of long-term business sustainability plans 

beyond Voorspoed’s life-of-mine. 

Chief Director Denis Ackulay, from My Arts 

International, emphasised that, “The Mangaung 

Youth Empowerment Week remains a shining 

example of what can be achieved when a group 

of young professionals are serious enough 

about their futures.” ■ 

Busi Sithebe Buska Foods and Lebogang Mphaka, 

De Beers Group 


34

FOCUS 

De Beers Voorspoed Mine hands over 

water-testing laboratory 

Cleaner and safer water for Parys. 

From left: Temba Malunga, Director Technical Support, Ngwathe Local Municipality; Petrus Jordaan, Closure Manager, Voorspoed 

Mine; Cllr Philemon Ndayi, Chief Whip and MMC for Infrastructure; CIIr Joey Mochela, Exclusive Mayor; Kalipa Kewuti, Regional 

Manager, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy; Lebogang Mphaka, Corporate Affairs Manager, De Beers Voorspoed 

Mine; Sellwane Mok, Director SLP, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. 

De Beers Voorspoed Mine, in partnership 

with Ngwathe Local Municipality and 

the Department of Mineral Resources 

and Energy, unveiled a R2.2-million 

newly renovated and furnished water-testing 

laboratory on 22 September 2021. 

The handover of the laboratory is part of the 

mine’s efforts through the Social and Labour Plan 

to support the municipality with its Integrated 

Development Plan (IDP) projects and will play a 

vital role in water-quality testing to ensure safer 

and cleaner water for the community of Parys. 

During the handover, Ngwathe Local 

Municipality’s Executive Mayor, Councillor 

Joey Mochela, said that one of the common 

denominators of service delivery protests was 

water and sanitation. She further indicated that, to 

date, Parys and Tumahole both have 98 JoJo tanks, 

four pump stations, four reservoirs, one water 

treatment and a borehole. 

“This water-testing laboratory will help us find 

lasting solutions to water purification and shortage 

challenges in our areas,” she said. 

A local small, medium and micro-enterprise, 

Ramokgwera Trading & Projects (Pty) Ltd, was 

selected as the main contractor for the laboratory 

renovations. In contributing to local short-term 

employment, eight temporary job opportunities 

were offered to community members, who were 

able to gain experience and training for future 

opportunities on other projects. 

Voorspoed Mine’s Corporate Affairs Manager, 

Lebogang Mphaka, said, “Water is essential, even 

more so during the present pandemic. As De Beers 

Group, we recognise how essential it is to collaborate 

with our communities and commit to creating a 

lasting legacy through sustainable projects like this.” 

In delivering a speech during the ceremony, 

Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s 

Regional Manager, Kalipa Kewuti, emphasised the 

importance of mining companies complying in 

terms of achieving their Social and Labour Plan 

objectives to benefit the host communities 

sustainably, from a regulatory perspective. “We 

applaud Voorspoed Mine for being compliant,” 

she said. ■ 


FOCUS 

Harmony builds strong 

community relationships 

Covid-19 has highlighted the need for collective action. 

Environmental, Social and (Corporate) 

Governance, or ESG, has come to be one 

of the most important indicators which big 

firms and groups must factor into business 

decisions in every part of the globe. 

In both South Africa and Papua New Guinea 

where Harmony is active, stakeholder relations 

assume the utmost importance. Stakeholders can 

include a diverse set of groups and entities, including: 

• host communities 

• suppliers and business partners 

• national and local governments 

• investors and shareholders 

• industry peers 

• local and international media. 

Harmony’s Executive Director for Corporate 

Affairs, Mashego Mashego, describes the 

importance of these relationships. “Harmony 

believes it is crucial to build trust and maintain 

positive relationships with all its stakeholders,” 

says Mashego. 

The company’s approach is aimed at 

partnering with stakeholders, creating a win-win 

situation. Says Mashego, “Stakeholder engagement 

is the principal mechanism 

through which Harmony manages 

and addresses a wide range of 

expectations and perceptions. 

Through proactive engagement, 

we are able to identify, prioritise 

and better manage any potential 

material socio-economic risks and 

opportunities. 

“The Covid-19 pandemic 

has highlighted the need for 

collective action, which revealed 

our interdependencies and also 

strengthened our relationships 

with one another. The quality of 

the relationships with stakeholders and how well 

these are managed affect our ability to deliver on 

our strategy. 

“Improving the quality of these relationships 

protects our social licence to operate, supports the 

success of our business strategy and creates shared 

value for all our stakeholders,” Mashego concludes. 

Community forums 

The issues and concerns raised by communities 

are addressed through the established community 

forums. The forums are in constant engagement 

with Harmony’s dedicated stakeholder engagement 

managers and corporate affairs team. 

These community forums consist of 

representatives from municipalities, traditional 

authorities and local business forums. Their purpose 

is to share information with communities on 

progress being made on project implementation, 

to establish their needs and expectations, and to try 

to manage their perceptions of what Harmony can 

deliver. 

“This initiative has had a largely positive impact 

on our community stakeholder engagement,” 

reports Mashego. 


36

FOCUS 

Programmes 

Harmony has launched an incubation 

programme for businesses in host communities 

in South Africa, specifically targeting 100% 

black-owned, women-owned and youthowned 

businesses for the supply of products 

or services. There were106 applications, 34 

ultimately being approved for the full threeyear 

incubation programme. 

Harmony’s health department also supports 

the broader company’s strategy for targeted 

enterprise supplier development (ESD) by 

providing opportunities for companies that 

are from the host communities to participate 

economically in the operations. 

Creating sustainable shared value 

Mashego reflects on the concept of shared 

value: “We understand that the dynamics and 

the needs of communities are ever-evolving 

and so any meaningful and sustainable socioeconomic 

development we pioneer and 

implement requires far more than a onedimensional 

approach. 

“Our approach to socio-economic 

development is multi-faceted and our projects 

implemented include: 

• Infrastructure, education and skills 

development, job creation and entrepreneurial 

development 

• Enhancing broad-based local and community 

economic empowerment and enterprise 

development initiatives 

• Facilitating socio-economic development in 

local communities by means of our social and 

labour plans, and our corporate social responsibility 

programmes support arts, culture and 

sports and recreation, and 

• Building relationships based on trust with our 

host communities, the basis of which must 

be transparent dialogue and the delivery of 

mutually agreed promises. 

Community projects 

Harmony showed compassion and care with 

the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020. Mashego 

remembers, “The health and safety of our 

people took precedence and as such, we 

made decisions that ensured the continued 

viability of our company and its stakeholders, 

further demonstrating that Harmony has a 

positive impact.” 

Harmony was at the forefront of delivering 

food parcels, washable face masks and care 

kits to all host communities in Gauteng, Free 

State and North West. In addition, nine local 

historically disadvantaged suppliers were 

empowered through the procurement of these 

essential items. 

Community Trust 

The Community Trust owns 5% of Tswelopele 

Beneficiation Operation (TBO), which is also known 

as Phoenix, a mine dump retreatment operation in 

the Free State, and has some 4 400 000 Harmony 

preference shares 

The Community Trust is involved in similar 

projects to those mentioned above and was 

formed to properly govern funds allocated to 

projects. TBO pays out dividends twice a year. 

The preference shares pay R8.8-million each 

year for 10 years, starting in 2019. Thereafter, 

the preference shares will convert into ordinary 

Harmony shares. ■

OVERVIEW 

Oil and gas 

The Virginia Gas Project will join a small global elite in 2022. 

In 2021 there were 15 places in the world in just seven 

countries that produce helium. In 2022 those numbers will 

increase to 16 and eight when Renergen’s Virginia Gas Project 

(pictured) comes on stream. 

The SpaceX rocket that launched in 2021 used 11 tons of 

helium to propel itself off the ground. Every computer microchip 

in the world is produced in the presence of helium and the world 

uses 85 tons of it every day. Although it’s a very useful element, 

it’s also a very difficult element. The result of that is that Renergen, 

the owner of the Tetra4 company that holds the first and only 

onshore petroleum production right issued by the Department 

of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), has had to import much 

of its equipment and many of the skilled personnel it needs to 

commercialise the gas field. 

The field covers 187 000ha in the region of Virginia, Theunissen 

and Welkom. Hiring has increased rapidly since 2019 as the project 

ramps up from the first phase in which a pilot compressed natural 

gas (CNG) plant was constructed in 2016. The second phase 

encompasses liquid natural gas (LNG) and helium. Production of 

helium is expected to grow from 350kg per day to five tons in the 

second phase. 

The first sector to respond to the potential of this gas find was 

the logistics sector. Bulk Hauliers International Transport (BHIT) has 

signed an agreement to take LNG to fuel 50 of its trucks, which 

should lead to lower operating and maintenance costs. South 

African Breweries is another client. 

Renergen has signed an agreement with TotalEnergies for 

distribution and sales. Renergen intends equipping filling stations 

with LNG at strategic locations across South Africa to cater for the 

logistics industry. The first two such stations will be Total stations 

in Johannesburg and Durban that will be rebranded in green. One 

station is planned for Harrismith on the busy N3 highway which 

links these two cities. 

The potential of a second market was revealed in 2021 when 

Renergen agreed to sell LNG to glass manufacturer Consol. 

Bespoke depots will be developed to cater to industrial clients 

such as Consol. 

Tetra4 has a R218-million loan from the Industrial Development 

Corporation to build a 107km pipeline network from Virginia and 

the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), an agency 

of the US government, will lend Renergen $40-million (more than 


A national gas distribution 

network is being established. 

R600-million) over 12 years 

to build a gas plant in the 

Free State. The area around 

Virginia has proven reserves of 

25-billion cubic feet. 

The chemical complex at 

Sasolburg is the economic 

driver of the oil and gas sector 

for the province. One of the 

Sasol companies at Sasolburg, 

Sasol New Energy, is moving 

the group away from reliance 

on fossil fuels. In 2020 Sasol 

called for bidders construct 

an embedded 10MW solar 

PV facility at Sasolburg. The 

company’s larger goal across 

all its sites is eventually to 

procure 600MW of renewable 

energy and achieve a 10% 

greenhouse-gas (GHG) 

emission reduction by 2030. 

Sasolburg Operations 

is one of the five operating 

hubs that forms part of the 

Southern African Operations 

and is a 100%-owned facility. 

Sasolburg Operations includes 

all operations on the Sasol One 

and the Sasol Midland sites. 

