MEC Kenetswe Mosengi Presents the North West Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism Budget Vote Speech 

The Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature Hon. Suzan Dantjie
The Deputy Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature Hon. Viola Ntsetsao
Mocumi
The Premier of the North West Province Hon. Kaobitsa Abel Bushy Maape
Members of the Executive Council
Members of the Provincial Legislature
North West House of Traditional Leaders led by Kgosi Mabe
The North West Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The North West Business Forums
Executive Mayors and Councillors present
CEO’s and Boards of State Owned Entities
Baagi ba Bokone Bophirima
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentleman

Honorable Speaker, the tabling of this budget vote for the Department of Economic
Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism set the tone for government and
other development partners to reflect on finding long lasting solutions to social challenges
such as hunger, under-development, hopelessness, poverty and unemployment.
Developing countries irrespective of geographic location are characterized by low levels
of education, low levels of access to health care, population growth, inequality, poverty,
unemployment and a declining or stagnant Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
economic growth in the province. During the 2018/2019 financial year, the North West
Province registered an unemployment rate of 28.4%.
In the last quarter of 2021 (October – December), the unemployment rate in the province
increased to 33.8%. Despite an increase in the unemployment rate, job creation in the
province during the same period grew by 9.4%. What makes the 2019/2020 and the
2020/2021 financial years unique, is that the global economy contracted during that
period due to the scourge of Covid 19. Supply chain networks were disrupted as nation
states closed their economies amid the fear of spreading Covid 19. Global growth as was
projected by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) had to be
revised downwards as a result of Covid 19. In 2021, the global economy was projected
to grow by 5.9% and in 2022, it is expected to grow by 4.9%.
Honorable Speaker, the picture painted above indicates that we need to do things
differently in order to grow the economy and create jobs for the people of the North West
Province. In the main, we need to note the Industrial Policy and Action Plan as
pronounced by the African National Congress Discussion Document on Economic
Transformation. Flowing from the Industrial Policy and Action Plan, should be the
implementation of the Provincial Economic Recovery Plan, the Provincial Industrial Plan
and Regional Industrial Plans. Assessments on the capacity of state owned enterprises
like the North West Development Corporation in implementing critical industrialization
projects like the Bojanala Special Economic Zone need to be concluded and where there
are weaknesses, appropriate steps must be taken!
Honorable Speaker, we have to internalize the message of our Premier, Honorable
Kaobitsa Abel Bushy Maape, when called upon all of us in government to enter into
strategic partnerships with the private sector in order to grow the economy and create
jobs.
Speaking during the State of the Province Address, the Premier emphasized the
importance of building a Developmental State and in particular, he called for the review
of state owned enterprises with the objective of ensuring that these important entities fulfil
the economic development function of creating jobs. Honorable Speaker, the Department
of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism is mindful of the
following outcomes of the Medium Term Strategic Framework for the 6th Administration:

-Fighting corruption and strengthening state capacity;

– Accelerating economic growth;

-Implementing economic reforms to create sustainable jobs and

-Fighting the corona virus pandemic

DEPARTMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTS FOR THE PAST FINANCIAL YEAR
INTEGRATED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

SMME Relief Fund
Honorable Speaker, we reiterate the devastating effects that Covid-19 has had on our
SMMEs of which we had responded with the development of an SMME Relief fund worth
about R40 million administered by the NWDC. As at January 2022, a total of 4353
beneficiaries were paid more than R22.8 million from the Covid-Relief Fund. There are
still outstanding payment for approved beneficiaries and the NWDC is in the process of
finalizing those payments.

Incubation programme
Honorable Speaker the Department in partnership with SEDA will continue rolling out the
Digital and Township Hubs in the Province. Incubators play a critical role in providing
start-up business development support services in manufacturing and digital solutions.
To date 30 SMMEs have been incubated by the Mahikeng Digital Innovation Hub, 18
incubated SMMEs registered a significant progress in their prototype development
process, and 6 companies are market ready.

