SPECIAL FEATURE of
SPECIAL FEATURE of previously excluded communities. This is already taking place to a small extent in that the province's first solar plant is partly owned by the community in which it operates. There is much more scope for this kind of partnership, but there is also scope for the development of a manufacturing sector to support the renewable energy sector. A start has been made to attract solar panel manufacturers to the Platinum Special Economic Zone in the Bojanala District Municipality. The province’s other manufacturing strategy – boosting agriprocessing – is in better shape now that the worst of a prolonged drought is over. The creation of district agri-parks is intended to boost primary production which in turn will increase the amount of raw material that can be processed. Companies making car seats within the province’s active automotive parts sector would be a ready market for treated hides from the huge provincial cattle herd. An amount of R110-million has been set aside for the establishment of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the province. The project is intended to make investment more attractive by clustering infrastructure and related industries in one location. The SEZ planners hope to attract R4-billion in investment over a five-year timeframe. The City of Rustenburg has started a planning process which looks forward to a time when mining’s role in the economy will be reduced, and sectors such as health and education might become more important. Renewable energy is another area where some preliminary work has been done. The fact that Rustenburg’s plans also include the creation of a Mining Supply Park point to the fact that mining’s influence is likely to continue for many years to come. This is also true of some of the plans to diversify the province’s manufacturing base – they often rely on the base mineral that comes from mining anyway. Platinum prices may not be as strong as they were, but platinum group metals have enormous potential in the energy field, and North West researchers and businesses are working on possibilities to exploit this. Strategies The Provincial Government of the North West has two main economic strategies: • The development of Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSD) • A focus on three key sectors: agriculture, culture and tourism (ACT). Other areas of focus are: mineral beneficiation; renewable energy; retail and wholesale; ICT and the development of economic infrastructure. Tourism has been identified as an important driver of future growth and the investment by Sun International of more than R1-billion in the Sun City complex is helping to create momentum in a sector which has a proven track record of creating jobs. Two events took place in 2018 which placed North West tourism in the spotlight. The 2018 National Tourism Careers Expo (NTCE) took place at Sun City and was attended by about 7 000 school pupils and university graduates from around the country. At a Tourism Imbizo in Potchefstroom, more than 1 000 young people were encouraged to study in that sector. Tourism has grown steadily in the North West and has been a reliable creator of jobs. The province's other great assets include Sun City, the Pilanesberg National Park, private game lodges and the Hartbeespoort Dam. Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located at the Vredefort Dome (where a meteorite hit the earth about two-million years ago) and Taung, where the discovery by an archaeologist of a skull in 1924 is regarded as one of the most significant of all time. Principal towns Mahikeng The capital city of the North West Province lies on the banks of the Molopo River. Situated in the northwest sector of the province near the Botswana border, the city has a strong services sector and a population of approximately 300 000. NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2019 28
SPECIAL FEATURE ZIMBABWE NORTH WEST PROVINCE NAMIBIA Northern Cape BOTSWANA KwaZulu- Natal Mpumalanga North West Gauteng NORTH WEST SWAZI- LAND Free State LESOTHO Limpopo MOZAMBIQUE N BOTSWANA R49 R49 Thabazimbi Vaalwater Limpopo Bela-Bela Bela-Bela Sun Sun City/Lost City/Lost City City Eastern Cape N4 N4 Zeerust Western Cape Zeerust Moloporivier Swartruggens Brits Brits PRETORIA Vorstershoop 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 Stella Carletonville N3 N3 Stella Delareyville Potchefstroom Vereeniging R 49 R 49 N12 Ottosdal Klerksdorp N12 Vryburg Ottosdal Vryburg Sasolburg Parys Orkney Parys R34 Orkney R34 Hotazel R59 N1 R57 Hotazel Wolmaransstad R59 N1 R57 R31 Lykso N18 Lykso N18 R30 R31 N14 R30 Schweizer- R82 Kuruman N14 R82 Heilbron Kuruman Reneke Heilbron Reneke Taung Taung Reivilo Reivilo Kathu Kathu Sishen Bloemhof Sishen N12 Bloemhof Kroonstad Free State N12 Wesselsbron Motorway Reitz Northern Cape Motorway Reitz Christiana Main Road Welkom Main Road Warrenton Welkom Railway Railway Ventersburg Ulco Bultfontein Postmasburg Ulco The Mahikeng International Airport is served by SA Express. The city’s main sectors are financial services, Municipalities in North West Province services, transport and trade. The Garona District houses the North West parliament and government buildings. The administrative headquarters of the BaRolong tribe BOTSWANA are located in the city. The arts are promoted by the Mmabana Cultural Centre, while the North West Institute of Hotel and Tourism Management is one of three tertiary Molopo institutions in the city. North-West University’s Graduate School of Business and Government Leadership is Ratlou located in Mahikeng, and Unisa has a presence. Other institutions are the Taletso KagisanoTVET College and the International School of South Africa. Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati The town is well served by hotels such as the Mmabatho Palms, Hotel and Casino Convention Naledi Resort. Mahikeng Game Reserve has white rhino Mamusa and giraffe among its fauna. Tlokwe Northern (Potchefstroom) Cape Greater Taung Lekwa-Teemane 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 attend the Aardklop Festival every year. Limpopo 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 Moses Kotane team Ramotshere and Australia's cricket team in world cups. Moiloa Moretele Madibeng Tlokwe is a hub for the strong Bojanala commercial agriculture of the region and has several Rustenburg food and beverage Kgetlengrivier Mafikeng manufacturers. Nestlé has recently invested. Some of the bigger enterprises include fertiliser companies such as Kynoch, munitions manufacturers, and food Ditsobotla Gauteng processors like King Food. JB An Marksarmy base contributes to the economy, and the airfield formerly used by the Tswaing Dr Kenneth Kaunda military is now run by the municipality. Matlosana 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 Maquassi Hills on which the town is located. Free State Ngaka Modiri Molema Rustenburg Metropolitan/District Municipality Boundary Local Municipality Boundary Rustenburg is close to platinum mines and Sun City, District Municipality Bojanala two of the economic Local jewels Municipality Naledi in the crown of North West Province. The town is also near beautiful parts 29 11 NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2019 2018
