The SAB Ibhayi brewery in Gqeberha is getting power from the sun. (Credit: SOLA)
In addition to leading the way in attracting wind power projects, the Eastern Cape is making good progress in trying to ensure that the community trusts that arise from these and other renewable energy projects actively benefit communities.
According to the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA), 16 wind projects were secured for the province in the course of the first four windows of bidding of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). As of the middle of 2020, the value of the projects was estimated at nearly R20-billion with R4.6-billion committed to communities living and working near wind projects.
From 2017, SAWEA started running workshops for community trusts, municipal officials responsible for economic development, the national IPP office and wind farm representatives. Of the R4.6-billion mentioned above, some 42% was allocated to skills development and educational programmes. Among the skills identified as needing to be enhanced were governance, fiduciary oversight and the ability to critically assess development projects.
More than half the wind farm projects so far approved have been allocated to the province.
As a coastal province, the Eastern Cape has obvious advantages, but the availability of wind is not the only factor. As SAWEA notes, “Wind farms are constructed according to the quality of the wind resource and ease of connection to the national grid.”
Both Cookhouse and Stormberg have been listed as Energy Development Zones which means that they are one of the planned national transmission corridors, allowing for direct access to the grid for wind farms in these areas.
South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) requires 20 000 MW of renewable energy by 2030 and wind power technology, together with solar photovoltaic, are the two primary methods that are being deployed in pursuit of that target.
More than half the wind farm projects so far approved have been allocated to the province. The Kouga area west of Jeffreys Bay and the Cookhouse/Bedford area about 95 km north-west of Makhanda (Grahamstown) represent two wind power hubs, with a collective capacity of 1 185 MW.
Credit: BTE Renewables
In May 2021 it was announced that the 123 MW Golden Valley Wind Energy Facility near Cookhouse south of Cradock in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality had reached commercial operations. This means that the energy requirements of about 120 000 households will be met.
Just a few kilometres east of Cookhouse there are a further two wind farms, both awarded to Enel Green Power (EGP) in the fourth round of the REIPPPP. The Nxuba and Nojoli wind farms will respectively produce 140 MW and 88 MW and represent what might be called Enel’s Eastern Cape mountain area investment. On the coast they have built wind farms at Oyster Bay and Gibson Bay, west of the 138 MW Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm, which is run by Globeleq and was one of the country’s first big wind energy facilities.
The Provincial Government of the Eastern Cape is collaborating with the National Department of Employment and Labour to train young people in digital technology and solar energy. The Youth Digital eXponential (YDx) Project is funded by the Unemployment Insurance Fund and is to be implemented by the South African Digital Content Organisation. As of February 2022, 500 young people were participating.
Green power
Humansdorp could become the site of a plant that produces e-methanol from green hydrogen and gas created from locally-sourced biomass.
Zero-carbon methane is to be made at Humansdorp.
Three companies have signed an agreement to do a feasibility study: ENERTRAG South Africa, Earth & Wire and 24Solutions. The abundant wind and solar resources of the area would create the renewable energy to form the green hydrogen. Green hydrogen qualifies as such if the process to make it used only renewables. All of the electricity produced by renewable energy facilities would be used by the electrolyser (for the green hydrogen), desalination and e-methanol plants.
ENERTRAG’s German parent has considerable experience in innovation and is working with Sasol on aviation fuel alternatives. In 2011 it opened the world’s first hybrid wind to hydrogen power plant.
Earth & Wire has signed agreements across South Africa with landowners on 400 000 ha of land which the company intends using to build renewable energy facilities. The short-term focus is on wind and solar projects close to completion in Mpumalanga, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.
Green hydrogen is very much the flavour of the month, in the aftermath of the negotiations at the COP26 conference.
The Coega SEZ has been chosen by Hive Hydrogen SA as the location of a Green Hydrogen project which will be fully operational by 2026. The project will see a green ammonia plant constructed, valued at approximately $4.6-billion. The main development partners are BuiltAfrica and Hive Energy of the UK who have formed Hive Hydrogen SA but various other partners are involved.
Local salt manufacturer Cerebos will supply desalinated water to the project.
Green hydrogen is very much the flavour of the month, in the aftermath of the negotiations at the COP26 conference.