Trade market and permanent flea market
Honorable Speaker, in an effort to stimulate local economy, a collaboration of the
Department of Economic Development Environment Conservation and Tourism and its
entities (NWDC and Parks Board), Ngaka Modiri Molema and Mahikeng Municipalities,
in partnership with Department of Small Business Development and SEDA is in the
process of establishing the Trade and Flea Market Project. The NWDC small industries
has been identified to establish a Manufacturing Hub, whilst the Cookes Lake Information
Centre has been identified as a Flea Market Hub that will cater 23 units that will
accommodate SMMEs. To this end the Mahikeng Local Municipality has finalized the
designs and inception report for the Manufacturing Hub.

Informal traders market
Honourable Speaker, this programme is targeted at supporting municipalities to establish
informal traders market that will support the integration of the informal trading businesses
into beneficial buyer groups and distribution networks. The project is implemented in
partnership with Mamusa Local Municipality and Dr. Ruth District Municipality. The land
earmarked for this Project has been released by Council and consultation with
beneficiaries on designs options are in process. The approved design will determine the
carrying capacity for the trade market. The Department of Public Works has assisted the
Department with Preliminary Designs and the next phase of the Project is to appoint the
Principal Project Manager in Partnership with Mamusa Local Municipality to manage the
project roll-out.

Empowerment program
Honourable Speaker, the Empowerment Fund is an intervention aimed at leveraging
enterprise funding in partnership with key stakeholders. The fund assists with the
procurement of equipment for start-up as well as growth and expansion of small business
enterprises who wish to expand their businesses and contribute to job creation and
poverty alleviation. The fund focuses on the empowerment of enterprises owned by
youth, women, people with disabilities and military veterans. About 750 applications has
been received of which only 115 applications have been approved for support in the
2022/23 financial year. Dr. Ruth District will be prioritised for this intervention!

Applications received per district

Honourable Speaker, I’m delighted to share with this August House that the department
is encouraged by the positive feedback received from beneficiaries of this fund. Some of
the businesses that benefited include Ms. Thandeka Galane of Lachichi PTY LTD from
Jourbeton, who received beauty spar equipment. Ms. Modiegi Wana of Monelo Catering
and projects PTY LTD from Goedgefonden in Ventersdorp, received catering and event
equipment’s. Ms. Merriam Mosala of Lady Spare’s accessories and Repairs from
Dihatshwane village in Rooigrond received 4 post lift equipment. Mr. George Kgampe of
Kgolo G.C Trading and Enterprise from Potchefstroom received printing equipment. Ms.
Boitumelo Ojeng of Refilwe Tlotlo Projects from Mmabatho received mobile kitchen and
mobile freezer. Ms. Veronica Ndileka of Zaedwa Services PTY LTD of Matlhebeng village
in Mahikeng received catering and event management equipment. Majority of applicants
that responded to the call for applications are from Ngaka Modiri Molema.

Business Advisory Program
Honourable Speaker, the Department has in its endeavour to solve the twin problems of
high youth unemployment in the province and high failure rate of SMMEs partnered with
Services SETA to implement a business advisory program for young people. The
intervention focuses on developing a cohort of competent Business Advisors by enrolling
100 unemployed graduates into a 12 months Practical Business Advisory Candidacy
Programme accredited by Institute of Business Advisors of Southern Africa (IBASA) and
SAIPA(Southern African Institute for Professional Accountants). The graduates will either
establish their own businesses or enter the business advisory job market after completion
of the training program.
The Department applauds SAIPA for donation of 50 routers with data to their group of
learners as an enabler for virtual learning programs and business opportunities.
Additional 100 learners has been enrolled for a six months Business Advisory Skills
Program).

Comprehensive Business Development Support Services for SMMEs and Cooperatives

Honourable Speaker, this program is an enterprise development support initiatives
targeting growth and acceleration of SMMEs with supplier development interventions
such as access to markets, product development and SABS accreditation, mentorship,
competitiveness and implementation of turnaround strategies. This intervention is the
heartbeat of every business for it to grow and become sustainable. To date, 648 SMMEs
and Cooperatives benefited from interventions within this program. 25 business
enterprises benefitted from Wellness Social Enterprise. Beneficiaries of this program
have the potential to become black industrialists and become suppliers of localised
commodities in the province.

TRADE AND SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
Youth Automotive skills development program
Honourable Speaker, the Department of Economic Development, Environment,
Conservation and Tourism is continuing with its implementation of the Automotive Sector
Skills Development and Training Programme. The Automotive Skills Development
Programme was introduced in 2021/22 for implementation in Kenneth Kaunda District
and Bojanala District.
To date 100 youth were trained in automotive skills development programme in penal
beating, auto mechanic, automotive repairs, tyre and puncture repairs.
Last year the department partnered with Orbit TVET College, Mankwe Campus to provide
an Intensive Automotive and Entrepreneurship Skills Development programme to
unemployed youth through the Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator and total of
80 learners from Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Districts were
recruited and contracted to participate in the 6 month skills development programme. The
first group of 40 learners have commenced with training on the 3rd of April 2022 and it is
expected that the second group of 40 learners will start training by October 2022.
Honourable Speaker, the department in partnership with the National Bojanala District
Political Champion Hon. Gwede Mantashe who is also the Minister of the Department of
Mineral Resources, has hosted a number of engagement with the mining sector
(Samancor, Impala Platinum, Glencore and Sebanye Stillwater). Mining companies have
committed to continue working with the communities and business around mining
operations in Bojanala District to empower and capacitate local businesses to access the
available procurement opportunities that are estimated at R21 billion.
Honourable Speaker, in line with our previous submission to this August House, we can
report that much progress has been made to further capacitate the Bojanala Special
Economic Zone (SEZ) Project Unit currently coordinated by the NWDC. This adds
impetus towards the establishment of the SEZ Company which we anticipate to be
completed with urgency.
An Executive was appointed in July 2021, and further appointments in critical positions
are expected to be completed before the end of the 2021/2022 fiscal year. In the interim,
an SEZ sub-committee, under the NWDC Board, is overseeing progress on the Bojanala
SEZ project.Conversant with Cabinet feedback on the last application for designation of
Bojanala SEZ, the planning phase is far advanced and will be finalized during the first half
of 2022. Progress has been made in finalizing the Business Case and infrastructure
Master plan, there is now greater clarity on what the province needs to do to promote and
support Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) beneficiation, as well as building other strategic
industrial clusters in Bojanala Region.
In response to investment attraction efforts, there is continued investor interest in the
SEZ, and currently the investment pipeline stands at over R5 billion, including 9 black
industrialists. Five (5) Black Industrialist-owned firms are already operational while three
(3) are ready to start operations once refurbishment of their facilities is completed. The
three (3) bIack industrialists collectively invested R280 million and created 250 jobs.

Implementation of a Smart City Project
Honorable Speaker, we reported last year, that the North West Province will benefit from
the Smart City Project linking Lanseria in Gauteng to Hartebeespoort Dam in Madibeng.
Discussions between the Project Developers and the NWDC progressed to an advanced
stage. An agreement between both parties are pending based on budget availability.
Once fully completed, the industrial park is anticipated to create 1700 sustainable jobs in
Bodirelo, Mogwase.

The N12 Development Project
Honorable Speaker, we can confirm efforts by the NWDC to assist ISAGO @ N12
Development Company, a private sector led, high value high impact project based in
Matlosana. The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has committed to R512 million which
is yet to be disbursed. The anticipated impact directly to Motlasana District would be an
investment of R540 million creating a total of 777 sustainable jobs.
Honorable Speaker, Communities in Rustenburg would like to benefit from the
opportunities arising from mining activities in the area and will also like to see
transformation takes place in the localization and procurement in the mines. Impala has
appointed a service provider to draft a procurement localization plan to capacitate local
business to access mining value chain procurement opportunities.
There are 61 Business Forums that are demanding mining procurement opportunities and
it is difficult to satisfy all of them. The mining companies have committed to work with all
stakeholders to localize procurement and contribute to job creation.