The integrated manufacturing 

facility is responsible for 

the production of base and 

performance chemicals. It also 

produces electricity and other 


38

OVERVIEW 


Petroleum Agency SA: www.petroleumagencysa.com 

South African Oil and Gas Alliance: www.saoga.org.za 

South African Petroleum Industry Association: www.sapia.co.za 

utilities and provides site-support services to enable the manufacturing 

processes taking place on site. 

Sasol has been running a Research and Technology facility 

at the Sasol One Site in Sasolburg for a decade. Comprising 

14 laboratories, analytical equipment, pilot plants, offices and 

maintenance workshops, the facility is run by Sasol Technology and 

offers the group’s scientists and engineers space to work on new 

technologies and efficiencies. 

Sasol’s technology expertise includes coal and gas-processing 

technologies, Fischer-Tropsch catalysis and engineering 

research, refinery and fuels technologies, chemical technologies, 

environmental sciences and engineering, and alternative energy 

and advanced analytical solutions. 

The regulator and promoter of oil and gas exploration in South 

Africa, Petroleum Agency South Africa, has awarded coalbedmethane-gas 

exploration rights 

in KwaZulu-Natal and natural 

gas exploration permits in the 

Free State. Early surveys suggest 

that the Free State has 23-billion 

cubic feet of gas underground. If 

this is confirmed, then four new 

power stations could be built in 

the province. Tests have begun in 

the Karoo in search of shale gas. 

The Natref fuel refinery is 

one of only four in South Africa, 

and the country’s only inland 

refinery. The refinery is a joint 

venture between Sasol Oil 

(63.6%) and Total SA (36.3%). It 

is a technologically advanced 

facility, which refines heavy 

crude oil into petrol, diesel, 

commercial propane, jet fuel 

and bitumen. ■ 


FOCUS 

Gas will put South Africa on 

the path to zero emissions 

Dr Phindile Masangane, the CEO of Petroleum Agency 

South Africa, notes that recent gas discoveries could 

support the country’s economic recovery and its 

transition to a clean energy future. 

Today the biggest threat to humanity is climate 

change, and the biggest threat to SA’s 

social stability is the high unemployment rate. 

As the global economy recovers from 

the devastating effects of Covid-19, demand for oil 

and gas has gone up significantly. If there was ever 

a need for proof that oil and gas still drive the global 

economy, recent statistics demonstrate the trend. 

The world’s developed economies 

industrialised on the back of oil and gas production 

and use. Now, just as Africa is on the cusp of being 

a significant gas producer and is making plans to 

use such gas for power generation, industrialisation 

and economic growth, the negative effects of 

greenhouse gas emissions on the environment 

have become undeniable. 

The urgency for action to mitigate the risk of 

climate change is no longer debatable. Between 

1990 and 2018 the top five emitters have produced 

more than 50% of greenhouse gas emissions. 

During the same period SA has contributed 

1% to global emissions. This is by no measure 

Renergen is currently the only onshore petroleum production rights 

holder in South Africa. The company’s Virginia Gas Project in the Free 

State is ramping up to phase two, based on one of the richest helium 

concentrations in the world. Credit: Renergen 

insignificant, and as a responsible global citizen SA 

must take steps to reduce its carbon footprint. 

The UN Framework Convention on Climate 

Change was established in 1992 to coordinate the 

global response to mitigate the threat of climate 

change, and specifically to get countries to commit 

to policies and plans that will ensure that the 

average global temperature rise is kept less than 

1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. 

The International Energy Agency (IEA) proposes 

that to achieve this goal the world’s energy sector 

must reach net zero emissions by 2050. In its 

global energy net zero 2050 pathway the IEA 

acknowledges that there is no single pathway to 

this goal, as developed and developing countries 

face different socioeconomic challenges and have 

contributed disproportionately to greenhouse gas 

emissions to date. 

What a number of environmental interest 

groups seem to be ignoring in the IEA “Net Zero 

by 2050” report is the acknowledgment that there 

will be a differentiated approach to a clean energy 

future, taking into consideration 

the cost of the new clean energy 

technologies and the economic 

consequences of transitioning for 

each country. The IEA emphasises 

that each country must develop 

its own pathway to a net zero 

emission future. 

South Africa’s economy has been 

predominantly powered by coal, 

which is also a significant contributor 

to the country’s economy in terms 

of GDP as well as employment. Of all 

primary energy resources coal is the 


40

" 

" 

Mafikeng 

" 

" 

" 

" 

" 

" 

Molteno 

" 

Klerksdorp 

" 

" 

Welkom 

" 

Virginia 

" 

" 

Aliwal North 

" 

" 

Queenstown 

" 

" 

" 

Kroonstad 

" 

" 

Indwe 

" 

" Maseru 

" 

" 

" 

" Lephalale 

" 

" 

" 

Elliot 

" 

" 

" 

Maclear " 

Modimolle 

" 

Bela-Bela 

" 

" 

Bethlehem 

" 

Frankfort 

" 

" 

" 

Evander 

Umtata 

" 

Mokopane 

" 

" 

" 

" 

Witbank 

" 

" 

Secunda 

Standerton 

" 

Harrismith 

" 

Polokwane 

" 

" 

" 

Tshipise 

" 

" 

Makhado 

" 

" 

Ermelo 

Volksrust " 

" 

" Newcastle 

Estcourt 

" 

" 

Musina 

" 

Dannhauser 

" 

Utrecht 

" 

Pietermaritzburg 

" 

" 

" 

" 

Vryheid 

Port Shepstone 

" 

" 

Phalaborwa 

" 

Mbabane 

" 

Pafuri 

Nongoma 

" 

" 

" 

Richards Bay 

St. Lucia 

" 

Locality 

most carbon-intensive and fine particulate matter 

affects people’s respiratory systems. 

In addition to coal, South Africa imports 

oil, gas and petroleum products for its energy 

needs as the upstream petroleum industry is still 

at a nascent stage. The two recent world-class 

offshore gas discoveries in the Outeniqua basin 

are the biggest petroleum discoveries made in 

South Africa. 

The development of these discoveries has the 

potential to replace more than 2 300MW of dieselfired 

electricity generation, thereby reducing 

the carbon emissions by more than 50% while 

eliminating sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide 

emissions. Gas is therefore an obvious bridge to a 

lower carbon future. 

The Petroleum Agency SA awaits the licensee 

of these gas discoveries submitting its production 

right and environmental authorisation applications 

when the exploration right expires, or earlier. The 

agency expects the licensee to use world-class 

technologies and standards to minimise the effects 

of the gas and gas condensate production on the 

environment, while maximising the in-country 

benefit or local content from this development to 

support SA’s economic recovery. 

These discoveries could indeed support both 

the country’s economic recovery and its transition 

to a clean energy future. 

Onshore exploration opportunities are 

represented by unconventional resources such 

as shale gas in the south-central Karoo, coalbed 

methane in the coalfields of the east and northern 

sectors of the country and biogenic gas in the 

Virginia and Evander regions. However, geological 

analysis is showing that there may well be 

significant potential for conventional oil and gas 

resources onshore. 

Conducive investment environment 

South Africa has a history of political stability and 

the new UPRD bill (Upstream Petroleum Resources 

Development Bill) will assist the Agency in expediting 

exploration through close management of acreage 

allocation and work programmes. These positive factors 

create a conducive environment for PASA to pursue its 

mandate of attracting investment into the upstream 

petroleum industry. 

Coal Field 

SOUTH 

Gas discovery 

Provincial boundary 

Karoo Basins 

Northern Cape 

AFRICA 

North West 


Eastern Cape 

Bloemfontein 

LEPHALALE 

BASIN 

Waterberg 


MAIN KAROO BASIN 

Molteno 

Figure 32. Distribution of coal fields in the Karoo-aged basins in South Africa (digital geological data sourced from Council for Geoscience) 

Gas and coal-based methane are found in many parts of 

South Africa’s interior. Credit: PASA, with digital geological 

data sourced from Council for Geoscience. 

The draft bill provides greater policy certainty and a 

stable environment for investment in the South African 

oil and gas sector. It provides security of tenure by 

combining the rights for the exploration, development 

and production phase under one permit. 

As far as the issuing of exploration rights over 

the last 18 months is concerned, a total of 21 

exploration rights for both onshore and offshore 

were issued during this period, including renewals 

and new exploration rights. 

As of December 2020, there is no longer a 

moratorium on applications for rights onshore, 

other than those for shale gas in a specified 

area covering the central Karoo. Other onshore 

applications continue to be received and processed 

in terms of the MPRDA. The moratorium for shale 

gas rights and new offshore applications remains 

in place and is expected to be lifted with the 

enactment of the hydraulic fracturing regulations 

(for environmental management and water use) for 

the shale gas extraction technologies. ■ 

Pretoria 

Johannesburg 

Gauteng 

Lesotho 

TULI BASIN 

Tuli 

Mopane 

Limpopo 

SPRINGBOK FLATS BASIN 

Springbok Flats 

Witbank 

Highveld 

Tshipise 

TSHIPISE BASIN 

Ermelo 

Utrecht 

Klip Rivier 

Pafuri 

KwaZulu-Natal 

Mpumalanga 

Kangwane 

Swaziland 

Vryheid 

Nongoma 

Somkele 

Durban 

34 

41 


OVERVIEW 

Manufacturing 

A steel smelter is under construction. 

A 

national programme to revitalise industrial parks, led 

by the National Department of Trade, Industry and 

Competition (dtic), is paying off about 45km east of 

Bloemfontein. 

Among the biggest new investors in the Botshabelo Industrial 

Park is Hangda Trading which has started erecting a R200-million 

steel smelter which will employ more than 1 500 people. A dtic 

official and a Hangda executive are pictured on a site inspection. 

At the end of the first phase of revitalisation, 25 investors had 

invested R201-million and 1 360 jobs have been created. A 

Digital Hub in the park will provide training to small and medium 

enterprises focusing on ICT products. 

Further north, the strategically located Maluti-A-Phofung 

Special Economic Zone (MAP SEZ) has attracted R1-billion from 

investors. Kevali Chemicals became the first beneficiary of the dtic’s 

Black Industrialists Scheme (BIS). A grant of R35-million allowed the 

company to acquire machinery and equipment to start a new line 

of manufacturing in the MAP SEZ. 

Business hubs in Ficksburg and Koffiefontein are designed to 

support SMMEs. The Contractor Development Programme has 

signed contracts with 71 small businesses to do road maintenance 

in the province. 

A 172ha business park in Sasolburg which incubates black 

industrialists is a joint venture between the dtic and Sasol. There 

are five buildings on the site, training is provided, and companies 

have access to Sasol’s diverse supply chains. 

Sasolburg in the northern Free State is a key asset in South 

Africa’s chemicals industry. Sasol has the biggest presence but 

companies such as Omnia and AECI are other major companies 

which give the Free State the lead in this sector which relies on 

advanced technology. 

Manufacturing makes up 9% of Free State gross domestic 

product, and this comprises 4% of South Africa’s total. The Free 

State Regional Industrialisation Policy is under review to ensure 

integration of infrastructure, bulk service provision, industrial sites 

and export and tax incentives to attract investment. 

The existing manufacturing sector covers chemicals, agroprocessing, 

textiles, carpets, engineering, packaging, furniture and 


Chemical and Allied Industries’ Association: www.caia.co.za 

Free State Development Corporation: www.fdc.co.za 

South African Textile Federation: www.texfed.co.za 


The Malutia-A-Phofung 

Special Economic Zone is 

attracting investment. 

Credit: dtic 

jewellery. About 20% of the Free 

State’s manufacturing sites are 

devoted to food and beverages, 

with soft drink giant Coca- 

Cola Fortune operating a large 

bottling plant in Mangaung. 

Landzicht Wine Cellar distributes 

2.4-million litres of wine every 

year from Jacobsdal. 

Harrismith is home to 

Nouwens Carpets and Boxmore 

Plastics. Boxmore Packaging’s 

new PET beer bottles are the first 

PET bottles specifically designed 

for beer on the SA market. 

Empire Gloves makes industrial 

gloves. Kroonstad-based Octa 

Engineering makes specialised 

rail carriages for the mining 

sector. In Bloemfontein, Transnet 

Engineering manufactures new 

wagons for the Transnet group, 

including iron ore and cement 

wagons and fuel tankers. ■ 

FREE STATE BUSINESS 2022 42

Tourism 

The Vredefort Dome is to be marketed internationally. 

Vredefort Dome is the oldest astrobleme ever found. Credit: Francesco 

Bandarin/UNESCO 

About 2 000-million years ago a meteorite landed in what is 

now the Free State. The town of Vredefort is approximately in 

the middle of the circular area that has been identified as the 

dome of that meteorite; its diameter is 300km and extends 

from Johannesburg in the north to Welkom in the south. The core zone 

is 120km south of Johannesburg on the banks of the Vaal River, and this 

is the smaller area that has UNESCO World Heritage Site status. 

The site’s boundaries, which has a radius of 190km, are roughly 

defined by the roads that link Vredefort, Parys and Potchefstroom. 

A meteorite impact structure is called an astrobleme and this is the 

oldest, largest and most deeply eroded such structure ever found. 

A joint effort to improve and market the area nationally and 

internationally is underway, involving the Free State tourism 

authorities, the North West Province, Fezile Dabi District 

Municipality and the National Department of Environmental 

Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries. 

Other sites with potential that are the subject of upgrades include 

the Thaba Nchu Airfield and the Phakisa Raceway in Welkom. 

The global pandemic closed down the tourism sector and it will 

take some time to recover. The provincial government provided 

some relief by earmarking tourism venues as sites for quarantine. 

Heritage is a sector with growth potential. A Heroes’ Park is 

to be constructed at Thaba Nchu and Tumahole with statues 

of Oliver Tambo and Fidel Castro. A museum and statue at 


Bloemfontein Tourism: www.bloemfonteintourism.co.za 

Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, 

Tourism and Environmental Affairs: www.destea.gov.za 

Free State Gambling, Liquor and Tourism Authority: www.gla.fs.gov.za 


OVERVIEW 

Tourism venues were used 

as quarantine sites during 

the pandemic. 

Brandfort to commemorate 

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is 

planned. 

In 2019 the 88-room Splendid 

Inn Bloemfontein was opened by 

Premier Hotels & Resorts. Protea 

Hotels has four properties in the 

Free State, two in Bloemfontein, 

one in Harrismith and the Protea 

Hotel Clarens. 

The Tsogo Group’s properties 

include the four-star Southern 

Sun Bloemfontein and the 

Goldfields Casino in Welkom. The 

City Lodge Bloemfontein has 151 

rooms, and there is a Road Lodge 

at the airport. 

The Rantsoareng Group 

operates exclusively in the 

Free State and has three 

properties, the biggest of 

which is the President Hotel in 

Bloemfontein. 

Sun International runs the 

Lesotho Sun and the Maseru 

Sun in neighbouring Lesotho. 

In Bloemfontein, the Windmill 

Casino and Entertainment 

Centre offers slot machines 

and gaming tables, plus 

conference facilities. The 

four-star Willow Lodge has 80 

rooms. The Naledi Sun Hotel 

and Casino is about 65km from 

Bloemfontein. 

The Golden Gate Highlands 

National Park in the Maluti 

Mountains is one of South 

Africa’s great parks. ■ 

43 


OVERVIEW 

Education and training 

Skills development programmes are expanding. 


UFS researchers are doing 

advanced work on protein 

structure prediction. 

The CUT Hotel School has a new roof. Credit: CUT/Sebedisan Group 

An extensive Skills Development Programme is giving 

young people skills and work experience in a variety of 

fields. The Provincial Government of the Free State spent 

about R120-million training 3 367 people in 2020/21 on 

various skills programmes. 

These were supported by placements with government 

departments and with private businesses: 120 unemployed 

graduates were specifically supported by the province on 

stints at companies. Sector Education and Training Authorities 

(SETAs) are involved in the programmes which include graduate 

internships, learnerships, short-skills programmes and workintegrated 

learning methods. The province’s road-building unit 

will link up with TVET college graduates to provide specific 

work training. 

A national policy of promoting training in critical trades has 

been adopted. Two of the three campuses of Flavius Mareka TVET 

College are designated Centres of Specialisation, for electrical work 

at Sasolburg and plumbing at Kroonstad. The Mphohadi campus of 

the college is also in Kroonstad. 

The Free State has about 14 000 students at four Technical and 

Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, taught by 400 

lecturers. All of the colleges have multiple sites. Maluti TVET College in 

Phuthaditjhaba, for example, offers classes at eight sites. Motheo TVET 

College operates in Bloemfontein and Thaba Nchu, while Goldfields 

TVET College is headquartered in Welkom with some classes offered in 

Thabong and a satellite campus at Virginia (Meloding). 

The University of the Free 

State has 158 researchers 

rated by the National Research 

Foundation (NRF), two A-rated 

scientists and five tier-one 

SARChi research chairs. The 

university has 18 international 

research partnerships and 

produces an average of 240 

postgraduate research degrees 

every year. 

A team of undergraduates 

from the UFS Department of 

Animal Sciences won the 2021 

national quiz held at the 52nd 

congress of the South African 

Society for Animal Science 

(SASAS). At the same event, 

Andries van der Merwe, a 

postgraduate student, received 

the SASAS Student Postgraduate 

Merit Award for exceptional 

academic achievement. Dr 

Sinobongo Mdyogolo, a PhD 

student, was presented with the 

SASAS Bronze Medal in respect 

of her PhD achievements in 

the research and technology 

transfer categories. 

A group of academics 

from the Department of 

Microbiology and Biochemistry 

has been involved in an 

exciting international 

collaboration of researchers 

which solved a difficult and 

intricate problem in science, 


44

FOCUS 

De Beers and Moqhaka 

Municipality “Changing Lives” 

Learning new skills gives young people employment opportunities. 

In efforts to contribute to local skills 

development, local employment and 

advancing the social and economic role of our 

host communities, De Beers Voorspoed Mine 

partnered with Moqhaka Local Municipality and 

the Department of Employment and Labour to 

place trainees in fields of plumbing, welding and 

water treatment for a 12-month work-integrated 

learning programme. 

The programme intends to provide an 

opportunity for the youth of Moqhaka to acquire 

extra skills in plumbing, welding and water 

treatment. The programme will enable the trainees 

to develop skills with on-the-job and core training 

at Moqhaka Municipality. Despite the low levels 

of economic activity in our province, there are 

job opportunities in the welding industry and 

the need for skills is massive. The youth will be 

empowered to maximise their potential along 

with a tailored plan to provide them with a future 

to make a difference. As they progress through 

their learnership programme, we will help them 

discover their real capability and develop their 

skills as artisans. 

At De Beers Group, we are driven by our 

purpose to Make Life Brilliant for our people, our 

customers and those living in the communities 

where we operate. We are working to define a new 

world where brilliance is achieved every day. It is 

for this reason that we placed talented individuals 

to participate in our Learnership Programme for 

the benefit of our communities. 

The remarkable contribution that diamonds 

continue to make even after life-of-mine towards 

skills development in Fezile Dabi district, owes a 

great deal to the effectiveness of the partnerships 

we have forged with local governments and our 

empowerment partners. The framework for these 

principles is defined in terms of our social licence 

to operate. 

Young people in the Fezile Dabi District Municipality are learning 

new skills in plumbing, welding and water treatment through a joint 

programme of De Beers Group and the Department of Employment 

and Labour. 

About De Beers Group 

De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo 

American plc group. Established in 1888, De Beers 

Group is the world’s leading diamond company 

with expertise in the exploration, mining and 

marketing of diamonds. Together with its joint 

venture partners, De Beers Group employs more 

than 20 000 people across the diamond pipeline 

and is the world’s largest diamond producer 

by value, with mining operations in Botswana, 

Canada, Namibia and South Africa. As part of 

the company’s operating philosophy, the people 

of De Beers Group are committed to “Building 

Forever” by making a lasting contribution to 

the communities in which they live and work 

and transforming natural resources into shared 

national wealth. ■ 

For further information about De Beers Group, visit 

www.debeersgroup.com. 

45 

FREE STATE BUSINESS 2021/22

Credit: Unsplash 

accurate protein structure prediction. Their results, which were 

reached by using machine-learning, were published in the scientific 

journal, Science. The findings could change the way many things are 

done, including in molecular replacement and managing diseases. 

Having insight into the dimensional structure of a protein has the 

potential to enable more advanced drug discovery. 