The hydrogen will be separated from the oxygen by an electrolyser, and hydrogen and nitrogen will be combined to form green ammonia which will be stored in liquid form at a tank at the Port of Ngqura, from where it can be exported around the world. Gas company Afrox is another partner, although there is no intention currently to convert the oxygen to pharmaceutical-grade product as that market is currently well served. The plant will have its own dedicated power supply.
Another renewable energy investor in the Coega SEZ is Seraphim Solar Cell Manufacturing that is investing R362-million to increase the local content of its solar value chain.
The first consignment of Eastern Cape lemons is given a last inspection at the Maydon Wharf Fruit Terminal in Durban. (Credit: Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa)
Thursday 17 February 2022 was a red letter day for farmers in the Sundays River Valley and for South Africa’s citrus industry. On that day, a first shipment of lemons was loaded onto ships from the fruit terminal in Durban harbour en route to China.
The long and complicated procedure of becoming compliant with health and import procedures started with work done by Citrus Research International (CRI) scientists in 2013. CRI and the National Department Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development hosted scientists from China in 2015 and negotiations have continued ever since.
South African citrus growers spend R150-million annually on research which is then used by the DALRRD in their international negotiations. In this case, it paid off with a R325-million deal which has the potential to grow exponentially. South Africa hopes to eclipse Argentina and Chile as suppliers of lemons to China, targeting 25 000 tons of lemons to that country by 2024.
Exports of grapefruit, oranges and soft citrus to China totalled 130 000 tons in 2020. More good news from South-East Asia came in the form of a first consignment of citrus fruit being accepted into the Philippines.
The citrus industry has been identified in the National Development Plan as a priority sector because it employs many people and it can improve the country’s balance of payments.
According to the Sundays River Valley Citrus Producers Forum, black citrus farmers have increased the volumes of their exports by 40%, with a total of 1.6-million cartons exported in 2020.
However, exporting fruit of the Eastern Cape is not as straightforward as it might seem. All of South Africa’s ports have been struggling in recent times to keep up with demand. The province’s three ports are no exception, with some of the citrus fruit originating in the Eastern Cape having to be trucked to Durban or Cape Town, adding costs to the operation.
The industry also battles with a shortage of shipping containers and high demand for cold-storage facilities. In April 2021, an MSC vessel was diverted to Gqeberha to offload 1 995 refrigerated containers just in time for the citrus-picking season. There is a global shortage of these specialised containers.
The Eastern Cape is the second-largest citrus-producing province with the Sundays River Valley being the country’s single biggest production area. South Africa is the world’s second-largest exporter of citrus fruit. A national export record was achieved in 2020, with 146-million cartons of fresh citrus being exported (second only to Spain). Citrus yielded R3.4-billion in exports for the Eastern Cape.
Citrus fruits have been cultivated in the Sundays River Valley for decades. (Credit Sundays River Citrus Company)
National citrus exports have grown by more than 40% in the past decade to about R20-billion per year. The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa forecasts an increase from the current 150-million 15 kg cartons to 200-million in the next five years, and this is projected to grow still further to 255-million by 2030.
Automotive strength
The list of winners at the annual awards function for Exporters Eastern Cape Exporter of the Year gives a good indication of the strength of the province’s automotive and automotive supply sectors. Exporters Eastern Cape is a non-profit organisation comprised of members from export companies, freight forwarders, financial institutions and shipping lines.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s Enterprise Development Programme has several parts: the Export Development Programme is the latest initiative.
The Eastern Cape Development Corporation offers extensive support to exporters through its Trade Promotion Unit which facilitates annual trade missions, exhibitions and workshops to offer networking platforms, share knowledge and gain access to prospective clients.
The Acoustex Group was Exporter of the Year in 2021. (Credit: Acoustex Group)
Acoustex Group, a Gqeberha-based automotive component manufacturer, won Exporter of the Year 2021, in addition to the prize for best exporter in the medium enterprise category. The company created a new product line by acquiring a company and increased direct and indirect export turnover to 12 countries by 24%.
Among the products produced by Acoustex are sound deadeners, moulded insulation parts, carpets, parcel trays, tailgate covers and back-panel components. Other companies in the group make vehicle protection kits, vehicle protection seat covers and technical laminated fabrics for medical and domestic use. An interesting category prioritised environmental accreditation and environmental management. Merit awards were given in the SJM Flex Environmental Award to the Coega Development Corporation, Purem, Isuzu and Volkswagen Group South Africa.
Volkswagen also won Best Exporter Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) with Isuzu being recognised for skills development and transformation initiatives.