BUSINESS REGULATION AND GOVERNANCE
Honourable Speaker, the department continues to create awareness on consumer and
liquor matters throughout the four districts. In addition to this North West Provincial
Consumer Court has resolved 66% of cases lodged and closed 291 cases.
We have also conducted compliance inspections to ensure that business are in
compliance with Consumer Protections Act and other relevant legislations. The
Department further inspected 107 businesses for compliance with consumer protection
legislation. An amount of R848 million was retrieved on behalf of consumers. This is an
amount that was put back into the consumers’ pockets due to the intervention of
Consumer Affairs Office.
The Consumer Affairs Court has been operational during this financial year and has
played a significant role as businesses become more compliant with the Office rulings.
The Department through its Liquor Board adjudicated 895 applications and inspected a
total number of 4210 liquor outlets during routine and joint compliance enforcements.
During renewal of liquor license the department uncover fraudulent and they were
reported accordingly to the board and authorities. The department has presented the
Business Licencing Act to 15 local municipalities. The remaining three municipalities will
be finalized by end of May. Our Department Hon. Speaker, conducted 107 public
awareness workshop on the new Business Act throughout the province. Honourable
Speaker, the department will in the current financial year, operationalise the North West
Business Licensing Act No.3 of 2019.
Honourable Speaker, in the 2021/2022 financial year, the department undertook a task
to identify the types of businesses operating in the province. The data for all Businesses,
Liquor Outlet and the Consumer related issues was collected per Local Municipality,
District Municipalities then consolidated to the Provincial Data Base. The aim of this
exercise is to have a Provincial data Base of different types of businesses. The
department is now in the process of finalising the Provincial data base. This necessary
work has greatly assisted in ensuring the prevention of illegal business operations.

Gambling Board
Honorable Speaker the board issued six new sites operator licences which created
employment to eight people. In partnership with South African Police Service we have
ensured that illegal gambling machines are removed from communities and to date 21
gambling machines were confiscated and the operators given administrative fines.
Despite the impact of COVID on the industry, majority of licensees are now operating at
pre-COVID revenue levels
Honourable Speaker, in an effort to expand offerings, a fifth Casino License has been
successfully re-allocated to the North West Province following a positive outcome at the
Constitutional Court. This has progressed to Gambling Board being at the point of
sourcing a service provider to conduct the feasibility study for the placement of the casino.
The outcome of the feasibility study will advise the province where best the fifth casino is
to be located.

ENVIROMENTAL SERVICES
Honourable Speaker, progress on the implementation of the ggazetted NW
Environmental Implementation Plan (EIP) 2020–2025 was monitored and reported on
through the 2021/22 Annual Compliance Report. The Department supported two
emerging nurseries in Mogwase and provided garden tools and seedlings. Mass cleaning
campaigns were held in Wolmaransstad (Maquassi Hills), with more than 100 wheelie
bins being donated there. Furthermore, honorable Speaker, the Department donated fruit
trees and indigenous trees to those indigent families. Spekboom trees were donated in
Tlhabane to sequestrate carbon emissions. Environmental Services initiated and
spearheaded the Keep Mahikeng Clean project. Environmental Services has supported
the Devil’s Claw project to cultivate in preparation of planting Devil’s Claw (Sengaparile).
The Programme was 100% effective in finalising Environmental Authorisations (EIA,
Waste Management Licenses, and Atmospheric Emission Licenses) within legislated
timeframes. More inspections were conducted and enforcement actions undertaken
resulting in more visibility of Environmental Management Inspectors, compliance
monitoring and enforcement of environmental legislation.
Honourable Speaker, despite all challenges faced by our entities, Parks Board managed
to reduce poaching of rhinos in the rhino parks. The Board started with maintenance of
dehorning in Pilanesberg Nature Reserve, Mafikeng Nature Reserve and Botsalano
Nature Reserves respectively.
The North-West Parks Board further responded by designating another 5 field rangers as
Environment Management Inspectors at Molemane Eye Nature Reserve. A South African
court has handed down hefty 85-year prison sentences to three (3) convicted
13
Mozambican rhino poachers. It was the heaviest sentence ever handed down for rhino
poaching in the country.
Honourable Speaker, this criminals were sentenced in the Mogwase Regional Court for
the brutal killing and de-horning of three rhinos at Pilanesberg Nature Reserve in July

