MESSAGE Premier outlines
MESSAGE Premier outlines vision and strategy for inclusive growth Premier Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo Industrialisation Strategy calls for new factories, private partners are sought for an ambitious irrigation policy and a major convention centre upgrade, the Mahikeng Airport Logistics Hub strategy is attracting interest from foreign investors, and vast amounts of minerals are yet to be quantified in the province. leadership is the ability to use lessons of the past to act “Visionary in the present such that there is broad convergence of thought and action in determining future history.” In celebrating the centenary anniversary of the birth of Oliver Tambo, we draw inspiration from Oliver Tambo’s fearlessness and focus on the task of dismantling apartheid and its remaining legacy of poverty, inequality and unemployment. We call upon all the people of Bokone-Bophirima Province to recommit ourselves to the project of increasing the pace of constructing the National Democratic Society whose foundation Oliver Tambo guaranteed. The North West Development Corporation (NWDC) will be repositioned to serve as our Provincial Mining Agenda Implementer to ensure that mining procurement takes place in line with the new envisaged VTSD Preferential Procurement Act. (VTSD is a strategy designed to improve the economies of Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies.) Current geological information illuminates vast amounts of minerals that are yet to be quantified. These include the salt fields that span Delareyville, the limestone that covers Taung, through Mothibi to Severn as well as the Morokweng and Lichtenburg, the tigers eye that spans Mothibi, Severn and Vorstershoop, the untapped alluvial and alluvial diamond fields, as well as manganese and iron ore. These initiatives will be coordinated by the Office of the Premier working together with the national Department of Mineral Resources through: • Expanding small-scale mining • Mining beneficiation • Mining procurement • New venture mining. New interest from investors The North West Development Corporation working with the Rural, Environment and Agricultural Department (READ) will implement the following strategic mandates: • Acceleration of VTSD Agro-Businesses to build small scale agro-hubs • Establishment of Special Economic Zones in addition to the existing one, the Platinum Valley SEZ • Implementation of the Mahikeng Airport Logistics Hub strategy will be intensified through strategic partnerships. New interest has been shown by investors from United Arab Emirates TOGETHER WE MOVE BOKONE BOPHIRIMA FORWARD NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2017 8
MESSAGE • Implementation of the VTSD Industrial Hubs in strategic areas • Finalisation and implementation of the Provincial Industrialisation Action Plan. Our Industrialisation Strategy will use the allocation for learner support materials to set up a stationery manufacturing factory in the province to supply all schools and government departments, working together with existing retailers. In addition, we will: • Accelerate the establishment of the People’s Economic Growth Agency (PEGA) through smooth integration of existing State-Owned- Enterprises • Work with the construction industry with a view to establishing a provincial construction hardware factory with VTSD branches to support small enterprises through the housing budget • Coordinate Local Economic Development efforts across all municipalities in order to build strategic partnerships with the private sector. The Executive Council has mandated the NWDC to proceed with the implementation of core elements of the Mahikeng Rebranding, Repositioning and Renewal Programme, the Government Precinct and Stadium projects and plans to upgrade the Mmabatho Convention Centre to international status. Discussions are at an advanced stage to secure a strategic partner to invest R10-billion in these projects. Agriculture, Culture and Tourism (ACT) represents the first and the core concrete plan, supported by mining as a tributary, to drive the economic policy development and approach of Bokone- Bophirima Province. Government is engaging with stakeholders in the public and private sectors with a view to raising about R5-billion to implement the Provincial Irrigation Strategy. Taung College of Agriculture is the only college in the country accredited to offer a National Diploma Qualification in Irrigation Management. The office of the Premier through the North West Development Corporation has collaborated with the North West University and the National Technology Innovation Agency to host the first Provincial Innovation competition in the province. We are engaging with the ICT industry and various stakeholders who have an appetite to contribute towards the socio-economic transformation of our province. As part of this process, we will be hosting the 1st Annual Energy, Science and ICT Lekgotla in Tlokwe in March 2017. A new human settlement delivery approach is being introduced, called the “Bietjie-Bietjie maak meer” within the context of the VTSD preferential procurement strategy. There will be a flexible cap of 50 units per developer, directed specifically at small contractors at levels 1-4. Appointed developers will be encouraged to employ local people, including subcontracting with the objective of transferring skills. Investment index book The Premier of Bokone-Bophirima will visit all 18 municipalities in 2017 to engender the culture of entrepreneurship with special focus on Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies. This will be done in partnership with other social partners, Dikgosi, Business, Labour, NGOs, CBOs, development finance institutions, FDIs, the Department of Mineral Resources, etc. These visits will culminate in the launch of an Investment and Economic Development Index Book which will contain full investment and economic development potential of each village, township and small dorpie in Bokone-Bophirima. Road partnerships We are exploring possible Public Private Partnerships to deal with the effects of mining haulage or heavy mining transport machinery on our roads network. We have to redouble efforts to secure private-sector funding for the building of roads. No contractor in the province will be allocated a road tender which is more than 20km with effect from the beginning of 2017/18 financial year. The Adjusted Provincial Allocation for Infrastructure in the current financial year is R5.8-billion. People of this province want progress and are positive about the direction the province is taking. TOGETHER WE MOVE BOKONE BOPHIRIMA FORWARD 9 NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2017
