A high-level delegation of the North West Provincial Government has been engaging captains of the mining industry on the side lines of the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba held in Cape Town on various issues ranging from mineral beneficiation, social labour plans and preferential procurement for small enterprises.
The delegation is led by Premier Lazarus Mokgosi, who’s accompanied by MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, Bitsa Lenkopane.
Lenkopane has expressed confidence on the delegation’s ability to reverse the low investment patterns that has been hindering the province’s development.
Speaking on YOU FM Newshour after series of meetings with industry leaders, the MEC said that “This is something that one wish it could have been done long time ago.
Everyone is here and we speaking to leaders about Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) mining and we are deliberate to say we are not going to engage anyone who doesn’t believe in local beneficiation, in the local manufacturing.
Job creation for the locals using local suppliers and Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises, rehabilitation of derelict mines to evade possible illegal mining, compliance with environmental standards as well as getting into the partnerships for investment in the province.”
Lenkopane highlighted that the delegation also held talks with companies conducting business in the province.
“We have engaged mining houses particularly that are operating in our province including those that are operating in Limpopo or that forms part of the corridor such as Valterra Platinum Waterval Smelters which has operations in both provinces.
We are excited to announce that we reached agreements with some mining companies such as Sibanye-Stillwater’s CEO who has pledged to put up some resources including availing a piece of land around 650 hectares.
We are eagerly awaiting the finalization of those agreements, and the premier will sign on them,” added the excited MEC.
Lekopane has agreed that the province is better positioned especially since it forms part of the world largest belt which boasts 70% of reserves in PGMs to host major mining events such as the Africa Mining Africa Indaba.
“This is exactly what I raised with the team from Valterra Platinum Waterval Smelters, which only has a smelters and refinery plant in the North West and no longer mining since they have sold all their mining operations to Sibanye-StillWater.
They were also proud to inform us that they receive countries of the world flying in to get what they are producing and refining from our province.
That is something that needs to be looked into,” explained Lenkopane.
Furthermore, the MEC said most mining companies agreed to the idea of commercialization of the Bojanala Special Economic Special Zone for long term partnership.
This would focus in areas such as mineral processing, services and specialized equipment, including the creation of logistical hubs and corridors which link the province with other commercially sound regions on the African continent and Southern African Developing Community (SADC).
