OVERVIEWSECTOR INSIGHTA
OVERVIEWSECTOR INSIGHTA R24-million DevelopmentFund will stimulate localeconomies.ManufacturingA university spinoff has become an industry leader.CFAM Technologies sold its 100th extruder in 2023, a notablemilestone for a company that started life as a research projectat North-West University (NWU).With its own extensive facilities outside Potchefstroom andsophisticated manufacturing equipment, pictured, CFAM Technologieshas evolved into a leading supplier of twin-screw extruders in the feedand food sectors.The company designs, manufactures, installs and commissionsextrusion plants and related equipment. The company is proud that itsplants have earned the reputation: “Built in Africa for Africa!” Active inthe UK and Pakistan and 13 African countries aside from South Africa,the company also has research centres in the US and Canada.The first steps were taken in 1998 at the NWU’s School for MechanicalEngineering. The NWU established CFAM Technologies (Pty) Ltd as aspinoff company in 2007 as part of the commercialisation initiative ofthe university’s Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) andin 2016 the company moved to its own facility.TTIS secured the protection of NWU intellectual property forContinuous Supercritical Fluid Extraction (CSFE). A patent was lodgedin 2014 and a licensing agreement followed, enabling CFAM tofurther develop and commercialise the technology. The TechnologyInnovation Agency (TIA) provided some funding and became apartner in technology development.The Provincial Government of the North West has committed toworking with national government through the Department of SmallBusiness Development to revitalise village and township economies.ONLINE RESOURCESAutomotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC): www.aidc.co.zaNorth West Development Corporation: www.nwdc.co.zaA R24-million DevelopmentFund is intended to acceleratedevelopment initiatives.To assist young people lookingfor work in the manufacturingsector, a provincial governmentpartnership with the SouthAfrican National Defence Forceand the Phila Jordan Academywill train 3 000 people in artisanaland tooling programmes, throughthe South African National ServiceInstitute (SANSI) Pilot Programme.Manufacturing occurs in clustersaround the province. Brits hasseveral automotive componentsand tyre concerns while miningequipment and engineering arefound in Klerksdorp and foodand beverages in Potchefstroom.Rustenburg has a mixture ofenterprises, the biggest of whichare mining-related smelters.Production of non-metallicmineral products is concentratedaround Lichtenburg and Mahikeng(cement), and Rustenburg(stone). Totpak is located inVentersdorp and RCL Foodshas a large processing plant atRustenburg, an EPOL feeds facility.Clover’s decision in 2021 to leaveLichtenburg because of a lack ofreliable services was a blow foremployment opportunities in theDitsobotla Local Municipality.About 30% of the country’sgrain and oil-seed crop passthrough Senwes silos every year.Sasko operates a white-maize millin Klerksdorp. The SAB RosslynBrewery supplies the North Westwith most of its beer. ■NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2025/2622PHOTO: CFAM Technologies
WaterDam levels dropped below 50% in summer.The Water Research Commission has listed the North West asone of the most water-scarce provinces in the country. Thewestern part of North West Province is particularly dry.At a symposium on water and climate change hosted byNorth-West University in Mahikeng in December 2024, researchersfrom the Water Research Commission madethe point that the area has few rivers, it relies onunderground water for its domestic and industrialwater use and has been experiencing rapid climatechange. An official from the Department of Waterand Sanitation reported that half of the province’s28 dams were below the 50% level.The Water Institute of South Africa offered itsservices to assist municipalities in ensuring goodwater access for the communities they serve bytraining staff with the right skills. The problemsthat municipalities have had in delivering waterhas been an ongoing problem for many years. Theprovince has 83 sewage-treatment plants, and thenational Blue Drop award system has found thatmost of them need improvement.In addition to a Provincial War Room on water which wasannounced in 2022, a Steering Committee has been establishedwith the National Department of Water and Sanitation. A mobileapp is to be introduced to enable citizens to alert authoritiesto water problems quickly. A panel of experts has identifiedwater and bulkwater supply as among the sectors that shouldbe prioritised in the province when it comes to creating“Mega Infrastructure Projects”. The projects were identified basedon stage of readiness, bankability, socio-economic impact andability to be implemented timeously.A major project is underway at the Brits Water Treatment Works(WTW), pictured. Phases One and Two will see the plant refurbishedand the raw-water-pump station upgraded. Phase Three envisages80ML/day flowing from Brits WTW, an increase of 20ML/daycurrently flowing to residents of Madibeng Local Municipality.ONLINE RESOURCESBlue Drop Awards: www.ewisa.co.zaNational Department of Water and Sanitation: www.dws.gov.zaSouth African Association of Water Utilities: www.saawu.org.zaSECTOR INSIGHTOVERVIEWMore water is set to flow inMadibeng Local Municipality.Finally, the raw-water pipelineand the distribution pipelineto the command reservoirs willbe upgraded. A total of 75 373households will benefit from theimproved service.Three of South Africa’s six majorcatchment areas are locatedin the province: the Limpopo,the Orange and the Vaal. Withinthese catchment areas, only theVaal River has a strong-enoughflow to allow for significantamounts of water to be takenfrom it directly to supportirrigation or industry. There arefour water-management areasin the province, three of whichare linked to the Vaal River. Wateris imported into the provincialsystem through transfers betweenwater basins. ■PHOTO: Magalies Water23 NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2025/26