Another threat is the spread of alien and invasive plant species. There are intensive
efforts in Molemane Eye Nature Reserve, Wolwespruit Nature Reserve, Barberspan
Nature Reserve, Vaalkopdam Nature Reserve, Botsalano Nature Reserve and
Pilanesberg Nature Reserve to clear and control alien and invasive species. This efforts
are ongoing and will be intensified in the current financial year.
Honourable Speaker, the clearing of invasive indigenous species in Madikwe Nature
Reserve and Pilanesberg Nature Reserve through assistance from partner organization
resulted in vast areas cleared and the vegetation structure changed to improve habitat
for plain game species. Job opportunities are created through fixed term contracts
through programs such as working on fire, ecosystems, environmental monitors, tourism
monitors, wetlands and procurement.
Honourable Speaker, the Social Ecology Unit needs to focus on interactions between the
Board and communities in the province, specifically those around our parks. The
Education for Sustainable Development continued with interactions and conducted an
“Out Of School Youth Camp” for youth in Boskopdam Nature Reserve.
Honourable Speaker, the Junior Ranger (Mafikeng High School Boys Camp) in
collaboration with SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association was held in
November 2021. A lecture on Saving Water was held at Gaeiseraele Primary School
where 120 Leaners were present. The Environmental Education Educators Camp was
also presented at Vaalkop Dam Nature Reserve where 100 Environmental Education
Educators were targeted and issues of the school curriculum, climate change, Education
for Sustainable development and Kids and Parks programs were taught. The Board also
hosted the People and Parks Dialogue at Sundown Country Estate which was attended
by 60 members of the Communal Property Associations in the North-West Province.
Honourable Speaker, Parks Board assisted in the ecological assessment and evaluation
of community properties to convert them to wildlife related land use practices or
conservation areas. The Board held a 10 day training workshop on reed weaving for
SMME’s who are selling brooms on the side of the road next to Molemane Eye Nature
Reserve. The intension was to introduce a new skill that would diversify their products by
using reed to weave laundry baskets, reed mats, blinds and chairs. The Board
furthermore conducted an awareness creation on sustainable harvesting of medicinal
plants, conservation, and their relation to livelihoods.
Honourable Speaker, Parks Board is in the process of finalizing its Commercializing
strategy for protected areas in the NWP. The objective of the strategy it to improve income
generation to the Parks Board, and also to encourage inclusive participation in economic
opportunities in parks

TOURISM
Honorable Speaker, a total of 265 Tourism SMMEs benefited from the Tourism Relief
Fund, while 80 Tour guides were assisted through the Tourism Guide Fund both set up
by National Department of Tourism
In order to ensure compliance with basic business statutory requirements (proper
company registration, tax return, UIF, sub sector compliance). To this end, 100 Tourism
facilities site were inspected to check compliance with all Covid-19 regulations. A total of
178 Tourist Guides were inspected throughout the province and 29 new Tourist Guides
were registered.
The department conducted 3 Cultural Content Development Workshops for the Tourist
guide sector at Ngaka Modiri Molema, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and Dr Kenneth
Kaunda Districts. The Department successfully held a well-attended International Tourist
Guides Day Celebration in the province. The Department supported 57 emerging
Tourism establishments with grading intervention.
Honourable Speaker, the Tourism industry comes out of a very difficult time and
environment in terms of tourism activities. This is a result of the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic which has had a very significant impact on the performance of the industry.
The underperformance has been characterized by low visitor numbers, internationally and
locally, closure of establishments leading to job losses, low tourism activities and related
services.
Due to the fact that tourism is a very resilient sector, there is a countrywide agreed upon
action plan to resuscitate and rejuvenate the industry across the industry value chain. It
is against this background that as the North West Province, we will need to increase or
enhance our efforts to reposition the North West tourist destination as a preferred
destination of choice so as to ensure the saving of lost jobs and increase number of
visitations to the Province to generate the much needed revenue for the destination and
to contribute to the country’s GDP. The North West Tourism Board has developed a new
destination marketing strategy that has been widely consulted with the industry players
as well as other stakeholders. The strategy resonates with the widely agreed upon
tourism recovery plan to rejuvenate the sector after it was adversely affected by the
pandemic. Over and above this there has been constant budget cuts that have had a
huge impact on other marketing activities
Honourable Speaker, the Bloemhof Infrastructure Project has made significant progress
with the final phase including the construction of 12 chalets and the upgrading of the
entrance gate. It is anticipated that the full project will be completed by the end of the
2022/2023 financial year.
Honourable Speaker, the novel coronavirus outbreak has had devastating effects on the
tourism sector. The North West Province experienced a drop of 76.4% in international
tourists’ arrivals and a 33% drop in domestic tourism activities. The ripple effect in
associated economic activities such as transport, catering and accommodation cannot be
under-emphasised. In a path to recovery for the industry, the North West Tourism Board
has concluded a sector wide consultation on the development of the North West
Destination Marketing Strategy which will reposition the Tourism Sector to compete
successfully as a world class tourism destination post Covid-19.
Honorable Speaker, I want to submit to this August House that the department is aware
and deeply concerned about underperforming entities such as the North West
Development Corporation, the Golden Leopards Resorts and the North West Parks
Board. In rebuilding the entities, a turnaround strategy, revenue enhancement strategy
and commercialization strategy particularly for Parks Boards are being developed to drive
the entities to deliver on their mandate efficiently and effectively. It cannot be that scarce
financial resources be annually transferred to this underperforming entities and there is
no value for money