The Central University of Technology (CUT) has four faculties: 

Engineering, Built Environment and Information and Technology, 

Health and Environmental Sciences, Humanities and Management 

Sciences. Researchers at units such as the Centre for Community, 

Environmental and Industrial Development tackle important 

regional issues. The CUT has started training programmes in 

artificial intelligence, 3D cloud computing and data screening. 

The first phase of a major upgrade of the Hotel School of the 

CUT is complete. The new glass roof in the school’s courtyard 

was designed by Hennie Lambrechts Architects of Bloemfontein. 

Upgrades were also completed to the boardroom and other 

facilities. Future phases will see the main kitchen and training 


Central University of Technology: www.cut.ac.za 

Flavius Mareka TVET College: www.flaviusmareka.net 

Free State Department of Education: www.education.fs.gov.za 

University of the Free State: www.ufs.ac.za 

facilities upgraded and the 

conversion of the lounge 

service area as a satellite 

kitchen for a new solarium as 

café venue. 

There are 11 new schools 

under construction in the 

province in all districts. The 

Free State has 39 farm schools 

but the aim is to increase this 

number to make it possible 

for children from rural areas to 

have a better chance of getting 

good education. 

Air Traffic and Navigation 

Services (ATNS) handed over its 

16th sponsored ICT and Science 

laboratory in 2020 to Akademia 

High School, Brandfort. The 

donation forms part of a five-year 

“Back to School” CSI initiative which 

has seen ATNS sponsor laboratories 

across the country to schools from 

impoverished communities. ■ 


46

FOCUS 

Voorspoed hands over an old-age facility 

The community of Ngwathe Local Municipality 

benefits from Building Forever strategy. 

De Beers Group’s Voorspoed Mine has 

handed over a R5-million old-age facility, 

in partnership with Ngwathe Local 

Municipality, to Ratang Maqheku Centre 

for the Aged in Parys. 

The project forms part of Voorspoed Mine’s 

Social and Labour Plan, specifically its Community 

Development Programme, which aims to uplift 

communities of the Free State Province and 

develop working partnerships to enhance and 

influence economic and social factors. 

Through its Building Forever strategy, De Beers 

Group is helping communities to access opportunities 

and thrive with the aim of leaving a positive and lasting 

legacy for mining communities to enjoy sustainable 

livelihoods beyond the life of its operations. 

Ratang Maqheku Centre previously operated 

from three rented backyard rooms in Tumahole, 

Parys. The Centre caters for 30 elderly people daily, 

and provides food, primary healthcare services 

and exercise, as well as access to the local library 

to improve their literacy and writing skills. 

The new 470m² facility, which was built by 

local black female-owned company Tshepo ya 

Rona, comprises two bedrooms, sickbay, workshop 

area, rest area, consultation room, three offices, 

dining area, kitchen with a pantry and laundry 

room, two ablution facilities as well as a reception 

and waiting area. Ratang Maqheku also received 

a brand-new 22-seater vehicle to transport the 

elderly to and from the centre. 

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Josephine 

Pieters, De Beers Social Impact Manager, said, “We 

are living in unprecedented times whereby we 

have to create a safe haven for our senior citizens 

to shield them from a society that should be 

protecting them. We are very grateful to Ratang 

Maqheku’s management team. We acknowledge 

their strength, commitment and perseverance – 

it is through their determination that this project 

Exec. Mayor Joey Mochela, DMRE Regional Manager, Kalipa 

Kewuti and the Senior Impact Manager Josephine Pieters at 

the launch of the Old age Day Care 

is what it is today. Coming together and fighting 

against the social ills that our elders face on a 

daily basis and creating a refuge for them, is really 

commendable. As De Beers Group, we are proud 

to be part of creating a future that is safer, fairer 

and healthier for our elderly.” 

Executive Mayor Councillor Joey Mochela 

thanked Voorspoed Mine for being a valuable 

stakeholder in the municipality. “We were sad 

to hear that Voorspoed Mine was closing down 

because we had built such a remarkable and strong 

partnership with them. However, we have been 

pleasantly surprised by how they have continued 

to support us, and this has brought hope to us and 

the people of Ngwathe,” said Cllr Mochela. 

Department of Mineral Resources and Energy 

Regional Manager, Kapila Kewuti, thanked 

Voorspoed Mine for fulfilling its Social Labour Plans 

during its Care and Maintenance stage. “As the 

regulator, it is beautiful to witness the support that 

De Beers continues to provide to our communities. 

We are proud of the work they have been able 

to do alongside our municipalities, community 

leaders and various partners in providing 

necessary support to the vulnerable members of 

our society,” said Kewuti. ■ 


Promoting and developing 

small business 

The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce 

and Industry is active in the Free State. 

NAFCOC’s main objective is to promote, 

unite and encourage the development 

of small business in South Africa in general 

and black entrepreneurs in particular, 

thereby drawing the majority from the peripheries 

of the consumption-based economy to the frontlines 

of production-based economic activity and 

decision making processes. 

NAFCOC Free State responded in a special way 

to address the distress faced by members during 

lockdown. In 2020, the chapter: 

• Lobbied for localised provincial funding during 

the lockdown. 

• Campaigned for the regulation of township businesses 

(trading permits and adherence to bylaws). 

• Assisted small and informal businesses in applying for 

Covid-relief funding. 

• Worked with government on a programme to assist 

people living with disability to gain access to markets 

and procurement opportunities. 

• Encouraged youth to be more involved in agriculture 

and try to find solutions to the lack of access to 

funding. 

• Worked with Standard Bank to assist small enterprises 

to open business accounts. 

Vision To be the leading voice of business in 

South Africa. 

Mission To develop and promote economic growth 

among existing and new businesses. 

Values Empowerment, dignity, integrity, hard work 

and commitment. ■ 

NAFCOC members applying for permits. 


Chairperson: Tshepo Matsaba 

Tel: 083 485 7883 

Email: matsabat@nafcocfs.org.za 

National website: www.nafcoc.org.za 

BUSINESS CHAMBERS IN THE FREE STATE 

Free State Black Business Chamber 

Contact: Mr Lucky Motsamai Cell: 066 204 5295 Email: info@fsbbc.co.za 

Free State Youth Chamber of Business and Commerce 

Contact: Mr Sam Motlogeloa Cell: 081 442 8928 Email: yccifs@gmail.com 

Mangaung Chamber of Commerce and Industry 

Contact: The President 

Tel: +27 51 522 1710 Email: President@bcci.co.za 

Phenomenal Women 

Contact: Ms Thato Mokhothu Cell: 071 383 4183 

Vredefort Tourism Association 

Contact: Ms Renee de Jong Cell: 071 448 4332 Email: vredefortinfo@gmail.com

LISTING 

Free State Provincial Government 

A guide to Free State’s provincial government departments. Visit: www.freestateonline.fs.gov.za 

Office of the Premier 

Premier: Mrs Sefora Ntombela 

4th Floor, OR Tambo Building, Cnr St Andrews and 

Markgraaff Streets, Bloemfontein 9300 

Tel: +27 51 405 5496 | Fax: +27 51 405 4803 

Website: www.freestateonline.fs.gov.za 

Department of Agriculture 

and Rural Development 

MEC: Mr Skully Nxangisa 

Main Building, Gielie Joubert Street, Glen, 

Bloemfontein 9360 

Tel: +27 51 861 8509 | Fax: +27 51 861 8452 

Website: www.ard.fs.gov.za 

Department of Cooperative Governance 

and Traditional Affairs 

MEC: Mr Mxolisi Dukwana 

7th Floor, OR Tambo House, Cnr St Andrews and 

Markgraaf Streets, Bloemfontein 9301 

Tel: +27 51 405 5719 

Website: www.cogta.fs.gov.za 

Dept of Economic, Small Business Development, 

Tourism and Environmental Affairs 

MEC: Mr Makalo Mohale 

Bojanala Building, 113 St Andrews Street, 


Tel: +27 51 404 9600 | Fax: +27 51 400 4732 

Website: www.destea.gov.za 

Department of Education 

MEC: Mr Pule Makgoe 

Fidel Castro Building, 55 Miriam Makeba Street, 


Tel: +27 51 404 8430 | Fax: +27 51 404 8269 

Website: www.education.fs.gov.za 

Department of Health 

MEC: Ms Montseng Ts’lu 

Cnr Harvey and Charlotte Maxeke Streets, 


Tel: +27 51 408 1108 | Fax: +27 51 408 1950 

Website: www.health.fs.gov.za 

Department of Human Settlements 

MEC: Ms Motshidise Agnes Koloi 

7th Floor, Lebohang Building, Cnr Markgraaff and 

St Andrews Streets, Bloemfontein 9300 

Tel: +27 51 405 3379 | Fax: +27 51 403 3699 

Website: www.humansettlements.fs.gov.za 

Department of Police, Roads and Transport 

MEC: Mr Kwekwe Bulwane 

4th Floor, Perm Building, 45 Charlotte Maxeke Street, 


Tel: +27 51 409 8849 | Fax: +27 51 409 8864 

Website: www.policeroadstransport.fs.gov.za 

Department of Public Works 

and Infrastructure 

MEC: Ms Motshidise Agnes Koloi 

Office 310, OR Tambo House, Cnr Markgraaf and 

St Andrews Streets, Bloemfontein 9301 

Tel: +27 51 405 3909 | Fax: +27 51 405 4490 

Website: www.publicworks.fs.gov.za 

Department of Social Development 

MEC: Ms Mamiki Qabathe 

Civilia Building, 14 Miriam Makeba Street, 


Tel: +27 51 409 0555 | Fax: +27 51 409 0618 

Website: www.socdev.fs.gov.za 

Department of Sports, Arts, 

Culture and Recreation 

MEC: Ms Limakatso Mahase 

Civilia Building, 14 Miriam Makeba Street, 


Tel: +27 51 407 3520 | Fax: +27 51 407 3541 

Website: www.fssacr.gov.za 

Provincial Treasury 

MEC: Ms Gadija Brown 

Fidel Castro Building, 55 Miriam Makeba Street, 


Tel: +27 51 405 4229 | Fax: +27 51 405 4152 

Website: www.treasury.fs.gov.za 


Driving 

Economic Development 

in the Free State Province 

Enterprise 

development 

Property 

management 

Investment 

facilitation 

Export 

promotion 

Tel: 051 400 0800 

Email: wecare@fdc.co.za | invest@fdc.co.za 

Web: www.fdc.co.za

Free State Business 2022

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