The 2025/26 edition of Northern Cape Business is the 15th issue of this highly successful publication that has, since its launch in 2009, established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the Northern Cape Province.
Officially supported and used by the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDaT) at conferences and other events, Northern Cape Business is unique as a business and investment guide that focuses exclusively on the province.
Specific investment projects are outlined in detail by DEDaT in this journal, covering opportunities in energy and mining, together with reports on dedicated investment zones.
Renewable energy investments continue to be made into the province, both in terms of wind power and solar farms, and plans to promote the green hydrogen economy are in place. The Northern Cape is almost uniquely qualified to play a lead role in this enterprise, given its bountiful resources of land, wind and sun. The idea to develop a deepwater port at Boegoebaai has been linked to the notion of a Special Economic Zone devoted to green hydrogen production.
The scale and importance of the giant radio astronomy project is given good coverage in this edition, with its economic impact, value as an educational and scientific catalyst and its potential role in boosting tourism all receiving attention.
To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online at https://www.globalafricanetwork.com under e-books. Updated information on the Northern Cape is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at https://www.southafricanbusiness.co.za, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces as well our flagship South African Business title.
OVERVIEWSECTOR
OVERVIEWSECTOR INSIGHTNorthern Cape SMME Trustis an incubator.Development financeand SMME supportThere are roads to opportunity.South Africa’s national road agency, SANRAL, has announced twonew Routine Road Maintenance (RRM) contracts in the JohnTaolo Gaetsewe District of the Northern Cape. The agency usesprojects such as these to create opportunities for small businessesto contract for parts of the larger contract, to offer skills training and toencourage enterprise development.Maintenance of the N14 includes grass cutting, removal of alienvegetation, cleaning of culverts, clearing of litter at rest areas and keepingthe road reserve and the fences clean and is expected to create workfor five years. Thumisang Pampoen, pictured, was among many smallbusinessowners who attended an information session run by SANRAL inMothibistad, near Kuruman.SANRAL Western Region Transformation Officer, Morné Windvogel,remarked, “We are available to do pre-tender training that capacitatesyou to submit compliant, competitive and profitable tenders. We also,through our various partnerships with industry players, assist with accessto finance, registration, skills development and business development,”said Windvogel.The Northern Cape SMME Trust is a multi-sector business incubationcentre supported by the public and private sectors. Boikanyo Solar, theSKA Karoo Enterprise Development Programme and the Northern CapeDepartment of Economic Development and Tourism are among thepartners. The Trust’s website lists 26 SMMEs and they range from securityand media production to funerals and brick-making. The Trust runs twofacilities in the Kimberley Business Centre in the suburb of Florianville.ONLINE RESOURCESIndustrial Development Corporation (IDC): www.idc.co.zaNorthern Cape SMME Trust: ncsmmetrust.orgNorthern Cape Solar Business Incubator: www.nocsobi.org.zaAssistance is available to allsectors but there is a specialfocus on manufacturing, ICT andrenewable energy.The Industrial DevelopmentCorporation (IDC) is an importantpart of the economic landscapeof the Northern Cape, not leastwith regard to SMMEs, but also inregard to larger projects.The Lower Orange RiverAgricultural Developmentproject that brought more than200ha under grapes throughthe Eksteenskuil Agricultural Cooperativewas funded by the JobsFund administered by the IDC.The co-operative has more than100 members. More recently,theIDC partnered with Saudi Arabianenergy giant ACWA Power inconstructing the100MW Redstoneconcentrated solar thermal power(CSP) plant.Entrepreneurs with smallerbudgets can also get help fromthe IDC, which sometimesmanages funds on behalfof other entities, such as theNational Department of Tourismin the case of the Green TourismIncentive Programme (GTIP).This programme will supporttourism operators wanting toinstall technologies that wouldhelp them save energy and water.Grants are issued up to R1-million.SME-Connect is an IDCprogramme that works withlarge companies, all of whichhave Supplier Developmentprogrammes (SD) and EnterpriseDevelopment programmes (ED),to nurture small businesses. ■NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS 2025/2652PHOTO: SANRAL
Northern Cape Chamberof Commerce and IndustryYour ultimate business connection.Affiliated to SACCI and SBIChief Executive Officer,Sharon SteynOur heritage in briefNOCCI was established on 22 February 2000when the Chamber of Business and the KimberleyAfrikaanse Sakekamer amalgamated. At the time,these two organisations had served the businesscommunity of Kimberley for 120 years.Membership advantagesA Chamber assesses and evaluates the needs of thelocal business community, in particular the needfor services to small business at a reasonable cost:• Monitors developments at the local level• Mobilises business opinion on local issues• Exerts a positive influence on the environment inwhich business operates and helps prospectivemembers grow their business• Promotes and encourages the pursuit of a highstandard of business ethics• Disseminates information that is useful to thebusiness fraternity• Creates opportunities for improving businessskills• Extends business contacts locally, regionally andnationally, and allows individual businesspeopleto share in the provincial and national businessdecision-making processes• Upholds the market economy and privateenterprise system• Has committees which are ideal places formembers of diverse interests to consolidateand unify their thinking as they work together –committees accurately sense the environment,process information and provide valuableguidance to the member• Holds functions and special events, allowingmembers to network and learn aboutinteresting topicsCan you afford not to belong?The increasingly complex business and socialenvironment requires a comprehensive supportstructure to ensure the most favourable climatefor the continued viable existence of individualbusinesses in a system of free enterprise. At thesame time, the Chamber movement facilitatesadjustment by business to those realities thatcannot be altered. Involvement in the Chambermovement bears abundant fruit for the well-beingof each business.Affiliated to SACCI and SBIThe NOCCI Committee, pictured above, is as follows:From left: Mr Bennie Burger (Treasurer), Accountingat Kimberley; Mr Jeandre van Zyl, Malu Pork; ProfRicardo Peters, Sol Plaatje University; Mrs PortiaPhoshoko, Flamingo Casino; Ms Sharon Steyn, NOCCICEO; Mr Greg Carstens, Numain Distributors; Mrs GezelleLottering (2nd Vice Chairperson) AVBOB; Mr MichaelKidson (President), Brand Pulse; Mr Rudolph Steyn(1st Vice Chairperson), Dynamic Engineering; MrGert Klopper, Masivane Ominogue; Mr Dudley Dally,DDCM (Immediate Past President). ■Website: www.nocci.co.za53NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS 2025/26