JOB CREATION
Honourable Speaker, in the 2021/2022 financial year, the department undertook a task
to identify the types of businesses operating in the province. To this end, a total of 144
data capturers were appointed on a fixed term contract which concluded end of FebruaryThis necessary work has greatly assisted in ensuring the prevention of illegal
business operations.
We are proud to inform this August House of the successful Pilot of the Expanded Public
Works Programme (EPWP) Tourism and Hospitality Placement initiative in which 100
Youth were appointed and placed in various tourism businesses.
Honourable Speaker, this integral skills transfer in the industry will ensure that youth are

given multiple avenues of opportunities as skilled contributors to a vibrant sector. The
Department continued to support the implementation of the Hartbeespoort Dam
Remediation Programme through chairing the quarterly Hartbeespoort Dam Coordinating
Committee meetings and by appointing 15 EPWP workers to assist with the cleaning of
debris around the dam. 250 job opportunities were created through the EPWP
programme within the Environmental Sector. Honorable Speaker, these opportunities aim
to address the various needs and requirements on management issues such as
infrastructure maintenance, ecological management, cleaning services, fire
management, monitoring services, etc. Through these programs, we managed to create
and sustain a total of 400 temporary and permanent jobs.
Honorable Speaker, in the context of the District Development Model, the department is
working closely with Development Finance Institutions (DFI’s) to support businesses in
the province. We acknowledge our close collaboration with the following financial
institutions: Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), National Empowerment Fund
(NEF), Land Bank, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Small Enterprise
Development Agency (SEDA), Small Enterprise Funding Agency (SEFA) and Productivity
SA.

BUDGET ALLOCATION
To undertake this mammoth task, our Department is allocated R958.259 million in
2022/23 For the current fiscal year, our budget is broken down as follows:

A total amount of R369.548 million or 38.5 percent of the allocation for 2022/23 is
earmarked for transfers to the following public entities for the implementation of the
departmental mandate.

DEPARTMENTAL PLANS FOR 2022/2023
Honorable Speaker, I am excited to report to this August House that the Department of
Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism is far ahead in terms
of implementing and operationalizing the
District Development Model. The department has programs some of which are
implemented with other stakeholders like local municipalities, SEDA, our Entities in the
province, Department of Small Business Development and the private sector. Most of the
planned projects are funded and will be implemented from the current financial year.
Projects such as:

