A province rich in minerals, has long been considered one of the most resourceful areas in South Africa.

Despite its wealth of natural resources, the region has struggled with a high unemployment rate, a phenomenon experts and academics have coined as the “paradox of plenty”, said Premier Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi during the State of the Nation debate on Tuesday (11/2).

The province’s abundant resources, such as gold, platinum, and other minerals, have not translated into sufficient job opportunities for its residents. In fact, this “socio-economic conundrum” has led to deepening poverty levels and a sense of stagnation among its youth.

Mokgosi expressed a determined vision for reversing this unfortunate trend. He stressed “something drastic needs to be done” to address this paradox and to turn the province’s economic fortunes around.

Acknowledging the province’s rich mineral deposits, Mokgosi emphasised the key to unlocking employment opportunities lies in inviting more investment into North West, especially in critical infrastructure, agriculture, and other key sectors.

Mokgosi pointed out the several large-scale investments already made in the province, which are creating substantial job opportunities and improving the general state of the province.

This included the R450 million water and sanitation projects aimed at improving infrastructure in the villages Bodibe, Ramosadi, Signal Hill, Dinokana, and Lobatla. It will not only enhance access to water and sanitation but will also generate jobs, particularly in rural areas, where unemployment rates are especially high, he said.

Gold plant refurbished

An additional R485 million has been allocated for the construction of a pipeline from the Bloemhof Dam to Mamusa Municipality. This project, which is expected to be completed by June this year, will significantly alleviate water provision challenges in Schweizer-Reneke.

One other notable investment project highlighted by Mokgosi is the R200 million refurbishment of the gold processing plant in Orkney. This facility, which forms part of a R2 billion investment by China Africa Precious Metals, is expected to create up to 4,000 jobs, providing a significant boost to the local economy.

The provincial government recently met with newly appointed Harmony Gold Group CEO Beyers Nel to discuss further investment in the province. Harmony Gold’s investment of R7 billion in its operations in the KOSH area will preserve over 6,000 jobs and extend the lifespan of the mine by more than 15 years.

In addition, to these mining projects, the province is also focusing on boosting its agricultural sector. R36 million funds has been earmarked to support the Red Meat production programme, which targets over 7,000 beneficiaries.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg