The Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, in collaboration with the Northern Cape Provincial Government and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, hosted the Northern Cape Mining and Minerals Investment Conference from 10-11 March 2022 in Kimberley. The conference was hosted under the theme, “Growing a globally competitive and transformed mineral resources and energy sector”. Mr. Thami Mabija, Head of Department for the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, served as Programme Director for the two- day event.  

Optimistic about the sector and the outcomes of the conference for the Northern Cape Province, the Premier, Dr. Zamani Saul reflected on the state of mining in the province. A commodity rich province, the mineral resources can help grown the economy and GDP of the Northern Cape. Dr. Saul emphasised that the mining sector was growing at a steady rate in the province and that at present the mining sector is the second largest contributor to the provincial economy, standing at 22.9% with the largest contributor being government services. 75% of the worlds’ manganese is extracted from the NC. Therefore mining houses are called to consolidate their efforts within mining communities in order to have a meaningful and longstanding impact on local communities. Furthermore, mining houses must contribute to local infrastructure development as a key stakeholder in mining communities. One of the challenges to be mitigated is the size of procurement by mining houses, which makes it difficult for local SMMEs to secure contracts. In order to realise the vision of the Northern Cape a balance must be struck between social, economic and environmental factors. At the end of his address the Premier stated the Northern Cape needed to industrialize and that if we wish to grow the NC economy then we need to grow mining and its contribution to the province.

The Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane gave the opening address for the conference and emphasized the importance to transform the mining and minerals sector through the expansion of opportunities for historically disadvantaged individuals and ensuring that the country’s mineral wealth benefits South Africans. Dr. Nkabane applauded the multinational corporation South 32,  for conducting its operations in the NC, including the reconstruction of the Rearata Primary School in Kuruman. Government and mining communities want to see a tangible impact made by mining houses, by making local communities central to development. The Deputy Minister further  announced Cabinets approval of an Exploration Strategy for the Mining Industry of South Africa. Exploration is the first step in mining and the strategy seeks to ensure exploration provides for the inclusion of emerging exploration companies. Mr Musa Mabuza, CEO of the Council for Geoscience, encouraged exploration in South Africa and added that the country used to be a leader in exploration, globally. According to Mr Mabuza the Northern Cape is a leading frontier exploration destination.

CEO of Mapeo-Andi Mining Services (Pty) Ltd, Mr Kabelo Andreas spoke about the opportunities for new players within the mining sector. He stated that SMMEs in the province could be capable of doing core jobs in the sector such as drilling and blasting and encouraged SMMEs to seek such opportunities in actual mining operations and not jobs such as gardening services. Opportunities in mining operations are there and SMMEs must seek out these opportunities. He also called for banks to be involved in providing funding and other financial solutions to SMMEs in the mining and minerals sector.

On day two of the conference, Mr Hendrik Louw, CEO for NCEDA, presented the investment potential within the Namakwa Special Economic Zone (SEZ). He highlighted that the NC does not have an industrial park as yet and this is an opportunity for investors. He further reaffirmed that mining was a catalyst for economic growth and made an example of Aggenys in the Namakwa District municipality which is no longer a mining town but an industrial town, in which Vedanta Zinc International is already running the Gamsberg Zinc Mine and intends to build a smelter.

Moreover, Ms. Nompumelelo Maisela, acting Director: Black industrialists, from the Department of Trade and Competition (DTIC) presented opportunities for black industrialists in the sector and emphasised that mining was one of the targeted sectors as it cuts across various other sectors such as agro processing, the automotive industry, blue oceans economy and construction to name a few. She also identified the sector as one which has not industrialised. South Africa is in need of mineral black industrialists. The funding available for Black Industrialists is focused on industrializing and does not fund mining.

Robust panel discussion on the following topics were held:

• Social Cohesion: Assessing impact and achieving sustainable mining communities.
• Beneficiation and small - scale mining

These discussions provided guidance to the Deputy Minister and all stakeholders on proposed interventions and challenges.

Through events such as the NC Mining and Mineral Investment Conference, the provincial and national government hopes to reinvigorate the sector and provide progress on the action plan at the next mining conference in 2023.

For more information on investment opportunities in the Northern Cape, please go to:

http://www.nceda.co.za

For enquiries and applications on the Black Industrialist Programme, contact:

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Application submissions:

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