While addressing the 2023 North West Investment Forum held on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit currently underway at Sandton in Gauteng, Acting Premier Nono Maloyi said North West is the richest province in the country, yet very poor. He said the province produces about 70% of the platinum in the world and the majority of certain minerals. Despite this, the province has an unemployment rate of over 50%, which is the highest in the country.

The unemployment rate, as it is measured officially, is often criticised for understating the level of joblessness because it excludes anyone working at all or people who aren't looking for work. In particular, the official unemployment rate leaves out discouraged workers and the underemployed.

“The highest unemployment rate is in the North West – over 53%. The majority of all these minerals we have in this country is in the North West and in Bojanala, in particular. But if you go to Bojanala, or any other area in North West, as you enter the first thing that you smell is poverty.”

Maloyi said agriculture and tourism are also massive economic drivers of the province. The province is currently the top producer of beetroot, the second biggest producer of sunflowers, and carrots and a major contributor to the exports of maize in the country. He called for more investment into the economy of the province and said the provincial government is currently in talks with various business entities to revamp Pilanesburg and Mahikeng airports. He said these two airports will assist a great deal in the movement of goods across various countries in the region and the continent while creating socio-economic benefits for our people.

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