The North West government said more than 1 000 jobs would be created following Harmony Gold investment of R1.5 billion at its Stilfontein operations in the City of Matlosana Local Municipality.
The investment is in the company’s renewable energy, which has already been rolled out.
According to the provincial government, the investment is a culmination of talks Premier Lazarus Mokgosi had with the company’s Executive Management on the side-lines of the Africa Mining Indaba in Cape Town.
At the core of the meeting, was to discuss several issues relating to diversification, localization and SMME Development.
Mokgosi said the investment confirms government’s efforts of fostering partnerships with the various stakeholders to create an enabling environment for investment and job creation.
“This forms part of a broader strategy by government to encourage investments in the province.
I have no doubt that as more investments trickle in, several more job and business opportunities will be created and this will help reduce the high unemployment figures afflicting the province,” said Mokgosi.
In addition, the investment adds to R7 billion worth of investment by the mine in 2022 as it diversifies its operations, which has thus far saved about 6 000 jobs, including an extension of Moab-Khotsong operations at Stilfontein.
Mokgosi implored the mine to support the Province’s Development Fund, which is primarily aimed at addressing infrastructure backlogs in the province.
Harmony’s Chief Executive Officer, Beyers Nel, said the renewable energy investment forms part of its long-term investment and diversification strategy.
“Through our R7 billion investment in 2022, we managed to preserve 6 000 jobs for locals, extending the mines lifespan by twenty years.
In 2020, we acquired Mine Waste Solutions leading to an investment of over two billion rand and we have created close to two thousand five hundred jobs, 70% of which are locals,” said Nel.
According to the office of the Premier, plans are already underway, to position the province to be a conducive environment for investment and job creation.
This includes the refurbishment of infrastructure, especially road, the R68 million budgeted to revitalise the provincial capital, Mahikeng, and to position it as the regional cargo hub due to its proximity to Botswana, and the SADC region.
Furthermore, the province is planning to reposition its maize triangle, to make it the best in the country.
