Manufacturing in the North West is set to receive a boost with several industrialisation initiatives that will be implemented in the land locked province, Premier Supra Mahumapelo said on Friday.
“As part of the Special Economic Zone initiative, the Province intends to bolster manufacturing capacity particularly in the platinum sector, to strengthen the role of mining as a strategic economic tributary,” said the Premier.
Tabling the State of the Province Address (SOPA) at the Marikana Community Hall, near Rustenburg, Premier Mahumapelo said he expects demand for platinum to shoot up as China has decided to explore its use in the environmental quality air implementation.
Through the North West Development Corporation (NWDC), the province will continue to use existing state expenditure as leverage to introduce industrialisation with a specific mandate to change patterns of ownership for black people particularly in Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSD) areas.
The industrialisation opportunities identified in the province include:
- The use of Learner Support Material budget allocation to set up a stationery manufacturing factory in the Province to supply all schools and Government Departments with stationery, working together with existing retailers in VTSD areas. This project is aimed at establishing a provincial printing house. A process of sourcing potential partners is underway and it is envisaged to create more than 100 jobs and also benefit local Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs).
- The introduction of People’s Security Services which will create opportunities for youth across all the VTSD areas with an annual budget of R400 million per annum or R1.2 billion over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
- The Chicken Bird Holdings (CBH) - Due diligence has been finalized on the proposed transaction, an agreement will soon be reached once a fair value of the business is determined.
- VTSD Retail Economy and Bakeries.
- The acceleration of VTSD Agro-Businesses to build small scale agro hubs across the province.
- Establishment of a Provincial Feedlot, Feed bank and Abattoir Scheme working together with both commercial and small scale farmers as part of our Saamwerk-Saamtrek initiatives.
- Establishment of the North West Agricultural Fund (NWAF) through the Department of READ and NWDC.
- R110 million secured for the establishment of the Special Economic Development Zone (SEDZ). The project is estimated to attract investment to the value of R4 billion, potentially creating 6 045 jobs over a five year period.
Youth Entrepreneurship Services (YES)
In the last SOPA, the provincial government announced the establishment of the VTSD Retail Economy that would see the establishment of warehouses across the four districts to support South African owned retail stores.
To date, the first VTSD Retail Warehouse, which was opened in Potchefstroom, is currently supporting 100 retail stores in the form of tuckshops, hardware stores, hair salons and butcheries mainly in the JB Marks municipality.
Support will be extended to areas such Mahikeng and Ramotshere Moiloa.
Three more warehouses will be opened in the rest of the remaining districts over the next two years.
“The total cost associated with this initiative is R90 million over a period of three years,” said the Premier.
Recently, President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) said government is creating opportunities for young people to be exposed to the world of work through internships, apprenticeship, mentorship and entrepreneurship.
Premier Mahumapelo said the province will actively participate in the Youth Employment Service (YES) initiative by rolling out of the Youth Enterprise Combo and the subsequent launch of the sustainable service delivery based @Worx Enterprise Combo.
The Combo last year allowed government to broaden access to enterprise development opportunities to over 1 600 young people across the four districts of the province.
“These dynamic and innovative enterprise development platforms continue to facilitate the development of sustainable enterprises, business incubation, job creation and market access,” said the Premier.
Meanwhile, the provincial government will establish a youth employment programme through the NWDC.
The programme will act as a platform for job creation and enterprise development.
The Premier will hold quarterly sessions with the youth focusing on entrepreneurship, science, technology, innovation and sports. – SAnews.gov.za
