North West Business 2021-22

NORTH WEST 

BUSINESS 

2021/22 EDITION 

THE GUIDE TO BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT IN 

THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE 

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WWW.GLOBALAFRICANETWORK.COM | WWW.NORTHWESTBUSINESS.CO.ZA

Inspiring hope and enabling dreams 

A brief history of Standard Bank in the North West Province. 

Standard Bank has had an uninterrupted connection 

of 135 years with the region now known as the North 

West Province, created in 1994 by the merger of the 

former Western Transvaal area with the homeland 

territory of Bophuthatswana. 

Although Standard Bank had initially opened a 

branch in Potchefstroom in 1877, following the British 

annexation of the then Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek 

(Transvaal), it had to close the branch again after the 

Transvaal regained its independence in 1881 as it 

could only, in terms of its original Memorandum and 

Articles of Association, operate in areas under British 

control. Rather than leaving the Transvaal completely, 

the bank amended its Memorandum and 

Articles of Association to allow it to operate in 

areas outside direct British jurisdiction. 

Until the establishment of the Nationale 

Bank der Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek in 

1891 Standard Bank was also the banker of 

the Transvaal government. By the late 19th 

century, the Western Transvaal was primarily 

a good farming area, especially known for 

the high-quality wheat it produced. The 

discovery of gold throughout the Transvaal 

in the early and mid-1880s boded well for its 

economic prospects and gold fever spread to 

Business Leadership Team, North West 

Rishaad Webster - 

Head, Client Coverage Business 

Clients North West 

Yonash Naidoo - Head, Sectors 

Specialist, North West and Head, 

Business Centre, Rustenburg 

Otto Lessing - 

Head, Business Centre (Client 

Coverage), Klerksdorp 

Image by Caspar Camille Ruben on Unsplash

semi-tropical fruit-growing area. The soil was 

also well-suited to the cultivation of cereals, 

tobacco, sugar and coffee. After the end of 

the Second Anglo-Boer War in 1902, reports 

that the railway line was to be extended 

from Krugersdorp to Rustenburg boosted 

the area’s prospects. Consequently, Standard 

Bank opened a branch there on 11 February 

1903. From the 1920s onwards the town and 

district prospered further with the mining of 

platinum, iron, nickel and other rare minerals. 

The modern era 

Following the 1994 general election the country’s 

four former provinces were split to create 

the current nine provinces. In 1995 Standard 

Bank restructured its operations to create nine 

provincial structures, including one for North 

West, whose geographic boundaries largely 

corresponded to the country’s new provinces. 

Potchefstroom following discoveries at Zeerust 

and Lichtenburg. 

Many farms in the Potchefstroom area were 

also gold bearing. Standard Bank recognised 

that a small safe business could be undertaken 

at Potchefstroom and duly reopened there on 

21 July 1886. 

Rustenburg potential 

Standard Bank had been interested in the 

development of Rustenburg; the second Dutch 

Reformed parish established in the Transvaal 

in 1851. The town was in the centre of a good 

Proudly North West 

Over the years Standard Bank has been the banker 

to several municipalities in the province. The bank 

has also partnered with the North West Provincial 

Government to help provide mentorship and 

funding for entrepreneurs and viable SMEs. 

We at Standard Bank are highly invested in 

the North West and committed to driving her 

growth. We strive to create value for our clients 

through our regional knowledge and industry 

expertise. It’s about more than just banking. It’s 

about being a trusted partner, understanding 

your business and unlocking value. ■ 

Business Leadership Team, North West 

Nqobile Zondi - 

Manager, Enterprise Direct, 

North West 

Dawood Kabelo Seleka - 

Manager, Entrepreneur, 

Klerksdorp 

Melvyn Edmunds - 

Manager, Entrepreneur, 

Rustenburg

Bank on Standard Bank Trade 

to grow your business 

Giving peace of mind to traders and exporters. 

With Trade by Standard Bank, we aim to be a partner in 

your growth journey and can help create a secure and 

trusted environment for you to trade by providing an 

end-to-end trade solution ecosystem. 

This includes the following: 

• Introductions to new vetted potential buyers, locally 

and around the globe. 

• Assistance with diversifying your supplier base and 

products through access to new international, vetted 

suppliers. 

• The provision of working capital finance. 

• Mitigation of risks of non-delivery and non-payments 

and foreign currency fluctuations. 

• A single point of contact to assist in all your importing 

needs, including all-in costing, logistics facilitation, 

product track-and-trace services, payments, foreign 

exchange covers and customs clearing. 

Banks play a critical role in helping small and medium 

businesses trade both in the local and international 

markets. The impact of Covid on trade in SA has 

been complicated and layered. The restriction on the 

movement on goods has taken its toll on various sectors. 

What the pandemic has shown is the importance of 

innovation from both an infrastructure and business 

model point of view. 

Digital transformation in trade creates efficiencies and 

breaks down barriers to entry, linking suppliers and 

customers and allowing for the creation of new supply 

chains. Trade by Standard Bank has devised new and 

differentiated solutions for customers: 

Trade Club 

The Standard Bank Trade Club is an innovative 

networking platform to enable business customers 

to find new opportunities both locally and globally 

through exclusive access to an online networking 

platform with over 15 000 pre-vetted members from 15 

international banks and across 43 countries. 

Trade Finance 

Standard Bank’s Trade Finance allows you to expand 

and mitigate risks that could stand in your way. This 

service will help to maximise your profit by bolstering 

your cash flow, collecting outstanding payments, and 

strengthening your working capital cycle. 

Trade Suite 

Local regulations and compliance issues can be 

inhibitors to trade. The Trade Suite offering gives 

Standard Bank the ability to advise a client on the 

movement of their goods, manage the movement of 

their goods and even calculate the landed cost of each 

item imported. 

These solutions allow Standard Bank to play a vital 

strategic role in our clients’ sustainable business 

growth. Trade by Standard Bank is well positioned 

to understand its clients’ business and to assist them 

in navigating the pathway of both domestic and 

international trade. ■ 

Image by Ian Taylor on Unsplash

CONTENTS 

North West Business Edition 2021/22 edition 

Introduction 

Foreword 7 

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

Message 9 

A message from the North West Development Corporation. 

Special features 

A regional overview of the North 

West Province 10 

Global prices are supporting rising production for miners and 

farmers but governance issues at local level need to be addressed. 

The North West has the metals and 

minerals to help the world go green 14 

Palladium is more valuable than gold, and not only in dollars. 

Economic sectors 

Mining 18 

Many mining companies are thinking of expansion. 

Agriculture 28 

Training in agriculture is in the spotlight. 

Water 32 

A cross-provincial irrigation scheme is a national priority. 

Manufacturing 36 

An Integrated Manufacturing Strategy aims to stimulate the sector. 

NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2021/22 

6

FOREWORD 

North West Business 

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

Credits 

Publishing director: 

Chris Whales 

Editor: John Young 

Managing director: Clive During 

Online editor: Christoff Scholtz 

Designer: Tyra Martin 

Production: Aneeqah Solomon 

Ad sales: 

Gavin van der Merwe 

Sam Oliver 

Jeremy Petersen 

Gabriel Venter 

Vanessa Wallace 

Shiko Diala 

Administration & accounts: 

Charlene Steynberg 

Kathy Wootton 

Distribution and circulation 

manager: Edward MacDonald 

Printing: FA Print 

DISTRIBUTION 

North West Business is distributed internationally on outgoing and 

incoming trade missions, through trade and investment agencies; 

to foreign offices in South Africa’s main trading partners around the 

world; at top national and international events; through the offices 

of foreign representatives in South Africa; as well as nationally and 

regionally via chambers of commerce, tourism offices, airport lounges, 

provincial government departments, municipalities and companies. 

The 2021/22 edition of North West Business marks the 11th 

publication of this highly successful journal that, since its 

launch in 2009, has established itself as the premier business 

and investment guide for the North West Province. 

The boom in commodity prices that accompanied the international 

slowdown that resulted from the Covid-19 pandemic was a boon to the 

North West’s mining companies and helped to offset some of the hardship 

in the province during 2020 and 2021. This topic is covered extensively in 

the mining overview and in a special feature on the new uses to which 

platinum group metals (PGMs) are being put in the service of the rising 

cleaner energy movement. 

North West Business includes news and analysis of the most important 

sectors. Best known for its platinum mines, grain and livestock farming 

and tourism, the province is making a concerted effort to bolster its 

manufacturing capacity through a dedicated new strategy. 

To complement the extensive local, national and international 

distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online 

at www.globalafricanetwork.co.za. Updated information on the North 

West is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can 

subscribe to online at www.gan.co.za, in addition to our complementary 

business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces, our flagship South 

African Business title and the new addition to our list of publications, African 

Business, which was launched in 2020. ■ 

Chris Whales 

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

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 

Member of the Audit Bureau 

of Circulations ISSN 1996-1022 

COPYRIGHT | North West Business is an independent publication 

published by Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. Full copyright to the 

publication vests with Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. No part 

of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the written 

permission of Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. 

PHOTO CREDITS | Aurecon; Bushveld Minerals; De Wildt Solar; Juanita 

Swart on Unsplash (boats on Hartbeespoort Dam); Implats; Mafikeng 

Digital Innovation Hub; North-West University; Pilanesberg Platinum 

Mine; Sun City; Tourism North West; Vuselela TVET College; John Young. 

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

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

contained in North West Business is accurate and up-to-date, the 

publishers make no representations as to the accuracy, quality, 

timeliness, or completeness of the information. Global Africa Network 

will not accept responsibility for any loss or damage suffered as a result 

of the use of or any reliance placed on such information. 

7 NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2021/22

CONTENTS 

Energy 37 

Solar plants are proliferating in the North West. 

Tourism 38 

Biodiversity protection is expanding. 

Education and training 40 

A new vocational stream is being introduced at schools. 

Development finance and SMME support 43 

The Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub will assist small businesses. 

Banking and financial services 44 

Smartphone banking is catching on. 

Reference 

Municipal map 13 

A guide to North West’s district and local municipalities. 

Key sector contents 26 

Overviews of the main economic sectors of North West. 

Locator map 

Index 

IBC 

IBC 

ABOUT THE COVER: 

Credit: North West Provincial 

Government. The North West is 

responsible, together with the Free 

State, for 80% of sunflower seed 

production in South Africa. In 2018/19 

the crop was 681 000 tons. The 

Agricultural Research Council’s oil and 

protein seed research farm is located 

in Potchefstroom. According to the 

Southern African Grain Laboratory, there 

are nearly 100 grain silos in the province. 


8

Key catalytic investment 

projects are available 

MESSAGE 

The Musina-Makhado Special Infras 

Economic Zone is a flagship project 

drive 

Limpopo Premier Chupu Stanley Mathabatha invites 

private investors to work with the public sector in devel 

The North West Province is the ideal place for commercial 

ventures and the North West Development Corporation 

guides building the infrastructure way a valuable and business growing partner. the economy. 

MESSAGE 

Iwant to start by thanking Global Africa Network for sustaining the 

Limpopo Prem 

The publication North of West this important Development magazine, Corporation Limpopo Business. The NWDC’s I also wish strategic to join thrust is to drive an 

in celebrating priorities in w 

welcomes this the 12th publication edition of of what North I consider West a inclusive premier strategy business towards and economic growth and 

investment guide for our beautiful Limpopo Province. 

already receiv 

Business 2021/22 and invites all potential transformation in the province in line with the 

Indeed, investors Limpopo to engage Business with the is an NWDC important relating partner provincial the priorities. continued 

to endeavour the myriad to opportunities market and which position our Limpopo province offers. as a leading and The most NWDC’s attractive purpose is to contribute towards 

business The North and investment West Development destination. Corporation the growth and transformation of the economy 

We 

by 

(NWDC) This is informative an agency edition of the Provincial once again Government affords us an opportunity positioning the to take North you West Province as a competitor t 

of through the North the West plentiful Province. business It was and investment established offerings to in of the our SADC province, region, from Africa A 

Bela-Bela to Musina. 

