Government has initiated a rescue plan to revitalise fifteen mining towns in five provinces that were experiencing a prolonged economic slump exacerbated by mining, industrial, commercial or agricultural shedding of jobs. Twelve of labour sending areas in two provinces have also been prioritised for the revitalisation of distressed mining communities.
MINING TOWNS |
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PROVINCE |
DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY |
LOCAL MUNICIPALITY |
Limpopo |
Sekhukhune |
Fetakgomo, Greater Tubatse, Elias Motsoaledi |
Waterberg |
Lephalele |
|
Gauteng |
West Rand |
Westonaria, Randfontein, Mogale City, Merafong |
North West |
Bojanala |
Rustenburg, Moses Kotane, Madibeng |
Dr Kenneth Kaunda |
Matlosana |
|
Mpumalanga |
Nkangala |
Emalahleni, Steve Tshwete |
Free State |
Lejweleputswa |
Matjhabeng |
Twelve labour sending areas in two provinces have been prioritised for the revitalisation of distressed mining communities.
LABOUR SENDING AREAS |
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PROVINCE |
DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY |
LOCAL MUNICIPALITY |
Eastern Cape |
OR Tambo |
King Sabata Dalindyebo, Nyandeni, Nquza Hill, Mhlontlo, Port St Johns |
Alfred Nzo |
Mbizana, Ntabankulu |
|
KwaZulu Natal |
Zululand |
AbaQulusi, eDumbe, Nongoma, Ulundi, uPhongolo |
An integrated strategy and Back to Basics Programme was approved by the Inter-Ministerial Committees (IMC), late last year for the different work streams to address the socio economic conditions in mining towns and labour sending areas holistically. Various Programmes are in place and being implemented. The Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG) is coordinating the national departments, provinces and municipalities. The following departments/institutions participate in the work of the Economic Work Stream:
Progress has been made in diversifying the economies of mining towns by conducting economic assessments to identify investment opportunities in the following Provinces:
In Limpopo, sectoral opportunities in agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, wholesale and retail, and tourism has been identified in Sekhukhune and anticipated to attract investments at De Hoop Dam tourism development, Potlake Nature Reserve, fresh produce market, Tubatse special economic zone, R55 doubling and tarring, De Hoop augmentation, mining sector support businesses, bio diesel production, vegetable processing plant, flag boshielo dam development, Mountain Resort Linked to Drakensburg Escarpment Cluster of Projects and Tsate heritage site.
Sectoral opportunities in Waterberg District Municipality were also identified in agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing and tourism. The envisaged investment attraction include agricultural hubs, logistics hub, opportunities linked to mining expansion in the region, mining product beneficiation opportunities, water sorting plant ( green economy), and tourism projects linked to biosphere and nature reserves.
Gauteng sectoral opportunities in agriculture, tourism, green economy, economic infrastructure, transport and logistics were identified and hope to attract the following investments to West Rand:
Free State’s sectoral opportunities were identified in agriculture, mining, tourism, automotive/transportation and energy, hope to attract the following investments in Lejeleputswa:
Sectoral opportunities in agriculture and agro processing, mining, chemicals/electronics and automotive, manufacturing and trade and tourism have been identified in the North West Province and anticipated to attract investments into Bojanala District in the following areas:
Sectoral opportunities in Mpumalanga have been identified in agriculture, mining, food products, wood products, chemicals, and automotive and hope to attract the following investments into Nkangala District Municipality: