The establishment of a major industrial park focussed primarily on the manufacture of goods required by the mines in the region.

The DTI has launched an initiative through which ten potential Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have been identified. It is proposed that the industrial park in the RBN act as the anchor for the SEZ, not just as a conduit for manufacturers located elsewhere, but rather with actual manufacturing plants.

The Impala Platinum and Royal Bafokeng Platinum mines are involved in this initiative and have provided information on the products being procured, the value of those products and the suppliers. The intention is to match their requirements with existing producers in South Africa and to attract those manufacturers to establish production plants in the industrial park, either through relocation of enterprises, or by establishing satellite plants locally.

From this information a procurement assessment has identified opportunities for the establishment of small, medium scale and large scale enterprises in the region. Specific incentives will be offered through the SEZ, while the RBN would also be willing to take an equity stake in the manufacturing concern as a BEE partner. Furthermore, it is proposed that manufacturers establishing enterprises in the park will be required to engage in on-going training and empowerment of local SMMEs. This will involve both support in the creation of small businesses along the value chain and mentorship and development of SMMEs to establish their own manufacturing enterprises.

Synergies and partnerships

• Impala Platinum
• Royal Bafokeng Platinum
• RLM   

Benefits

• Job creation
• Industry development
• Enterprise development

Current status and next steps

• Urban-Econ determining procurement needs of local mines
• Manufacturing industries to be approached once economy of scale goods ordered by mines have been determined