Premier 

and the 

Chupu 

globe in 

plan, finance, coordinate, promote and carry out the investment attraction. 

a 

Through this publication, you will also learn about great private-public Stanley Mathabatha 

economic development of the North West Province The NWDC aims to demonstrate its leadership successful natio 

and partnership its people. investments that are the pulse of our provincial by implementing economy. key programmes and providing general electio 

The As you NWDC will focuses come to on learn, the commerce, Limpopo is finance, home to a support thriving mining for the development sector, of key sectors of election the which w 

mining, tantalising tourism, tourism manufacturing, offerings and a agriculture, limitless potential retail for economy the agricultural in line with sector. the conventional economic and 

enterprise-related The construction activities industry and is one other of the business booming sectors industrial of policies the Limpopo of the North West. 

resulting economy, in the wealth inherited and legacy job of creation an infrastructure while backlog means that the 

taking sector cognisance has a longer of future. aims and Investment objectives in this of the sector is Key an investment strategic programmes 

in the 

Reconstruction future. Limpopo and Province Development has also moved Programme to embrace of the new digital economy 

• SMMEs and co-operative development (financial 

the through Republic competitive of South Africa. support It is infrastructure. 

listed a Schedule and non-financial support) 

3D provincial The Musina-Makhado government entity Special in Economic terms of the Zone (MMSEZ) remains our 

• Project management services 

PFMA flagship of 1994, economic Act 01 development of 1999 and project. reports Through to the this initiative, and through 

• Special Economic Zone (SEZ) 

Provincial partnerships Department with the of private Economic sector, Development, 

we hope to stimulate economic growth, 

• Property development and management 

Environment, create much-needed Conservation employment and Tourism opportunities (DEDECT). and reduce the ballooning 

• Mining 

gap of inequality. 

• Agro-processing 

Vision Business opportunities in this SEZ project are limitless. These opportunities 

• Tourism 

To range be the from cornerstone manufacturing, of promoting agroprocessing, trade, attracting automotives, steel, pharmaceutical, 

• Trade and Investment 

investment logistics and and many ensuring more. inclusive economic growth 

and transformation What is even in more the North tantalising West Province. is the fact that this CONTACT project DETAILS enjoys the 

overwhelming support of our National Government. 

Head Office 

Mission As the Limpopo Provincial Government, we have placed this Musina- 

22 James Watt Crescent, Industrial Site, Mahikeng 

To Makhado contribute SEZ to Project the inclusive at the economic apex of our growth priorities. and We 

Tel: 

believe 

+27 

that 

18 381 

the 

3663 

only 

Chupu Stanley 

transformation available option of the for us North is to West make Province this project through: a resounding Fax: success. +27 86 503 4391 

Premier of Lim 

Limpopo is open for business! 

• Industrial development ■ 

Rustenburg branch and Trade Invest 

• Commercial investment 

209 Beyers Naude Drive, Rustenburg 

• Property development and management 

Tel: +27 14 594 2570 

Fax: +27 86 559 6549 

• Development of sustainable enterprises 

Email: info@nwdc.co.za 

• Trade and investment attraction 

Website: www.nwdc.co.za 

• Programme management. 

9 7 NORTH LIMPOPO 

WEST BUSINESS BUSINESS 2021/22 

2020/21 LIMPOPO BUSIN

A REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF 

NORTH WEST 

PROVINCE 

The North West has massive mineral resources. Credit: Implats 

Global prices are supporting rising production for miners and 

farmers but governance issues at local level need to be addressed. 

By John Young 

There was good news for South African 

taxpayers in the first half of 2021: 

expected income tax increases did 

not materialise. This was because the 

mining industry, many of whose key players have 

operations in the North West, delivered R99.6- 

billion more than expected to National Treasury. 

With many global prices for commodities rising 

to record levels in 2020 and 2021, mining companies 

were able to pay down debt, reward shareholders 

and dust off feasibility studies for expansion projects 

that had previously been shelved. This also helped 

to ameliorate the effects of the global pandemic in 

terms of job losses in the North West. 

The other sector in good shape – and in which 

the North West excels for variety and quality – is 

agriculture. The grain sector, one of the province’s 

strongest, experienced an unusual bonanza of nearrecord 

harvests and good prices on the international 

market. The good prices are driven by drought in other 

parts of the world and increasing demand from China. 

Logistical challenges, not all of which were 


10

SPECIAL FEATURE 

related to Covid-19, somewhat hampered the 

amount of product that miners and farmers were 

able to export through the country’s ports. 

At local level, Clover announced in 2021 that it 

was to close down its cheese factory in Lichtenburg 

because of unreliable water and power supply. 

The ability of local authorities to manage the 

infrastructure of towns and districts has been under 

scrutiny for some time and national government 

has signalled its intention to intervene. 

The African National Congress, the province’s 

biggest political party and the party of national 

government, announced a new premier four 

months before local government elections were 

due to be held. 

The North West Provincial Government 

announced a series of steps taken within its 

administration which showed that accountability 

for bad behaviour was being implemented. Among 

the measures were the firing of the head of the 

Department of Health, the cancellation of an ICT 

contract and a restructuring process undertaken in 

conjunction with the National Department of Public 

Service and Administration. 

The establishment of the Mafikeng Digital 

Information Hub, a co-working 4IR hub in the 

centre of Mahikeng, is an indicator that the province 

is intent of joining the digital movement. The hub 

is led by Joseph Ndaba, who is serving on the 

Presidential Commission on 4IR. 

The aim of the hub is to unearth and cultivate 

innovative solutions that will assist communities to 

acclimatise to the digital world and to help incubate 

new businesses. 

Geography and economy 

The North West is bordered on the west by the 

Republic of Botswana and on the east by Gauteng, 

the engine of the South African economy. 

The North West province makes up 6.8% of the 

population of South Africa (3.6-million), 8.7% of the 

land mass (105 076km²) and accounts for 5.8% of 

economic output in terms of gross value added. 

The Vaal River runs along the province’s southeastern 

border with the Free State, and the province 

also shares borders with the Northern Cape to the 

south and Limpopo in the north. 

AI 4 Rural Development at the Mafikeng Digital 

Innovation Hub. 

The mineral reserves in the province are 

enormous. Platinum group metals (PGMs) 

predominate but there are significant deposits 

of gold, uranium, diamonds, copper, vanadium, 

fluorspar and nickel. Stone and limestone are also 

found in large quantities. 

Mining beneficiation takes place at many 

places, with Rustenburg being particularly strong 

in this sector. The economy of the town is closely 

linked to the fortunes of platinum mining, with the 

sector contributing about 70% of the city’s gross 

geographic product. 

Automotive components firms are clustered 

in Brits, which in turn is close to the automotive 

manufacturing hub of Rosslyn (Pretoria) in 

Gauteng. Towns like Klerksdorp (agro-processing 

and engineering) and Potchefstroom (food and 

beverages) also have manufacturing capacity. 

The North West is a major producer of maize 

and sunflower seeds and many other agricultural 

products. About 20% of South Africa’s maize comes 

from the province, as does 15% of its wheat. 

The dry western part of the province is home 

to beef cattle, game ranching and hunting. The 

normally well-watered eastern and north-eastern 

regions carry varied crops, many of which are sold in 

Johannesburg and Pretoria. 

The agricultural sector also generates largescale 

storage and logistics operations, particularly 

in Klerksdorp, Vryburg and Brits, together with a 

number of agro-processing plants. Senwes is one of 

the biggest with extensive silo infrastructure while 

Suidwes has 17 retail outlets and MGK makes full-fat 

soy at its manufacturing plant. Lichtenburg-based 

NWK makes liquid fertiliser and animal feed, processes 

sunflower seeds and runs 37 silos and three grain mills. 

11 

NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2021/22

The Valley of Waves at Sun City. Credit: Sun City 

The province’s three Technical and 

Vocational Education and Training (TVET) 

colleges and the well-respected North-West 

University all have several campuses catering 

to a wide range of educational disciplines. 

The university has a strong reputation as a 

research institution. 

Major towns 

Mahikeng 

The capital city of the North West Province lies 

on the banks of the Molopo River. Situated in 

the north-west sector of the province near the 

Botswana border, the city has a strong services 

sector and a population of approximately 300 000. 

The city’s main sectors are financial services, 

services, transport and trade. The Garona District 

houses the North West parliament and government 

buildings. The arts are promoted by the Mmabana 

Cultural Centre, while the North West Institute 

of Hotel and Tourism Management is one of 

three tertiary institutions in the city. North-West 

University’s Graduate School of Business and 

Government Leadership is located in the city, and 

Unisa has a presence. Other institutions are the 

Taletso TVET College and the International School 

of South Africa. 

The town is well served by hotels such as the 

Mmabatho Palms, Hotel and Casino Convention 

Resort. White rhino and giraffe can be found at 

the Mahikeng Game Reserve. 

Tlokwe 

The city of Potchefstroom is administered by the 

Tlokwe Local Municipality. A large campus of 

North-West University and its business school is 

located in the city, as is the Vuselela TVET College 

and the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture. 

More than 120 000 people regularly attended 

the annual Aardklop Festival before Covid. The 

city has a population of about 173 000. 

The sports facilities of North-West University 

are world-class and have been the base for 

Spain’s soccer team and Australia’s cricket team 

in world cups. Tlokwe is a hub for the strong 

commercial agriculture of the region and has 

several food and beverage manufacturers 

including Nestlé. Some of the bigger enterprises 

include fertiliser companies such as Kynoch, 

munitions manufacturers, and food processors 

like King Food. An army base contributes to the 

economy, and the airfield formerly used by the 

military is now run by the municipality. 

The N12 Treasure Route passes through the 

city and holds potential for further development 

of tourist highlights such as Boskop Dam and the 

Mooi River on which the town is located. 

Rustenburg 

Rustenburg is a local municipality within the 

Bojanala Platinum District Municipality and the 

headquarters of both bodies are in the city of 

about 625 000 residents. 


12

an important regional centre and the town where 

several important companies' headquarters are 

located. These include Senwes, through whose silos 

a large proportion of South Africa's grains move 

every year, and a number of engineering enterprises 

which serve the mining industry. 

areas. The Bloemhof Bonanza is the biggest and 

most lucrative inland-angling event in South 

Africa, with more than 2 000 anglers trying to 

win R1.5-million in prize money. SPECIAL The nearby FEATURESA 

Lombard Nature Reserve has a fine herd of black 

wildebeest. 

Municipalities in North West Province 

Limpopo 

BOTSWANA 

Ramotshere 

Moiloa 

Moses Kotane 

Bojanala 

Madibeng 

Moretele 

Molopo 

Mafikeng 

Kgetlengrivier 

Rustenburg 

Kagisano 

Ratlou 

Ngaka Modiri Molema 

Ditsobotla 

JB Marks 

Gauteng 

Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati 

Tswaing 

Dr Kenneth Kaunda 

Naledi 

Matlosana 

Mamusa 

Maquassi Hills 

Northern Cape 

Greater Taung 

Lekwa-Teemane 

Free State 

Metropolitan/District Municipality 

Boundary 

Local Municipality Boundary 

District Municipality 

Local Municipality 

Bojanala 

Naledi 

NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2019 

Rustenburg straddles the N4 “Platinum 

Highway” about 120km west of the cities of Pretoria 

and Johannesburg in the Gauteng Province, the 

economic hub of South Africa. The N4 stretches 

across South Africa from Mozambique in the east, 

to the Botswana border in the west and, as the Trans 

Kalahari Route, ultimately to Namibia. 

At the foot of the Magaliesberg Mountain 

Range, Rustenburg is only 50km from one of the 

country’s premier tourist resorts, Sun City, which in 

turn is adjacent to the 550km² Pilanesberg National 

Park and Game Reserve which has a small airport. 

Orbit TVET College has a campus in Rustenburg, 

Unisa has a regional office and the Agricultural 

Research Institute’s Industrial Crops Division is also 

located in the city. The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace 

hosted five group matches in the 2010 World Cup. 

Platinum mining began in 1929 and has driven the 

city’s growth ever since. ■ 

30


The North West has the metals 

and minerals to help the world 

go green 

Palladium is more valuable than gold, and not only in dollars. 

Finding new uses for platinum is one of the 

biggest priorities exercising the minds of the 

leaders of the South African mining industry 

as it moves to adapt to a world anxious to 

distance itself from fossil fuels. 

Among the innovators and investors looking 

for new solutions and applications for platinum 

group metals (PGMs) and other commodities are 

companies operating in the North West. 

A neat symbol of the shift in thinking can be 

found in central Johannesburg where the head 

office of the Minerals Council South Africa is 

powered by 40 ounces of platinum and natural gas. 

The fuel cell (pictured) of the national mine owners’ 

association is South Africa and Africa’s first base 

load installation. 

While there is broad agreement that the world 

needs to steer away from minerals that pollute 

the environment, the supply of materials used in 

electric car manufacture, such as nickel and cobalt, 

is also finite. 

Electric vehicles 

A key reason for a surge in palladium prices at the 

start of 2021 was increased demand for the metal 

in the creation of catalytic converters on motor 

vehicles. The price went past $2 000 per ounce, 

surpassing the price of gold. 

Stricter emissions rules in Europe and the 

US are driving demand. China is planning 

to impose similar rules. Hybrid cars also 

need catalytic converters but the supply 

of palladium is not able to keep up with 

demand. One of the results of this is that car 

manufacturers are looking at alternatives such 

as rhodium or platinum. 

Speaking at the 2019 Investing in African 

Mining Indaba, Ford’s head of Energy Storage 

Strategy and Research, Ted J Miller, said that the 

motor industry was “uncomfortable driving these 

commodities”. He noted that Ford has already 

reduced cobalt production by two-thirds, but 

the challenge is scale. 


14


hydrogen technology. What is true for Germany 

will be true of other European nations as they 

pivot from carbon. 

An Atlas of Green Hydrogen Generation 

Potentials in Africa already exists and areas 

with good solar coverage and steady winds 

have great potential. Many parts of South Africa 

qualify. Germany’s Federal Research Ministry will 

fund the first phase of the partnership to the 

tune of €40-million. If a kilogram of hydrogen 

can be produced in Namibia for less than €2, as 

is envisaged, it will be the cheapest hydrogen in 

the world. 

The editor of the respected Mining Weekly 

publication, Martin Creamer, has published a 

series of articles and editorials extolling the virtues 

of what he calls the “best of two new carbonreducing 

technology worlds”. 

Creamer notes that South Africa’s abundant 

supplies of platinum group metals and 

manganese ore can make the country a leader in 

battery electric vehicles (BEV) and fuel cell electric 

vehicles (FCEV). He further points to the work 

being done by Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) at 

three universities and the Council for Scientific 

and Industrial Research (CSIR). South Africa’s good 

supplies of sunshine and wind make it ideally 

suited to generate hydrogen and if the country 

could capture 25% of the world market, it would 

be worth $600-million (Mining Weekly). 

The German government is reaching out 

to African countries in its search for sources of 

“green hydrogen”. PGMs can play an important 

role in the creation and application of this 

cleaner product and Germany has signed an 

agreement with Namibia to partner on green 

Cleaner processing 

Platinum has proven benefits and applications as 

a catalyst in the creation of hydrogen fuel cells but 

if the method used to mine the platinum is itself 

carbon-emitting and “dirty” then the processes 

could be said to be cancelling one another out. 

Pilanesberg Platinum Mines has introduced 

a method of processing that itself is cleaner 

than traditional methods. The result is that 

sulphur dioxide emissions are eliminated from 

the smelting process. The Kell plant also reduces 

electricity usage (by more than 80%), improves 

recovery rates and can extract cobalt, the chemical 

element which is another important element for 

batteries for electric vehicles. Sedibelo Platinum 

Mines, which owns Pilanesberg, is a partner in 

Kell South Africa with the Industrial Development 

Corporation (IDC), together with another partner. 

Credit: Bushveld Minerals 



In 2012, Anglo Platinum launched an 

underground locomotive powered by a fuel cell. 

Platinum coating greatly enhances the hydrogen 

absorption capacity of fuel cells. In 2016 Impala 

Platinum Refinery unveiled a fuel cell forklift and a 

hydrogen refuelling station in Springs. 

Bushveld Minerals has two arms: Bushveld 

Vanadium, which mines and processes vanadium, 

and Bushveld Energy, which is working on 

Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFB). Energy 

storage is the focus of much research across 

the globe and Bushveld Energy intends its solar 

installation at its Vametco mine, supported by 

VRFB, to answer many questions. 

Bushveld Vanadium is one of three vanadium 

producers in the world. Vanadium has traditionally 

been used mainly in steel production, but its newage 

uses are becoming more and more important. 

World supply is below 100 000 tons per annum. 

Bushveld Vanadium has three assets: the 

Vametco mine and processing plant, the Brits 

vanadium project and the Mokopane vanadium 

project where feasibility studies are underway (in 

Limpopo Province). 

Bushveld Minerals estimates that, when 

energy storage applications in the electric 

transport sectors are considered, total demand for 

batteries is forecast to reach 4 584GWh by 2040. 

The company believes that South Africa is well 

positioned build an industry that will play a critical 

role in Africa and beyond. 

To that end, it is partnering with the Industrial 

Development Corporation (IDC) to build a 

$10-million plant in East London (Eastern Cape) 

to produce vanadium electrolytes from the ore 

mined in the North West. The electrolytes are a 

vital component of the redox flow battery. 

Lithium batteries need nickel sulphate and 

nickel sulphate is a byproduct of platinum 

production. A new company has been formed, 

Thakadu Group, to buy and sell nickel offtake from 

Lonmin. The deal will see Thakadu handle 25 000 

tons of nickel offtake to sell to battery makers. 

Sibanye-Stillwater, which started its life as a 

gold company in South Africa and swiftly became 

a global leader in mining PGMs, bought a share 

in a Finnish mining and chemicals company 

Keliber in early 2021 with the aim of producing 

battery-grade lithium hydroxide in that country. 

The partnership will invest in lithium mines, a 

concentrator plant and a lithium hydroxide plant. 

Sibanye-Stillwater is the world’s largest primary 

producer of platinum, second-largest primary 

producer of palladium, third-largest producer 

of gold and the world’s leading global recycler 

and processor of spent PGM catalytic converter 

materials. Two of the company’s three South 

African PGM assets are in the North West, Marikana 

and Rustenburg, and it is the majority shareholder 

in the Platinum Mile tailings retreatment facility 

near Rustenburg, which recovers PGMs from the 

tailings of the Rustenburg operations. 

Impala Platinum (Implats) has assets on both 

limbs of the Bushveld Complex. Impala Rustenburg 

near Rustenburg in the North West comprises a 

multi-shaft mining complex and concentrating 

and smelting plants. The base and precious metal 

refineries are in Springs, east of Johannesburg. 

Northam has invested heavily in a smelter 

expansion project at its Zondereinde mine. ■ 

Green mobility. Electric cars need the minerals and metals that the North West has. Credit: John Young

Creating a better future 

…through the way we do business 

Developing and caring 

for host communities 

Caring for and 

supporting 

our environment 

Bringing 

long-term growth 

and opportunity 

Providing meaningful 

employment 

Creating value for 

our stakeholders 

This is our PURPOSE 

To improve the lives of 

future generations 

Coolead 18725


Mining 

Many mining companies are thinking of expansion. 

SECTOR INSIGHT 

Energy plants are being 

constructed on mines. 

Credit: Implats 

Commodity prices buoyed the mining sector in 2021. 

Impala Platinum (Implats) posted a 125% increase 

in headline earnings in September 2021. The group 

allocated 70% of free cashflow to shareholder returns 

through convertible bond repurchases and cash dividends. This 

came about because of record rand prices for the PGM basket, 

increased sales and improved operations. Work has been done 

at Implats’ Rustenburg to 

enhance mine flexibility and 

the company expects this to 

deliver further growth. 

Pilanesberg Platinum Mines 

has been active 80km north-west 

of Rustenburg since 2009. Mining 

operations are conducted by 

contractors while PPM manages 

the concentrator (screen, crush, 

mill, float, thicken and dry). The 

operation has annually achieved 

an average of about 150 000 

ounces of platinum group metal 

(PGM) concentrate. 

RBPlat declared an interim 

dividend of R1.5-billion in August 

of 2021 and was expecting to 

have similar good news at yearend, 

despite reduced production 

volumes because of the Covid-19 

pandemic. The four metals 

that make up the bulk of Royal 

Bafokeng Platinum’s portfolio 

increased in price by more 

than 50% in the course of 2021. 

Rhodium earns RBPlat 45% of its 

income, followed by palladium, 

platinum and gold. 

Even though the Rustenburg 

furnace 5 was put on care and 

maintenance, Merafe Resources 

reported a small improvement in 

ferrochrome production for the 

first quarter of its financial year. 

The joint with Glencore, Glencore 

Merafe Chrome Venture, apparently 


18

WWW.NORTHERNCAPEBUSINESS.CO.ZA 

ONLINE JOIN S US ONLINE 

WWW.GLOBALAFRICANETWORK.COM | WWW.NORTHERNCAPEB 

| | 10 REASONS 

WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST IN SOUTH AFRICA 

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Growing middle class, affluent consumer 

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ECONOMY IN AFRICA 

South Africa (SA) has the most industrialised economy in Africa. 

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LARGEST PRESENCE OF MULTINATIONALS 

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SA is the location of choice of multinationals in Africa. 

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SA has a sophisticated banking sector with a major 

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The African Continental Free Trade Area will boost 

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SA has a progressive Constitution and an independent judiciary. The 

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SA is endowed with an abundance of natural resources. It is the leading producer 

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A massive governmental investment programme in infrastructure development 

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EXCELLENT QUALITY 

OF LIFE 

Page | 2 

19 

SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2020


achieved efficiencies which helped it to increase production by 3% for 

the three months to the end of March 2021, compared to the same 

period in 2020. The total produced was 103 000 tons. 

Platinum group metals (PGM) miner Sibanye Stillwater will spend 

a further R3.9-billion on an expansion project at its Marikana mine, after 

previous owners Lonmin spent more than R4-billion on it. The aim is to be 

producing 250 000oz per year of platinum, gold, palladium and rhodium 

in 2028. 

It is not only PGMs that are sparking interest in expanded 

operations. Harmony Gold is at an advanced stage of a feasibility study 

to determine the viability of expanding the Kalgold open-pit operation 

(Windmill zone). Kalgold is an open-pit gold mine situated on the 

Kraaipan Greenstone Belt, 55km south-west of Mahikeng. In 2020, 1 

153kg of gold was produced, against 1 249kg in the previous year. 