• Heritage site infrastructure project through the Independent Development Trust(IDT) will be implemented with a budget allocation of R35.2 million inGreater Taung Dr. RSM;
• The department will be completing all the outstanding infrastructure project through the Independent Development Trust (IDT) to the tune of R32.5 million in Taung Hotel School and Orkney Hotel School.
• A Business Advisory Program with a budget allocation of R10 million will be rollout in Mafikeng,Klerksdorp, Vryburg and Rustenburg targeting 200 young people.
• Development and Enterprise Support Centres with an allocated budget of R2 million will be implemented in Moretele, Ratlou, Kagisano-Molopo and Moses Kotane.
• Establishment and support of Incubation Centre Program with a budget allocation of R12 million will be implemented in Orkney, Taung, Vryburg, Mogwase and Mafikeng
• A provincial Office aimed at establishing and implementing an interactiveMarketing Online Platform will set up in Mafikeng to the tune of R 1.1 million
• Trade markets in two districts of Ngaka Modiri Molema and DRSM will be rolled out in collaboration with Mahikeng and Mamusa Local Municipalities
• Empowerment fund to support start-up and expansion of SMMEs and Co-operativein all four districts will allocated an amount of R15 million
• Capacity building to empower LED officials will be implemented in all 18municipalities for an allocation of R1.5 million
• The department will intervene with business turnaround interventions targeting 10distressed businesses at a budget of R10 million.
• The Department will be establishing Township Automotive Hubs in Ngaka ModiriMolema and Dr. RSM Districts at a budget of R3 million.
• In addressing unemployment particularly among the youth, women and people with disabilities, the department together with its entities will create 2500 jobs in the current financial year
• The province will work with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) to locate investors who are ready to start operations in the SEZ. A total of R41. 4 million is allocated for implementation of the Bojanala SEZ Program.
• The department will coordinate and host the Provincial Job Summit as pronounced by Premier in the State of the Province Address. The planned date for the Provincial Job summit is the 28 to 29 July 2022 at Bojanala. The objective of the Provincial Job Summit is to find ways of growing the economy and creating jobs in the province.

Honourable Speaker, as the world experience severe and extreme climate conditions,
biodiversity is bound to be affected. It is within that context that we need to collectively
work on climate change mitigation. Climate change damages important infrastructure that
supports economic growth and development. The recent natural disasters in Deelpan in
Ratlou showed that our province is not immune to the effects of climate change. The
findings of a scientific study conducted by the department on Deelpan disaster indicates
that the area that was affected by floods not long ago is a wet land and is not suitable for human settlement. It is against this background that I call on all sister
departments and development agencies to find a long lasting solution to the problem of
Deelpan.
Honourable Speaker, that is why in this financial year, DEDECT will be reviewing its
Climate Change Response Strategy and implementation Plan. In 2021, we develop this strategy and plan. The process was a collaborative project with the national Department
of Forestry, Fisheries and the German Developmental Agency.

Key deliverables from the collaboration process will be:

• An updated provincial vulnerability and climate change risk assessment.
• A provincial Greenhouse Gas inventory
• A climate change response strategy and implementation plan covering both mitigation and adaptation.

Honourable Speaker, the Department is planning to conduct four (4) significant
biodiversity economy initiatives, namely:

• Pamaenons Tswaane Safaris (Tswaane CPA game farm)
• Tshwenyane Safaris (Bahurutshe Bo Mokgatlha CPA Game Farm)
• Olivenkloof Game Farm (land post-redistribution project)
• The Mebala Ya Rona Transformational Wildlife Auction, which will present a needed marketing platform for previously disadvantaged wildlife farmers

Honourable Speaker, in this current financial year, the department will oversee the
finalization of the Environmental Impact Assessments, and the issuing of Waste
Management and Atmospheric Emissions Licences within legislated timeframe.
Honourable Speaker, enforcement of compliance on environmental matters cannot be
over-emphasized. Not long ago we had to intervene after Tharisa Mine failed to comply
with its licence conditions on environmental management.
We held a series of meetings with various stakeholders after receiving complaints from
communities about the noise, blasting and other health hazards which were experienced
by communities that reside near Tharisa Mine is operating.

Honorable Speaker, I wish to take this opportunity to thank the stewardship of Hon.
Premier and the wise counsel of colleagues in the Executive Council, Portfolio
Committee, my family, Chairpersons and Board members of our entities and CEO of our
entities, Management and staff of the Department and entities, as well as the staff in my
office for their support and commitment towards the realization of a pragmatic vision that
we have shared with you today. Moreover, I want to thank my organization, the African
National Congress for having given me an opportunity to serve the people of our
province in this capacity.
I thank you all
Ke a leboga!
Pula!