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Northern Cape Business 2018-19 edition

  • Text
  • Africa
  • Africa
  • Zone
  • Solar
  • Energy
  • Development
  • Technology
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Agriculture
  • Economic
  • Sectors
  • Array
  • Northern
  • Cape
  • Mining
  • Province
  • Kimberley
  • Provincial
  • Municipality
Officially supported and used by the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Northern Cape Business is unique as a business and investment guide that focuses exclusively on the Northern Cape Province. In addition to comprehensive overviews of sectors of the economy, this publication has several special articles which focus on transformative projects, such as the solar and wind farms rapidly coming on line and the massive potential represented by the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope, a multi-billion rand international project already taking shape in the vast open plains of the Karoo. Updated information on Northern Cape is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at http://www.globalafricanetwork.com/subscribe/, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces as well as our flagship South African Business title.

OVERVIEW Development

OVERVIEW Development finance and SMME support A provincial local economic development (LED) forum was held on 13 September 2017 where the focus was on finance and commercial banking. The offerings for small businesses from three major commercial banks (Nedbank, Standard Bank and Absa) were laid out and delegates were referred to the bank’s supportive websites for more information and guidance. The opportunities for small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) were explained with regard to funding and support from the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) and Petra Diamonds’ various supplier development and training programmes were detailed. Petra Diamonds, through the local Kimberley Ekapa joint venture (KEMJV), aims to assist potential businesses in the vicinity of its mine to become sustainable suppliers of goods and services. A local supplier development programme offers local SMMEs business training to assist and identifies opportunities for SMMEs to pitch for business within the mine’s supply chain. Nedbank’s SimplyBiz website gives guidance on finding more customers, managing finances, staff and administration, and it gives business owners the chance to share their stories and perhaps find a mentor on the network. Absa has developed a very practical website where buyers can find empowered companies who are available to do work. The Supply Chain Network has “what” and “where” search functions and offers bulletins on tenders. SECTOR INSIGHTS Petra Diamonds has a local supplier development programme. • A skills development roundtable was held in October 2017. The Standard Bank BizConnect website tagline is “Expert knowledge to help turn your business into a powerhouse of tomorrow”. It offers practical advice, expert insights and tips and tools in areas such as strategy, innovation and creating growth. Another important meeting was held in October 2017 in Kimberley, when a pledge to promote skills development was signed by a wide range of institutions which the provincial government is working with. TVET col- NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS 2018/19 60

Advancing socio-economic transformation INTERVIEW Provincial Chairperson Dr Tshego Gopane outlines the priorities of the Black Management Forum Northern Cape. Dr Tshegofatso Gopane Please outline the main objectives of the Black Management Forum. The three strategic objectives are: the development of managerial leadership; advancing socio-economic transformation in Southern Africa and beyond; thought leadership through advocacy. What is your current focus? The Young Professionals Development Programme is targeted at entry-level professionals with supportive mentorship. The Duke Women in Leadership Programme aims to ensure women are accelerated in positions of leadership. A Transformation Masterplan was born to address challenges identified by a research project (Transformation Barometer). The Masterplan is still a work in progress. BIOGRAPHY Among Dr Tshegofatso Gopane’s qualifications are an MBChB (UKZN) and a postgraduate business diploma from UNISA SBL. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health. Through her company Tshela Bophelo Wellness Solutions, she has overseen large-scale social impact projects in health and education while maintaining her medical practice. She serves on various bodies involved in transformation and development, including the provincial Human Resource Council and the South African Medical and Dental Practitioners Association Council. What are the challenges facing business in the Northern Cape? They are different for big and small business. Mining declined sharply as commodity prices fell in late 2015 which saw the mining industry facing severe constraints. This, and policy uncertainty, has resulted in the reluctance of the mining industry to further invest. For small business there is a constant battle to access the value chain of the big industries (mining, agriculture and solar). They ought to be creating viable SMMEs as part of their backward linkages. There is a perceived limited effort by big business to ensure that small business develops. Lack of access to capital is a consistent challenge. Which sectors are looking up? The three sectors with growth potential remain agriculture, mining and solar. The building of secondary and tertiary industries locally remains a high possibility to increase economic activity and create sustainable small and medium business such as manufacturing of components used in machinery, safety equipment, tyres, workshops for the maintenance of heavy vehicles, and agri-processing. How is your relationship with other stakeholders? The BMF has a cordial relationship with all stakeholders, be they government, civil society and various business formations. The BMF is represented in NEDLAC. With government we have a mutually beneficial relationship. The BMF has been able to drive its transformation agenda and make significant contributions that have driven legislative changes. 61 NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS 2018/19

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