Small business support 

Pilanesberg Platinum Mines created Community Crusher as a nonprofit 

enterprise but with 14 employees and a steady set of orders for 

building projects run by the company, the small business is starting to 

show signs of becoming a bigger business. 

Many mines run similar programmes, sourcing goods and 

services from local community-based companies and sometimes 

providing mentoring and advice on how to improve as businesses. 

Implats has a programme of procurement in which it supports 

local business and black-owned businesses through enterprise and 

supplier development programmes. 

The Provincial Government of the North West is in talks with several 

mining companies in the Matlosana Local Municipality area (which 

includes Klerksdorp and Orkney) as some mines are being closed 

down. One of the initiatives to extract more value from mining is the 

proposed Platinum Valley Special Economic Zone. Creating a base 

for companies to supply the mining industry is one of the key drivers 

behind the scheme. 

The SEZ is intended for Mogwase in the Bojanala District, north of 

Rustenburg and east of Sun City. When fully developed, 200ha of land 

will be taken up by three infrastructure facilities comprising Logistics, 

Light Manufacturing and Heavy Manufacturing. 

The Seda Platinum Incubator (SPI) is an initiative of the 

Platinum Trust of South Africa and is funded by the Small Enterprise 

Development Agency (Seda) through its Seda Technology Programme 

(Stp) with the support of the North West Provincial Government and 

private companies. 

Mineral resources 

The North West Province is aligned with the Western Limb of the 

Bushveld Igneous Complex, a remarkably rich minerals formation. 

Mines in the province produce 50% of the platinum produced in the 

world, and 65% of South Africa’s PGMs. 

Laboratory testing being done at 

Pilanesberg Platinum Mines. Credit: PPM 

Chromite is the other major 

mineral mined throughout the 

province, and there are several 

ferrochrome smelters and other 

processing plants. South Africa 

produces about 70% of the 

world’s chrome. 

Gold and uranium are found 

along the border of the province 

with Gauteng and the Free State 

(in Klerksdorp and Orkney). 

Diamonds are mined at Christiana, 

Bloemhof and Lichtenburg. 

Other minerals include 

fluorspar, vanadium, rhodium, 

uranium, copper, limestone, 

slate, phosphate, manganese, 

coal and nickel. Limestone 

quarries run by G&W Base and 

Industrial Minerals in the Marico 

District are located next to a PPC 

cement factory. 

One of the last economically 

viable limestone deposits in 

South Africa is mined and 

processed by Sephaku Cement. 

Sephaku runs a 6 000-ton-per-day 

clinker plant near Lichtenburg. 

AfriSam, PPC and Lafarge 

are active in the Mahikeng/ 

Lichtenburg area, but Sephaku 

is confident that its clinker and 

cement-production facilities will 

be supported by raw materials 

for at least 30 years. AfriSam 

has taken measures to reduce 

carbon emissions at its Dudfield 

cement plant. ■ 


20



South African economy at a glance 

Insight into the South African ecomomy. 


ZIMBABWE 

NAMIBIA 

BOTSWANA 

Limpopo 

7% 

MOZAMBIQUE 

North West 

6% 

Gauteng 

Mpumalanga 

35% 

7% 

SWAZI- 

LAND 


2% 

Free State 

5% 

LESOTHO 

KwaZulu- 

Natal 

16% 

Western Cape 

14% 

Eastern Cape 

8% 

Percentage contribution of each province to national GDP. 

SOURCE: STATS SA WWW.STATSSA.GOV.ZA 

Credit: Impala Platinum 

secured tens of thousands of new seats on direct 

Trends Table: South African mining production 

flights to and from the city). 

• Companies are successfully trading into Africa. 

Good Increased signs for the economy by 116.5% include: year-on-year • Niche in agricultural April markets 2021. are booming with 

• Several provincial governments and investment macadamia nuts being the most successful. 

agencies are establishing trade relations and Pecan nuts have done well and wine and grape 

study Largest programmes contributors with BRICS countries. State % increase exports to China % contribution 

are growing. 

visits to and from China immediately before and • Private education at school and tertiary level is 

after a major BRICS summit in 2018 gave an indication 

that Ramaphosa holds high hopes for • New banking licences have been issued and 

growing as a sector. 

Platinum Group Metals 276.1% 39.2% 

increased trade with the biggest of the BRICS several more are in the pipeline. 

nations. Two-way trade between the countries in • New stock exchanges came on line in 2017 and 

2017 was worth $39.1-billion. South Africa wants more are expected. 

to Gold grow tourist numbers from China. South Africa 177.9% • Investment 16.6% in infrastructure (especially ICT and 

became the first country in the world to export railways) is strong. Nedbank’s report on capital 

beef to China in 2017, to go with existing exports expenditure in South Africa stated that the 

of 

Manganese 

iron ore, platinum 

ore 

and fruit and wine. 

208.2% 

29 large projects 

14.2% 

announced in the first half 

• Tourists are visiting South Africa in record numbers 

(Cape Town’s Air Access programme has Mail). The renewable energy 

of 2018 were valued at R63.9-billion (Financial 

programme 

Iron ore 149.1% 13.3% 

Source: StatsSA.com 

17 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2019 

Source: world exports.com 

Table: South African mineral sales 

Mineral sales increased by 152.7% 

year-on-year in April 2021. 

Largest contributors % increase % contribution 

PGMs 465.9% 103 

Iron ore 115.6% 19.5 

Gold 40.9% 6.5 

Source: StatsSA.com 

Source: world exports.com

ADVERTORIAL 

Money experts serving the 

North West business community 

additional support that is most needed in times 

of change and uncertainty.’ 

‘ 

We know that success in business is 

about partnerships, so we put the 

building of deep, lasting, 

value-adding relationships at the 

centre of everything we do. 

‘ 

Nedbank knows that navigating your business 

through a challenging economic landscape is 

hard enough, and that taking care of your daily 

business-banking needs shouldn't add to that 

load. 'With this in mind, we’ve designed the 

Nedbank Business Hub with convenience, 

security and control in mind. The Nedbank 

Business Hub boasts 130 different services and 

enables you to bank and transact, get finance, 

invest and insure – it's hassle-free banking at 

your fingertips,’ says Swanepoel. 

Johann Swanepoel, Regional Manager for 

Business Banking, says that a deep commitment 

to partnership is what governs the team's 

personal and professional values. 

‘Our bigger-picture banking approach enables 

us to not only offer solutions that our clients 

need, but also a holistic view of how our 

products are connected to create a framework 

that yields maximum impact across every facet 

of their businesses and beyond,’ he says. ‘We 

know that success in business is about 

partnerships, so we put the building of deep, 

lasting, value-adding relationships at the centre 

of everything we do. This means your goals are 

our goals, your vision is our vision, and your 

success is our success – while you rely on our 

‘Ultimately, our philosophy is to partner with our 

clients to grow their businesses, so we’re always 

finding ways to support them in this quest. Our 

aim is to use our financial expertise to do good 

to help build a strong, resilient economy for the 

betterment of all,’ he says. 

To take your business to the next level or for 

more information about Nedbank’s specialised 

service offering, please email Johann Swanepoel 

at JohannEu@nedbank.co.za or visit 

www.nedbank.co.za/business. 


see money differently 

22 

Nedbank Ltd Reg No 1951/000009/06. Authorised financial services 

and registered credit provider (NCRCP16).

ADVERTORIAL 

Nedbank Business Banking 

helps the public sector 


‘ 

We understand that the various 

spheres of government and their 

agencies face unique challenges... 

‘ 

But the bank's role goes beyond offering 

banking solutions to these vital entities. As 

money experts who do good, Nedbank strives to 

empower the people behind the public sector by 

saving them time, money and helping them 

manage their money better. 

'We help them save time by offering on-site 

help from dedicated teams and through our 

market-leading Nedbank Money app and other 

digital solutions. We also help them save money 

through our preferential banking solutions and 

our award-winning Financial Fitness and 

Consumer Education Programme. The latter 

helps them manage their money better by 

providing budgeting and money management 

training, equipping their employees to deal with 

everyday money management challenges,' says 

Seleho. 

Nedbank is committed to delivering easy and 

innovative banking solutions to government, 

municipalities, state-owned enterprises and 

academic institutions, including TVET colleges 

and universities, throughout South Africa. 

Monei Seleho, Nedbank's Provincial Manager for 

the Public Sector in the North West, says that 

given the strategic importance of the public 

sector to the economy and the country at large, 

Nedbank has a dedicated team to offer financial 

solutions that enable the broader mandate of 

service delivery. ‘We understand that the 

various spheres of government and their 

agencies face unique challenges. They are ready 

and able to draw on the bank’s innovative, 

seamless and hassle-free products to help build 

a greater nation.’ 

To find out more about how Nedbank can 

partner with your organisation to grow a 

greater South Africa, please email Monei Seleho 

on MoneiS@Nedbank.co.za or visit 

www.nedbank.co.za/business. 


23 NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2021/22 



ADVERTORIAL 

Nedbank offers specialist 

support for a post-Covid-19 

world 

informational access while not compromising on 

security. For example, with the award-winning 

Nedbank Money app, clients can manage 

accounts and investments, make payments and 

set savings goals and budgets, all from their 

smartphones. They can also make instant 

payments to anyone on their contact list, even if 

the recipient isn’t a Nedbank client,’ he says. 

‘ 

This is all while staying true to 

Nedbank's brand promise to use its 

financial expertise to do good for 

individuals, families, businesses and 

the communities in which it operates. 

One of the solutions the bank has added to its 

portfolio, specifically with Covid-19 safety in 

mind, is appointment banking. ‘For your 

convenience and to limit the time you spend in 

public spaces, you can now make an appointment 

with a dedicated relationship banker 

directly via the Money app or Online Banking. 

Just choose the date, time and branch that suits 

you,’ says Makinita. 

‘ 

Daniel Makinita, Regional Manager for Retail 

Business Banking in the North West, says that as 

South Africa progresses through the various 

stages of Covid-19, Nedbank is working through 

recovery scenarios with existing and 

prospective clients. This is all while staying true 

to Nedbank's brand promise to use its financial 

expertise to do good for individuals, families, 

businesses and the communities in which it 

operates. 

To find out more about banking from the 

comfort of your home or for more information 

about Nedbank’s specialised service offering, 

please email Daniel Makinita at 

DanielMak@Nedbank.co.za or visit 

www.nedbank.co.za. 

‘Throughout the pandemic, we have elevated 

our client engagement and extended 

tailor-made relief to many of our clients, 

equipping and enabling them to benefit from 

various digital and remote solutions. This 

ensures uninterrupted transactional and 



24 



ADVERTORIAL 

Small-business solutions aimed 

at creating jobs and growing 

the economy 

Nedbank’s Regional Manager of Retail 

Relationship Banking in the North West, 

Pieter Naudé, explains how brand values built on 

the bank’s expertise can benefit Nedbank 

clients, especially during what is now considered 

‘the new normal’. 

Naudé says that for small-business clients, 

Nedbank continues to deliver end-to-end 

solutions through a dedicated business 

manager. ‘Our bigger-picture business 

approach enables us to have a holistic view of 

each business by understanding the vision, 

cashflow cycle, and transactional and capital 

expenditure needs. This way, we become trusted 

advisors to business owners who strive to grow 

their businesses.’ 

