North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi said through their massive investment drive initiative, there’s renewed interests for the George Dick Montshioa Airport in Mahikeng and the Pilanesberg Airport.Mokgosi said both airports, have potential to resuscitate the province’s economy and tourism.
The premier was delivering his State of the Province Address in Mahikeng today. “We are excited to announce that the interest to invest in the logistics hub to revitalize the George Dick Montshioa Airport is back, following our concerted investment drive. This investment is in the region of R176 million. We are cognisant of the potential of both the Pilanesberg and George Dick Montshioa Airports and we have since issued a Request for Proposals (RFPs) to resuscitate and commercialise them,” said Mokgosi.
The premier said a successful bidder for the running of the two airports will be appointed before the end of the current financial year. Mokgosi said the Mekgareng Smart City project, which is a collaborative development initiative between the North West and Gauteng, coordinated by the national Department of Human Settlements, will create 20 000 jobs for the people of Madibeng Local Municipality. The project is estimated to attract investments of between R10-25 billion rands. Mokgosi condemned acts of illegal mining in the province, which he said will deter mining investments in the province.
“Part of promoting investments in mining, which is one of the key economic drivers in the North West, will be to lead a delegation to the Africa Mining Indaba in Cape Town next year to promote the province to access the full cycle of the mining value chain. Furthermore, we aim to bring back the Provincial Mining Investment Summit in close collaboration with the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources,” explained Mokgosi.
The premier praised some of the collaborative efforts undertaken by government and mining houses, like the Impala Bafokeng Resources funding the rehabilitation of roads at Mafenya, Chaneng and Robega villages at a cost of R39 million, the recent investment of R160 million by the Anglo American Amandabult Complex to address road infrastructure backlogs in the province. He applauded the police ongoing efforts in halting illegal mining activities in the province, through Operation Vala Umgodi, especially in Stilfontein.The premier acknowledged frustrations by bus commuters, regarding challenges in the provisions of buses adding that this is due to legal unresolved legal tussle between government and the Business Rescue Practitioner.
“We have appointed a replacement operator in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, and commuter bus services have resumed. In Ngaka Modiri Molema, commuter bus services have collapsed due to the inefficiencies by the service provider. Government is currently finalising a procurement process to appoint a replacement operator to start in April this year,” said Mokgosi.
He assured the province that his administration is working with all law enforcement agencies such the Hawks, SIU, Asset Forfeiture Unit and Chapter 9 institutions, to fight crime in the province. “We remain committed to promoting clean governance, eliminating malfeasance, and preventing financial leakages, ensuring that scarce financial resources are effectively utilised to benefit the residents of our province,” remarked the premier. Furthermore, Mokgosi said they’re on track to turn around the current state of the North West Parks and Tourism Board.
This following concerns after staff were not paid their salaries. “We must reposition and revitalize the entity to allow it to derive adequate revenue to sustain some of its affairs and to adequately manage the State Protected Areas and biodiversity network. We will continue to implement cost containment measures and introduce additional measures where possible, while identifying partnerships and stakeholders to assist in achieving the entity’s legislative mandate,” said Mokgosi. Mokgosi said government is mitigating the impact of substance abuse by providing psychosocial support, treatment, rehabilitation services at the JB Marks Treatment Centre, while the Taung Treatment Centre provides outpatient, community-based and after care programmes and interventions in collaboration with Department of Health.