Small businesses often lack formalisation, as 

seen in many not qualifying for Covid-19 

assistance because of outdated records and not 

meeting regulatory requirements. Naudé says 

that Nedbank’s experts are available to offer all 

the support small businesses need, which goes 

beyond affordable banking solutions. ‘We offer 

value-added services to get and keep your 

business going, like our free-to-join networking 

portal, SimplyBiz.co.za, The Essential Guide for 

Small-business Owners, business registration 

services and free small-business seminars.’ 

‘ 

Our bigger-picture business 

approach enables us to have a 

holistic view of each business by 

understanding the vision, cashflow 

cycle, and transactional and capital 

expenditure needs. 

Naudé adds that Nedbank’s Professional 

Banking solution is built on five pillars. ‘We 

provide our professional clients with banking at 

their fingertips; benefits that matter; expert 

savings and investment advice; and a unique 

household banking approach that allows them 

and their families to finance their dreams and 

growth. 

‘With dedicated relationship bankers, tailored 

financing options and 24/7 service, the banking 

experience we offer is seamless, enables our 

clients’ financial aspirations and is flexible to 

grow as your needs grow,’ says Naudé. 

If you want to tap into our small-business or 

professional banking expertise to reach your 

business goals, please email Pieter Naudé at 

PieterN@Nedbank.co.za or visit 

www.nedbank.co.za. 

‘ 


25 NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2021/22 



KEY SECTORS 

Overviews of the main economic 

sectors of North West 

Mining 18 

Agriculture 28 

Water 32 

Manufacturing 36 

Energy 37 

Tourism 38 

Education and training 40 

Banking and financial services 42 

Development finance and SMME support 46 

The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) opened the R512 Pampoennek road 

in 2020, improving the interprovincial link between Brits in the North West and Randburg 

in Gauteng. Credit: SANRAL

OVERVIEW 

Agriculture and 

agro-processing 

Training in agriculture is in the spotlight. 

With more agricultural subjects being offered in 

schools and more spaces being created for students 

of agriculture, it comes as no surprise to learn that a 

large new agricultural farm school at is to be built at 

Rysmierbult, near Ventersdorp. 

The idea behind the institution (a “mega farm school”) is that it 

will provide support to smaller farm schools and not only raise the 

numbers of young people educated in agriculture, but also raise the 

quality of tuition. Existing infrastructure is also receiving attention, by 

way of the construction of a 6km access road being built to serve the 

Kgora Farmer Training Centre in Mahikeng. 

Although cattle and maize crops feature strongly in any 

discussion of North West agriculture, a black-owned company has 

succeeded on the back of hard work in the citrus market. Batlhako 

Temo Services, a former co-operative which started life cultivating 

sunflowers, is now a Brits-based company exporting to the Middle 

East and Taiwan. Over the years, the group of farmers has received 

support from the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and 

Land Reform and from the Small Enterprise Development Agency 

(Seda) which has enabled them to invest in equipment and expand 

their workforce. 

Another provincial government initiative will see 12 000ha of 

fallow land that around the Springbokpan grain silos infrastructure 

in Ditsobotla revived for the cultivation of grain. 

For those who know the North West as a water-scarce region, it 

may be surprising to learn that a priority in 2021 has been the repair 


More than 20% of South 

Africa’s maize crop is produced 

in the North West. 

of earthen dams and fences 

damaged by flooding. 

As part of a drive to help more 

farmers get connected to the 

more profitable end of the value 

chain, a beef beneficiation project 

is under consideration. To be 

located in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi 

Mompati District, a feasibility 

study is investigating whether 

a public-private partnership for 

constructing abattoirs and other 

relevant infrastructure would work. 

Various agro-processing 

plants are under consideration 

for the city of Mahikeng: a 

feedlot and a meat-processing 

plant, including an abattoir and 

packaging facilities. In Taung the 

plan is to establish an animal 


28

OVERVIEW 

feed-manufacturing plant. A 10ha vineyard in Ventersdorp is to be 

expanded to 40ha and a black-owned logistics co-operative has 

been signed to distribute products from the farm. 

Regional variety 

The dry western region of the province is home to large beef-cattle 

herds, and this is where the growing game-ranching and hunting 

industry has its base. The eastern and north-eastern parts of the 

province receive relatively good rainfall and are suitable for the 

cultivation of crops. 

The North West has approximately 1.6-million beef cattle, 

representing 12% of South Africa’s herd. Major breeds include 

Simmental, Brahman, Bonsmara and Simbra, a cross between the 

Brahman and Simmental breeds. Kalahari Red and Boerbok goats 

are found in large numbers in the dry west. The number of goats for 

the province is estimated at 701 587 which is 12% of South Africa’s 

total. There are estimated to be 318 843 pigs, which is 20% of South 

Africa’s total drove. 

Nearly two-million hectares is planted with summer cereals, 

with about 50 000ha given over to winter cereals. The North West 

produces about 20% of South Africa’s maize and about 15% of 

its wheat. The central and southern sections of the province are 

dominated by maize and wheat farming. When it comes to sunflower 

seed, North West is responsible for 33% of South Africa’s stock, and 

23% of the nation’s groundnuts. The North West supplies 5.4% of 

South Africa’s potatoes, but parts of the Kalahari are ideally suited to 

the cultivation of seed potatoes. 

The North West is sometimes called “The Texas of South Africa” 

because of its superb cattle herds but the province also produces 

good crops of onions and other vegetables. Proximity to the large 

urban concentrations of Pretoria and Johannesburg are advantages 

for the horticulture subsector. 

Companies 

Senwes has a strong grain division and it controls 68 silos. Its 

headquarters are in Klerksdorp and in 2019 it increased its stake 

in KLK so that it now controls 57.44% of the company most 

strongly associated with the 

Northern Cape. 

Suidwes is based south of 

Klerksdorp in Leeudoringstad. 

More than 90% of the shares in 

the company are held by farmers. 

Grain handling is the main 

business and there are divisions for 

retail (17 outlets and one animalfeed 

depot), mechanisation, 

finance and research and 

agricultural economics (Terratek). 

Brits is the location of the 

headquarters of the MGK 

Group. The company runs five 

divisions and a plant that makes 

full fat soy, a component in 

animal feed. NWK is another 

company with manufacturing 

capacity. The Lichtenburgbased 

enterprise makes liquid 

fertiliser (up to 10 tons per 

month), animal feed (Opti 

Feeds), processes sunflower 

seeds (Epko), and runs three 

grain mills. Another subsidiary, 

Opti Chicks, has a capacity of 

600 000 chicks per week. 

NWK also deals in grain, runs 

several retail outlets and has 

a half-share (with Senwes) in 

CertiSure Brokers. The company 

has 37 silos with a capacity of 

2.5-million tons. 

AgriNW is the mouthpiece 

of its affiliated farmers and 

keeps an eye on policy and 

laws affecting the sector. It also 

acts as a supportive network 

to help its members achieve 

optimal results. ■ 

ONLINE RESOURCES 

Agri NW: www.agrinw.co.za 

Grain SA: www.grainsa.co.za 

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

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


The future of smart 

farming in South Africa 

Standard Bank is finding innovative ways of funding agriculture. 

Technology has completely transformed 

agriculture. These days, farmers are integrating 

everything from drones and satellite sensing 

to genetic modification and Artificial 

Intelligence to reduce costs and enhance yield. 

In the South African context, a dualistic agricultural 

economy exists with highly developed commercial 

players on the one side and those that practise farming 

for subsistence on the other. 

Technology has already been successfully applied 

in the commercial sector. The implementation of 

smart-farming technologies has helped farmers and 

growers to achieve the highest potential. Take South 

African maize production. Back in the 1970s, the 

country was producing an average of two tons of 

maize per hectare. Fast forward to today and South 

Africa produces more than four tons per hectare. 

South African farmers now apply everything from 

regenerative agriculture, which relates to the use 

of smart technologies to improve efficiency, right 

through to gene technology. Genetically-modified 

maize now makes up about 80% to 90% of the total. 

Meanwhile, GPS technology is making an impact in 

livestock farming by making it possible to identify, 

track and trace an animal through the value chain. 

Standard Bank recently financed a citrus producer 

that is now using robotics in its packhouse. There 

are also technologies being applied to make sure 

the quality and quantity of what is to be produced 

for a specific market is at the correct standards. 

Climate-monitoring technology is also being used 

to ensure that produce for export markets meets 

the relevant standards. 

The application of technology across South 

Africa’s agriculture sector is at significant levels. 

The challenge is to extract the data and integrate 

it into other areas of the economy such as 

financial services. 

Technology and data in finance 

Standard Bank is currently assessing the extent 

to which we can better track and trace the 

development of a crop. If treatment needs to be 

given, we then know about it and can finance it. 

Affordability is a barrier for emerging farmers, but 

the cost factor could be addressed with greater 

collaboration. The bank could find value in data 

generated out of satellite technology. The same 

would be the case for an insurance provider or a 

pesticides provider. Joining forces can make those 

technologies more affordable. 

Standard Bank is currently enabling financing for 

appropriate farming technologies while working 

with its enterprise development unit to make 

specialists available to small-scale farmers to prepare 

farmers for a digital future. ■ 

Image by Jan Kopřiva on Unsplash

OVERVIEW 

Water 

A cross-provincial irrigation scheme is a national priority. 


A Provincial Water Master 

Plan is delivering projects. 

Lush fields made possible by the huge Vaalharts-Taung Irrigation 

Scheme. Credit: Aurecon 

The revitalisation of the Vaalharts-Taung Water Irrigation 

Scheme will double the land available to emerging farmers, 

create more than 10 000 jobs during its implementation, 

resolve water shortages in local municipalities and provide 

certainty for producers of fresh produce. 

The project was gazetted as one of the Strategic Integrated 

Projects (SIPs) in July 2020 and falls under the Presidential 

Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC). The existing 

Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme is one of the largest irrigation schemes 

in the world, covering 39 000ha under irrigation, and extending it to 

Taung in the North West will give it even greater reach. The scheme 

currently has 1 000km of concrete-lined canals and more than 300km 

of concrete drainage. 

The Vaalharts Water User Association is headquartered in Jan 

Kempdorp, a town in the Northern Cape right on the border of the 

North West and at the centre of the scheme’s area of operations. 

Infrastructure development company Bigen Group is engaged 

in the irrigation scheme upgrade and is also involved in treating and 

recycling water for mining companies in the province. At the Bafokeng 

Masimone mine local effluent resources are converted to a product 

which is suitable for a variety of mine-water applications. 

Municipalities 

Large infrastructure has been the focus of national and provincial 

initiatives in recent years. Municipalities are charged with delivering 

water and handling wastewater 

but many municipalities have 

not been equal to the task. 

Magalies Water is the Water 

Services Authority (WSA) serving 

two of the local municipalities 

in the Bojanala Platinum District 

Municipality, Moses Kotane and 

Rustenburg. It also supplies water 

to five mines in the province 

and is active in the provinces of 

Gauteng and Limpopo. 

When a crisis situation 

emerged in the neighbouring 

municipality of Madibeng 

(which includes the large 

manufacturing town of Brits), the 

National Minister of Water and 

Sanitation called on Magalies 

Water to tackle the problems. 

The Brits Water Treatment Plant 

was fixed and boreholes were 

dug to service rural areas. 

A new body has been 

formed to help municipalities 

deliver services. The Municipal 

Infrastructure Support 

Agency (MISA) falls under 

the National Department of 

Cooperative Governance and 

Traditional Affairs and will assist 

municipalities to plan for, provide 

and maintain infrastructure. 

The first action of MISA was to 

commission 81 engineers and 

town planners. 

Municipalities in the North 

West have been instructed 


32

OVERVIEW 

to submit specific plans to feed in to the Provincial Water Master 

Plan in an effort to get an overview of the sewerage and sanitation 

problems facing communities. Several projects have recently been 

completed. These include Dinokana Water Augmentation project, 

the Ganalaagte Boreholes and Sewer Pump Station Refurbishment 

project, the Naledi Water Augmentation Phase 1 and 2 projects and 

the Tshing Cent Fall Sewer Line project. Various wastewater treatment 

plants have been refurbished and the last phase of the Taung/Naledi 

Bulk Water Supply project was tackled in the second half of 2021. This 

will improve water supply to 55 villages in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi 

Mompati District Municipality. 

Progress has been made towards supplying water to the 79 

schools in the province which were identified as having inadequate 

water facilities. This includes the drilling of boreholes and construction 

of storage tanks. All new schools built in the North West are supplied 

with kitchens in line with the National Schools Nutrition Programme. 

The province has 83 sewage-treatment plants, and the national 

Blue Drop award system has found most of them need improvement. 

JB Marks Local Municipality, which has Potchefstroom as its main 

town, is one of only three municipalities in the country that acts as a 

water-service authority and as a service provider. It has won awards 

for its levels of service. The biggest service providers active in the 

North West are: 

• Rand Water. 

• Magalies Water. 

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

Botshelo Water). 

• Midvaal Water Company, which supplies water to Matlosana 

(Klerksdorp). 

South Africa is a waterscarce 

country and water 

management is critical to 

economic planning. The 

western part of North West 

Province is particularly dry. 

In the eastern part of the 

province, national government 

has sent water tanks to some 

parts, and has upgraded the 

treatment plants upstream 

from the Hartbeespoort Dam. 

Three of South Africa’s six 

major catchment areas are 

located in the province: the 

Limpopo, the Orange and the 

Vaal. Within these catchment 

areas, only the Vaal River has 

a strong-enough flow to 

allow for significant amounts 

of water to be taken from it 

directly to support irrigation or 

industry. There are four watermanagement 

areas in the 

province, three of which are 

linked to the Vaal River. Water 

is imported into the provincial 

system through transfers 

between water basins. ■ 

Credit: Unsplash 


Blue Drop Awards: www.ewisa.co.za 

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

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

Vaalharts Water Users Association: www.vaalhartswua.com 

Water Research Commission: www.wrc.org.za 

33 


FOCUS 

Magalies Water responds to 

urgent water needs 

Infrastructure expansion projects will bring relief to 

Rustenburg and the Royal Bafokeng Administration. 

Magalies Water Chief Executive, Sandile Mkhize 

Magalies Water, which is one of South 

Africa’s nine water boards, has 

proved to be a worthy contributor 

in the water sector. The water 

utility, which services local municipalities in 

the North West, Limpopo and Gauteng, also 

supplies bulkwater to mining operations within 

its area of service as well as other industries. 

The Rustenburg-based state-owned entity has 

over the last few years made an intentional and 

targeted effort to address the bulkwater supply 

challenges plaguing Rustenburg, the hub of 

industry in the North West. 

Even though the local economy of Rustenburg 

has faced many challenges, mainly due to the 

protracted mining sector industrial actions the 

demand for bulkwater in Rustenburg and the 

surrounding areas has been on a steady rise. 

Mining, which is the economic backbone of 

the town, also relies on the availability of water for 

operations which run on a 24-hour cycle. Allied to 

this is the region’s expanding population growth 

which increases through rural-to-urban migration 

as people come to Rustenburg in search for 

economic opportunities. 

Small-to-medium scale farming and industries 

have also been identified as some of the major 

activities that influence migration of people to 

Rustenburg. This movement of people has a direct 

bearing on the municipality’s ability to provide 

clean drinking water to all communities. 

All of this contributes to making Rustenburg 

the economic hub of the province. The Rustenburg 

Local Municipality’s Integrated Development Plan 

(IDP) reflects an urgent need for intervention on 

water augmentation. 

Rolling out Phase 2 

Magalies Water Chief Executive, Sandile 

Psychology Mkhize, says that Phase 2 of the 

Pilanesberg South Bulkwater Supply project will 

bring relief to Rustenburg and the Royal Bafokeng 

Administration (RBA). Phase 1 of the Pilanesberg 

project was completed in 2016. 

He continued, “The proposed bulkwater 

scheme is also in line with Magalies Water’s 

regional bulkwater master planning and the Royal 

Bafokeng Nation’s Water Services Development 

Plan. As part of its Bulk Infrastructure Capital 

Expenditure Programme, Magalies Water has 

identified numerous extensions to the existing 


34

FOCUS 

Bulkwater Supply Schemes from the Vaalkop 

Water Treatment Works. This Pilanesburg Bulkwater 

Supply System (PBWSS) project is anticipated to be 

completed in early 2023,” Mkhize remarked. 

He also provided technical details on how the 

second phase will be rolled out. “Phase 2 of the 

PBWSS, which will cost about R900-million, will 

be approached in three stages that will be funded 

through multi-year funding by the Regional 

Infrastructure Grant of the Department of Water 

and Sanitation and the capital funding allocation 

of Magalies Water.” 

Packages involve the following: 

Stage 1: Construction of Tlhabane Reservoir. This 

will involve earthworks where large excavation 

will be done, concrete structures, pipe-work 

comprising large-diameter steel/uPVC and 

stainless-steel pipes and large-bore valves in 

variable sizes. 

Stage 2: Construction of Mafenya to Tlhabane 

bulkwater pipeline, mainly of steel/uPVC to 

withstand high pressures in the system. 

Stage 3: Construction of the pumping station 

next to the existing Mafenya reservoir to pump 

water all the way to the Tlhabane reservoir with a 

combination of gravity feed. 

Some 55km east of the Vaalkop Dam, which 

is home to the 270 megalitres-per-day (ML/d) 

Magalies Water Treatment Works, another project 

is at concept stage. This project, once completed, 

is intended to increase the bulk capacity of water 

to the communities of Bethanie and Modikwe 

through an upgrade of the Kortbegrip pipeline. 

Early financial expenditure projections are 

estimated to the tune of R88-million and will make 

use of the Modikwe reservoir in achieving the 

increased water supply to the region. 

CONTANCT DETAILS 

Address: 38 Heystek St, Rustenburg 0300 

Tel: +27 14 597 4636 

Email: info@magalieswater.co.za 

customerservices@magalieswater.co.za 

Customer Care Line: 0860 000 720 

Whatsapp: 060 966 7994 

Website: www.magalieswater.co.za 

Vaalkop water treatment works 

The project will be co-funded with the 

participation of Magalies Water and Rustenburg 

Local Municipality as well as Rhoven Glencore 

Mine through its social labour plan (SLP) as part 

of the licence conditions where mining companies 

are to implement social impact projects within 

their host communities. 

Currently four villages (Bethanie, Modikwe, 

Berseba and Makolokwe) are experiencing water 

challenges with their source of water coming 

from boreholes and bulkwater supplied from 

the Vaalkop Water Treatment Works through 

the Kortbegrip pipeline to Modikwe reservoir. 

While the project is still at its infancy stages, 

small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) 

from the locality stand to benefit by way of skills 

transfer through subcontracting opportunities. 

This will help to achieve local economic 

development objectives. 

While the economy of Rustenburg and 

the surrounding areas seems to be reviving, 

Magalies Water remains steadfast in fulfilling its 

important constitutional mandate, which seeks to 

ensure that within its area of operation, through 

existing relationships with local municipalities, 

communities have access to clean drinking water 

compliant to the SANS 241:2015 drinking water 

standard. Local Municipality for the leasing of a 

water-tank truck. ■ 


OVERVIEW 

Manufacturing 

An Integrated Manufacturing Strategy aims to stimulate the sector. 


North-West University 

now offers mechatronic 

engineering. 

Credit: Bosch 

A 

provincial Integrated Manufacturing Strategy has 

been compiled. The strategy notes the North West’s 

strategic location near to the industrial hub of 

Gauteng and its low input costs and easy access to 

busy trade routes. 

Chemical processing would be a good proposition for investors. The 

province also has easy access to natural resources, especially with regard 

to the ingredients necessary for the manufacture of phosphate and 

nitrogen-based fertilisers. As one of the country’s biggest producers of 

livestock, hides for car seats for the province’s automotive industry could 

profitably be sourced locally. 

The Centre for Advanced Manufacturing (CFAM) at North-West 

University specialises in extruder technology and the recent introduction 

by NWU of a new qualification in mechatronic engineering will give 

graduates a head start in a wide range of enterprises. A mechatronic 

engineer is able to combine computer systems, electronics (such as 

sensors) and precision mechanical engineering. 

Bridgestone South Africa’s investment in new technology at its plant 

in Brits is allowing the company to produce 19-inch tyres for the BMW 

X3 being assembled in Pretoria. These tyres would otherwise have to 

be imported. Brits’ proximity to Tshwane’s Rosslyn automotive hub is a 

competitive advantage for the city. 

Bridgestone’s factory is one of only four in the world that produces 

runflat tyres. About 850 people are employed at the plant. Also in Brits are 

Bosch and Dubigeon Body and Coach. SOS Tie & Die is a manufacturer of 

precision pressings, components and press tools. 

AVMY Steel Science is the largest supplier of small-quantity steel 

in the SADC region. Chassis manufacturer KLT Group has acquired the 

Brits plant which comprises a pressing, welding, assembly and e-coating 


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

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

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

facility. The KLT Group has four 

plants in South Africa and 

employs more than 1 000 people. 

In addition to Brits 

(automotive components and 

tyres), other concentrations 

include mining equipment 

and engineering (Klerksdorp) 

and food and beverages 

(Potchefstroom). 

Rustenburg has a mixture of 

enterprises, the biggest of which 

are mining-related smelters. 

Production of non-metallic 

mineral products is concentrated 

around Lichtenburg and 

Mahikeng (cement), and 

Rustenburg (stone). Tough Metals 

Toys factory and Totpak are 

located in Ventersdorp. 

RCL Foods has a large 

processing plant at Rustenburg 

and Dairybelle (Bloemhof ) has 

cheese factories in the province. 

Clover’s decision in 2021 to leave 

Lichtenburg because of a lack of 

reliable services was a blow for 

employment opportunities in the 

Ditsobotla Local Municipality. 

About 30% of the country’s 

grain and oil-seed crop pass 

through Senwes silos every year. 

Sasko operates a white-maize mill 

in Klerksdorp. The SAB Rosslyn 

Brewery supplies the North West 

with most of its beer.. ■ 


36

Energy 

Solar plants are proliferating in the North West. 

OVERVIEW 


Pilanesberg Platinum Mines 

is installing energy-saving 

technology. 

When De Wildt Solar near Brits (pictured) started 

commercial operations in January 2021, it became, 

according to Engineering News, the “fourth 

utility-scale plant that has come on line in the 

North West in under five months”. The province was lagging 

somewhat in terms of projects undertaken in terms of the national 

private producers’ renewable energy programme, but 

now it’s making up for lost time. 

With 169 140 solar modules, the South African-owned plant delivers 

123 186MWh/year and will bring economic benefits to many residents 

and businesses of the Madibeng Local Municipality and beyond. A 

brickmaking co-operative was involved in the solar farm’s construction 

Pilanesberg Platinum Mines introduced its Kell processing plant 

in 2021, a technology that reduces electricity usage and eliminates 

sulphur dioxide emissions in smelting. With platinum group metals 

(PGMs) attracting good prices partly because of the role they can 

play in the hoped-for lower-carbon economy, cleaner and cheaper 

methods of extraction and processing offer even sunnier projections 

for the miners of PGMs. 

Most of South Africa’s energy requirements are met by Eskom’s 

coal-fired power stations but the drive to start producing renewable 

energy is growing, and researchers and companies in the North West 

are investigating several options. Big mining companies are among the 

biggest users of energy and many belong to the Energy Intensive Users 

Group of Southern Africa. 

Bioethanol, biodiesel and methane gas from waste and 

renewable resources are among the types of biofuels under 


Credit: De Wildt Solar 

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

South African Independent Power Producers Association: 

www.saippa.org.za 

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

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

discussion. Sunflower seeds 

and sweet sorghum are suitable 

for converting into biofuel and 

bioethanol. The South African 

Energy Resource Institute 

(Saneri) Chair in biofuel research 

is held by a professor on the 

Potchefstroom campus of North- 

West University (NWU). 

Silversands Energy is a North 

West company that produces 

ethanol fuel for an ethanolpowered 

bus made by Scania 

South Africa for the City of 

Johannesburg. 

South Africa’s nuclearresearch 

centre is located at 

Pelindaba near Hartbeespoort 

Dam and is run by the South 

African Nuclear Energy 

Corporation. The NWU Nuclear 

Engineering Department is the 

only one of its kind in the country, 

and the National Department 

of Science and Technology has 

allocated a chair in Nuclear 

Engineering to the university. 

One of the key focus areas 

for the planned Platinum 

Valley Special Economic Zone 

(PVSEZ) is the promotion of 

renewable energy. The PVSEZ 

is in the Mogwase industrial 

area in the Bojanala Platinum 

District Municipality and has 

already attracted the interest 

of several investors. ■ 

37 


OVERVIEW 

Tourism 

Biodiversity protection is expanding. 


A new licensing act aims to 

better regulate business activity. 

ULT.X BMX and Skate Championship 2021, Sun City 

An additional 24 000 hectares of land is to be conserved 

through a biodiversity stewardship programme 

that forms part of the North West Protected Areas 

Expansion Strategy and Implementation Plan. 

The North West Parks Board and the Provincial Government of 

North West aim to protect representative ecosystems in ways that 

make them resilient to climate change and create opportunities for 

local communities to make a sustainable living. Finding a balance 

between agricultural activities and tourism is not the only challenge 

in an area that also frequently experiences droughts. 

Although the reserve that lies just to the north of Sun City is known 

as Pilanesberg National Park, in fact it falls under the North West 

Parks Board and is one of many parks and reserves controlled by the 

province. Both Pilanesberg and Madikwe have gained international 

reputations for the diversity of flora and fauna they have to offer and 

the high standard of accommodation at private concessions within 

the boundaries of the parks. 

The malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park, located in the ecologically 

rich transition zone between the Kalahari and the Lowveld, 

has more than 7 000 animals, 360 bird species, and more than 200km 

of roads. 

The North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) is investing in 

the province’s 12 smaller parks with the intention of creating jobs. 

In partnership with the National Department of Tourism, work has 

begun on the Manyane Game Lodge in Mahikeng, with a budget 

allocation of R43-million. Another project envisages a mega-park in 

the north-western sector of the province, the Heritage Park. 

The impact of Covid-19 will be 

felt for many months to come, and 

the tourism sector of the North 

West Province will be affected by 

the restrictions on travel that were 

put in place in 2020. 

Provincial authorities are going 

ahead with infrastructure projects 

in the expectation that tourists 

will return in numbers. Among 

them are: 

• Bloemhof infrastructure project 

(R30-million). The second phase 

will be completed in the 2021/22 

financial year. 

• Vaalkop Dam (R15-million): plans 

approved. 

• Borakalalo Tented Camp (R15- 

million): plans approved. 

A saving grace for the province is the 

extremely wide range of activities 

that are offered to a high standard. 

This makes it more likely than one 

or more of these subsectors will be 

in a position to lead a recovery. Sun 

City (golf, conferencing and hotels) 

and several game lodges within 

game reserves are world famous. 

Birding, fishing, hunting and hotair 

ballooning are among other 

popular pursuits and Potchefstroom 

has outstanding sporting facilities. 

Australia and Spain won the cricket 

and soccer world cups from their 


38

OVERVIEW 

base in Potchefstroom and international athletes often visit the city 

for training camps. 

The Mahika-Mahikeng Cultural Festival continues to grow in 

popularity. Arts and culture development centres (Mmabana Centres) 

are found in three of the province’s districts. Twelve public museums 

have been identified together with 400 heritage sites as part of a 

census on the province’s cultural assets. 

The NWPTB is unique in South Africa in that it is the only provincial 

government entity that runs a hotel school. The Institute of Hotel and 

Tourism Management (IHTM) has two campuses, one in Mahikeng and 

one at Ga-Rankuwa outside Pretoria. 

In addition to the provincial tourism authority, there are regional 

tourism organisations which market special attractions: 

• Harties Tourism Association 

• Matlosana Tourism Association 

• Mooinooi: Buffelspoort Valley 

• N12 Treasure Route Association 

• Potch Tourism Association 

• Vredefort Dome Tourism Association. 

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

africanus. The Vredefort Dome is a UNESCO World Heritage Site 

for its significance as the landing site of a meteorite many millions 

of years ago. 

The North West Business Licensing Act No. 3 of 2019 has been passed 

by the provincial legislature to ensure that business is conducted 

ethically and in a way that promotes opportunities for historically 

disadvantaged people to fully participate in business. 

The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the North 

West University offers Tourism Management and the professors and 

researchers are at the top of their profession. 

Hotels and conferences 

Sun City has a range of venues available for hire ranging from a 

12-seater Council Room to the Superbowl which can accommodate 

6 000, and just about everything in between. With six kinds of 

accommodation, two outstanding golf courses, casinos and a choicefilled 

entertainment complex, the Sun City Resort is a major tourism 


Marico Tourism: www.marico.co.za 


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

Tourism North West: www.tourismnorthwest.co.za 

Pilanesberg National Park, 

Credit: Tourism North West 

asset and significant employer in 

the province. 

Sun City is far from being 

the province’s only conference 

venue. Tourism North West lists 

on its website a range of venues 

from small guesthouses with 

conference facilities in towns 

such as Rustenburg and Brits 

to lodges on the banks of the 

Hartbeespoort Dam. 

In the provincial capital, 

Mahikeng, there are several 

options: among them are the 

Mmabatho Palms Hotel Casino 

Convention Resort, part of the 

Peermont group, which has hotels 

and casinos in six of South Africa’s 

provinces. Mmabatho Palms offers 

eight gaming tables and slot 

machines. Gaming is controlled 

in South Africa and licences are 

restricted to certain operators. 

Mahikeng is also home 

to the Protea Hotel and the 

Mmabatho Convention Centre 

(the main auditorium can seat 

3 000 people). The Hotel School 

can accommodate up to 200 

people. Most of the luxury 

lodges in the province can 

accommodate conferences, 

albeit on a smaller scale. ■ 


OVERVIEW 

Education and training 

A new vocational stream is being introduced at schools. 


A Covid-19 vaccine candidate is 

being tested at NWU. 

Open Day at the Jouberton Campus of Vuselela TVET College. 

North-West University (NWU) is working together with 

Walter Sisulu University (WSU) on a new Covid-19 

vaccine candidate. The results of preclinical trials in 

June 2021 were described as “very promising”. 

Prof Markus Depfenhart, who holds extraordinary appointments 

as a professor at both universities, developed the vaccine candidate, 

the trials for which are being run at the Pre-Clinical Drug Development 

Platform at the NWU. 

NWU has ambitious aims with regard to accommodating students 

in residence: 50% of contact students and 75% of first-year students 

is the goal. There are 38 NWU-owned residences on three campuses 

and one off-campus residence in Vanderbijlpark. There is also some 

rented accommodation which amounts to more than 10 000 beds 

managed by the university. 

The CHE has announced that the NWU Bachelor of Laws (LLB) 

programme has received full accreditation. 

A new qualification, Mechatronic Engineering, has been added 

to the courses offered by the Faculty of Engineering. The Bachelor 

of Mechatronic Engineering programme has been approved by 

the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), enabling graduates 

to compete internationally. The faculty now offers eight specialities, 

including industrial and electromechanical and chemical engineering 

(minerals processing). Partnerships include Sasol, Eskom, Denel 

Aviation, Telkom and Sappi. 

The Faculty of Engineering is a leading department in terms of 

innovations and plays a role, together with the NWU Technology 

Transfer and Innovation Support Office, in commercialising ideas 

by creating companies. 

The university and its 

researchers are leaders in many 

fields, including astrophysics, 

tourism, solar energy and extruder 

technology. 

Among the research entities 

at NWU, there are five chairs 

allocated by the South African 

Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI): 

Astrophysics and Space Physics, 

Coal Research, Biofuels and other 

clean alternative fuels, Nuclear 

Engineering and Early Detection 

and Prevention of Cardiovascular 

Disease in Africa. 

The University of South Africa 

(Unisa) has three branches in North 

West, at Rustenburg, Potchefstroom 

and Mmabatho. 

Training and skills 

A new, third, stream is being piloted 

at 11 schools across the province. In 

addition to the existing technical 

and academic streams, vocational 

will be offered. The new option 

includes 13 new subjects and is 

intended to widen the options 

available to young people. 

As part of this initiative, 

three schools will increase their 

enrolment of pupils wanting to 

study agricultural subjects. Fifteen 


40

FOCUS 

Education and skills training 

are making an impact 

Impala Rustenburg’s local economic development 

strategy boosts employment potential. 

Impala Rustenburg is committed to 

delivering a lasting positive contribution to 

local communities and those affected by its 

activities. Its local economic development 

(LED) strategy focuses on collaborating with 

government, the Royal Bafokeng and other 

mining companies to identify and implement 

high employment generating projects 

through public-private partnerships. 

Since 2018, Impala Rustenburg and the 

Royal Bafokeng Nation (RBN) have collaborated 

in developing a strategy and project plan to 

identify projects that will support job creation 

and create sustainable livelihoods beyond 

mining. This strategic initiative actively pursues 

partnerships with key players in sectors 

that have the highest potential of creating 

employment opportunities for youth living in 

the region of Impala Rustenburg’s operations. 

To support this thrust, Implats’ comprehensive 

education and skills development programmes 

span the entire education value chain, from early 

childhood development through to higher levels 

of schooling and continuous skills development. 

In promoting quality schooling, Impala 

Rustenburg supports 33 schools – 21 primary and 

12 high schools – in the Bojanala Platinum District 

Municipality. To mitigate the impact of months of 

schooling missed due Covid-19 lockdowns, the 

operation provided academic support to more 

than 2 000 matric learners, who received catchup 

classes in maths, biology, life sciences and 

geography ahead of their final exams. 

Impala Rustenburg also implemented a 

teacher-mentoring programme, supporting 

12 teachers in eight local schools to improve 

their teaching skills. Impala Rustenburg 

monitors the learners’ performance, which 

continues to be encouraging. During 

2020, the Impala-supported schools in the 

Rustenburg region achieved an average 

matric pass rate of 85%, compared to 79% 

achieved at other local schools. Platinum 

Village and Sunrise View secondary schools, 

both constructed by Implats together with its 

social partners, achieved 100% and 94% pass 

rates, respectively. 

Impala Rustenburg also delivered several 

infrastructure projects this year in support of 

education. These include constructing a new 

early childhood development centre, Phase 2 

renovations of the Kutlwanong School for the 

Deaf, renovating and equipping three libraries 

in the Eastern Cape, which is a labour-sending 

area for the operation, and constructing 12 new 

National School Nutrition Programme kitchens 

in Taung and Ganyesa. ■ 


OVERVIEW 

new schools are under construction in the province in 2020/21 with 

a further 25 to enter the planning phase in the 2021/22 financial year. 

In the annual State of the Province Address in 2021, Premier 

Job Mokgoro acknowledged the contribution to school building 

and upgrading of several companies: Glencore, Impala Platinum, 

Samancor, Sibanye Gold, Northam Zondereinde Community Trust and 

Sun International Limited. 

The PPC Training Centre in Slurry near Mahikeng admitted 

25 young people as part of the provincial government’s Artisan 

Development Programme in 2020. A further 10 were placed at the 

Intelek Training Centre for assessment to resume their apprenticeships. 

Another provincial programme, the Automotive Skills 

Development Programme, aims to involve 200 young people in 

learning all about repairing, welding, panel-beating and the workings 

of engines at the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC). 

The provincial government has also been training people in 

useful digital work. A group of 144 young people were trained and 

hired as business regulations data capturers for the SMME Relief 

Fund. They are also developing an online provincial database of 

liquor traders in the province. 

Another programme that has received young people for skills 

training is the EPWP Waste Management & Biodiversity Economy 

Programme and 100 beneficiaries will get work experience in 

tourism businesses. 

In an effort to incubate 135 new SMMEs and create 540 jobs over 

the next three years, the provincial government is partnering with a 

range of entities in manufacturing, engineering services, mine-water 

rehabilitation and the reclamation of gold in existing mine tailings. 

During the 2021/22 financial year, the provincial government will 

partner with: 

• Lepharo Incubator, a Seda Incubator (R22.3-million) 

• Harmony Gold’s Kraaipan Operations (R4.5-million) 

• Rustenburg Local Municipality (R9.5-million) 

• Department of Economic Development, Environment, 

Conservation and Tourism, DEDECT (R14.5-million). 

Technical Vocational and Educational Training colleges teach skills that 

are relevant to the workplace. North West has three TVET colleges with 

several campuses each. Vuselela TVET College has its headquarters 

in Klerksdorp, where there is also an accredited trade test centre. 

There are a further four campuses: Jouberton Centre for Engineering 


Mining Qualifications Authority: www.mqa.org.za 

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

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

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

NWU aims to have 50% of contact 

students and 75% of first-year 

students accommodated in 

residences. Credit: NWU 

Studies; Matlosana Campus; 

Potchefstroom Centre for ICT and 

Taung Campus. 

Orbit TVET College has three 

sites, Rustenburg, Mankwe 

and Brits, with about 15 000 

students overall. The Rustenburg 

campus of Orbit College hosts 

a Microsoft IT Academy while 

the Mankwe campus offers 

automotive training, the result 

of a partnership between the 

Manufacturing, Engineering and 

Related SETA (MerSETA), Lelethu 

Training and Ford South Africa. 

Orbit TVET College hosts an 

electronics academy courtesy of 

sponsors Samsung Electronics 

on the Mankwe campus, and in 

partnership with the MerSETA. 

Mankwe also offers Automotive 

Repair, Maintenance and Transport 

and Logistics and is a Centre of 

Specialisation in Diesel Trade. 

The Taung Agricultural College 

is accredited by the Council 

on Higher Education (CHE) to 

offer the NQF level 6 Diploma 

in Agriculture specialising in 

Irrigation Technology. ■ 


42

Development finance and 

SMME support 

The Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub will assist small businesses. 

OVERVIEW 

The North West Provincial Government is investing in 

digital infrastructure. SMMEs will be able to use the 

newly-established Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub 

(pictured) as a co-working environment and to get 

support in using digital tools. 

A Digital Covid-19 SMME Business Recovery training intervention 

was carried out by the Hub in partnership with the Department of 

Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism 

(DEDECT). This resulted in more than 180 entrepreneurs from all 

four districts of the province receiving training. A Youth Digital 

Skilling programme aims to teach skills such as software and app 

development, Artificial Intelligence and robotics. 

R6-million has been allocated for the 2021/22 financial year by 

the province to support women co-operatives and SMMEs. Support 

includes mentoring, training and buying equipment. Most of the 

Cooke’s Lake Information Centre in Mahikeng (excluding the existing 

office block) is to become a permanent flea market. 

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) 

currently has nine contracts covering more than 2 300km in the 

province. A set of subcontracts is being negotiated for routine 

maintenance such as the patching of potholes, fencing and the 

cutting of grass verges. 


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


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

Tholoana Enterprise Programme: www.sabfoundation.co.za 


An SMME and co-operative 

support programme has a 

budget of R6-million for 2021/22. 

The National Department 

of Small Business Development 

(DSBD) has several programmes 

to assist SMMEs and co-operatives. 

These include the Black Business 

Supplier Development Programme 

and the Cooperative Incentive 

Scheme, a 100% grant. 

The Small Enterprise 

Development Agency (Seda) is an 

agency of the DSBD and gives nonfinancial 

support to entrepreneurs 

through training, assistance with 

filling in forms, marketing and 

creating business plans. 

The Seda Technology 

Programme helps potential 

businesses become trading entities. 

The Industrial Development 

Corporation is a strategic lender and 

plays a strong role in supporting 

small and emerging enterprises. 

The SAB Foundation Tholoana 

Programme provides grant funding 

and business support in the North 

West. The programme invests in 

entrepreneurs, particularly women, 

youth, people in rural areas and 

persons with disabilities. The 

18-month programme provides 

mentorship, business development 

tools and workshops, access 

to peer networks finance, and 

support throughout the time spent 

on the programme. ■ 


OVERVIEW 

Banking and financial services 

Smartphone banking is catching on. 


Financing is available to 

mitigate climate change. 

South African banking customers have a wider choice 

since Tyme Digital received a licence in 2017 to run a 

bank, the first time a new licence had been issued in 

decades. By early 2019, TymeBank was available in 500 

Pick n Pay and Boxer stores and more than 50 000 customers 

had an account. Tyme stands for Take Your Money Everywhere; 

the bank does not have a branch network. African Rainbow 

Capital began as the venture’s BEE partner but in 2018 bought 

out the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. 

Tyme reported in October 2020 that it had 2.4-million customers, 

up from 1.4-million at the end of March. A 400% increase in the use 

of services such as airtime and electricity purchases was also noted. 

A recent addition to the market is Standard Bank’s low-cost MyMo 

account. With free electronic transactions, unlimited card swipes and 

a low monthly fee, the MyMo account is ideal for low-income earners, 

micro-entrepreneurs and the poor. Customers can sign up by taking 

a selfie. 

All of the big banks have agricultural desks where experts can 

offer relevant advice. Nedbank is making a point of making funding 

available for climate-change mitigation such as more efficient 

irrigation and water-use technologies. All of the large agricultural 

companies have finance divisions. 

All of the country’s major banks and financial institutions are 

represented in the North West. Financial services are available in small 

towns, although the bigger cities like Potchefstroom, Rustenburg 


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

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

Chartered Institute for Government Finance, Audit and Risk Officers: 

www.cigfaro.co 

and Klerksdorp have a greater 

concentration and diversity. 

Financial services extend 

beyond advising rich people 

on how to invest their assets 

or balance their portfolio. In a 

province where there has been 

some real financial distress 

programmes are in place to 

assist people. 

Long strikes, volatile global 

markets and layoffs have created 

tough conditions for some 

workers in the platinum sector. 

Anglo American Platinum 

has teamed up with Summit 

Financial Partners to help miners 

manage their debt and plan 

their finances better through 

a scheme called Nkululeko. 

Garnishee orders went down 

among the Nkululeko group by 

80% in a five-year period. 

The Association for Savings 

and Investment South Africa is 

behind another initiative called 

Project Qaphela, a financial 

literacy programme aimed at 

workers in the mining sector. 

Partners in the programme 

include the National Union 

of Mineworkers, Sanlam and 

Coronation. 

Ubank is owned by a trust 

that is managed by the Minerals 

Council South Africa and the 

National Union of Mineworkers 

(NUM). It has several branches in 

the North West. ■ 


44

INDEX 

INDEX 

INDEX 

INDEX 

Africa Biomass Company (ABC) ...............................................................................................................................5, 9 

Implats........................................................................................................................................................................17, ..................................................................................................................................................................................24-25 41 

Magalies Water...................................................................................................................................................... 34-35 

Nedbank ..............................................................................................................................................................................16-19 

North West Development Corporation (NWDC)....................................................................................... 9 

Pilanesberg Platinum Mines ........................................................................................................................................IFC 

Nedbank.................................................................................................................................................................... 22-25 

Pilanesberg Rustenburg Rapid Platinum Transit Mines...............................................................................................................................IFC 

(RRT)..............................................................................................................12-15, OBC 

Standard Bank.................................................................................................................................. 2-5, 30-31, OBC 

Sibanye-Stillwater .........................................................................................................................................................26-27 


NORTH WEST PROVINCE 

NAMIBIA 

Sishen Sishen 


Western Cape 

Vorstershoop 

Hotazel Hotazel 

R31 

R31 

Kuruman Kuruman 

Kathu Kathu 

BOTSWANA 

Postmasburg 

NORTH North West WEST 

Free State 

Limpopo 

KwaZulu- 

Natal 

Mpumalanga 

Gauteng 

SWAZI- 

LAND 

LESOTHO 

ZIMBABWE 

Sun Sun City/Lost City/Lost City City 

Eastern Cape 

N4 

N4 

Zeerust Zeerust 

Moloporivier 

Swartruggens 

Brits 

Brits 

Groot-Marico 

Mmabatho 

Rustenburg 

Hartbeespoort 

Koster 

Mooinooi 

N1 

MAHIKENG Koster 

Mooinooi 

N1 

Magaliesburg 

Gauteng 

R49 

Lichtenburg 

R49 

R30 

R30 

R52 

R52 

JOHANNESBURG 

N14 

N14 

Westonaria 

Coligny 

Sannieshof Coligny 

Ventersdorp 

N3 

Stella 

Carletonville 

N3 

Stella 

Delareyville 

Potchefstroom 

Vereeniging 

4 9R 

4 9R 

N12 

Ottosdal 

Klerksdorp N12 

Vryburg 

Ottosdal 

Vryburg 

Sasolburg 

Parys 

Orkney Parys 

R34 

Orkney 

R34 

R59 

N1 

R57 

Wolmaransstad 

R59 

N1 

R57 

Lykso 

N18 

Lykso 

N18 

R30 

N14 

R30 

Schweizer- 

R82 

N14 

R82 Heilbron 

Reneke 

Heilbron 

Reneke 

Taung Taung 

Reivilo Reivilo 


Ulco Ulco 

MOZAMBIQUE 

N 

BOTSWANA 

Warrenton 

N12 

N12 

Christiana 

Bloemhof Bloemhof 

Wesselsbron 

Bultfontein 

R49 

R49 

Welkom Welkom 

Kroonstad 

Thabazimbi 

Ventersburg 

Free State 

Vaalwater 

Limpopo 

Bela-Bela Bela-Bela 

Motorway Motorway 

Main Main Road Road 

Railway Railway 

PRETORIA 

Reitz Reitz 

NORTH The Mahikeng WEST BUSINESS International 2020/21 Airport is served by SA 40Potchefstroom College of Agriculture. More than 120 

Express. The city’s main sectors are financial services, 000 people attend the Aardklop Festival every year. 

Municipalities in North West Province 

Limpopo 

services, transport and trade. The Garona District houses The city has a population of about 173 000.

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GMS-18908 08/21

North West Business 2021-22

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