In recent years, each of the province’s OEMs has been steadily increasing export volumes, often breaking new records in successive years.
Ford Motor Company makes engines for the Ford Ranger pickup and Everest SUV at its Struandale plant and it has committed to invest R600-million for modernising and growing its local operations. (Credit: Ford Motor Company)
In 2016 Mercedes-Benz recorded a new high for the month of April of 10 674 vehicles exported through the Port of East London. Over seven years to 2021, 650 000 C-Class models were built, of which more than 90% were exported. Volkswagen has sent 326 000 Polos into the global market since 2018.
An interesting addition to the export basket of Isuzu Motors is pick-up kits in knocked down (KD) format which are being sent to Isuzu East Africa, an affiliate in Kenya.
Ford makes engines at its plant in Struandale, Gqeberha. The company wants to persuade national government to upgrade the railway line between Gauteng (where it makes its vehicles) and Gqeberha so that it can send parts up the line to Tshwane and export its vehicles out of the port. Fully 75% of the company’s product is exported to more than 100 markets around the world. In September 2020, Ford led automotive exports with 6 995 vehicles.
Sod turning to officially start construction of the new school project.
Umsimbithi Mining hosted a sod-turning event to mark the beginning of construction of the new Môrelig Combined School which will be situated in the community of Wonderfontein, in Mpumalanga. The school project, which is estimated to be worth R39-million, will be constructed to accommodate approximately 1 000 learners across pre-primary, primary, and secondary levels of the schooling system.
This project is in line with the mine’s priority to empower its host communities by providing solutions to some of the issues they face. The new school project will replace the existing school building which is currently in an impaired condition and will be used by Umsimbithi for mining activities.
The sod-turning event was held at the Wonderfontein Community Hall and was attended by Umsimbithi Mining management team including Umsimbithi Mining CEO Thato Gama, Mpumalanga Department of Education DDG Lucy Moyane, Acting Executive Mayor for eMakhazeni Local Municipality MMC Joseph Mabila, Môrelig Combined School Acting Principal Ms Malebe, the school governing body, teachers and local community members.
Umsimbithi Mining CEO, Thato Gama, acknowledged and thanked the community as well as the eMakhazeni local municipality for their engagement and support towards the Môrelig Combined School building project.
Umsimbithi Mining CEO Mr. Thato Gama
“We have gathered today to reaffirm our commitment by commencing with the Môrelig Combined School building project. This is certainly a day for celebration and we are very pleased and excited to know that this school will be the start of a new chapter not just for the learners, but the community as a whole,” said Gama.
Mayivuthe Rospa JV was appointed as the main contractor responsible for this project, and they have committed to carve out opportunities of job creation to local companies, starting with eMakhazeni based companies right at our doorstep. This ensures that there will be shared value for the people of this community which is very important to us as Umsimbithi Mining.
The new school building will include the following:
5 Classroom blocks (20 classrooms)
Multi purpose school hall
Laboratory, and a multimedia center
2 Ablution block for boys and girls
Administration block
Grade R classrooms
Guardhouse and refuse area
In addition, externally the school will also be equipped with:
Combi courts
Sports fields
Parking
Fencing
Deputy Director General of Mpumalanga Department of Education Ms Lucy Moyane, congratulated Umsimbithi Mining for honouring the commitment they made to the community as well as to the DoE.
DOE Head of Department Mrs Lucy Moyane
“We are happy to be here today to witness the generosity from Umsimbithi Mining, it is wonderful to see companies who are investing in education as that equates to investing in life. As the DoE, we commit to providing qualified educators, resources for learning and teaching and ensuring that the school infrastructure is utilised only for the intended purpose. The success of this project not only lies in the hands of Umsimbithi Mining and the contractors, but it also lies in the hands of the community. I encourage you to love this school building before the construction is even completed – let it be the pride and joy of us all,” said Moyane.
Chairperson of Môrelig Combined School SGB, Shakes Sibanyo, thanked Umsimbithi Mining and expressed how the new school will not only impact the lives of the students but of the community as a whole.
“We are thrilled for this relocation as we will no longer be a farm school but will be a modern school with efficient facilities. We currently have the overcapacity of approximately 800 students, so we look forward to more space and better, safer ablution facilities. We thank you Umsimbithi Mining for planting a seed to the future of this community,” he said.
The construction for the project commenced at the end of June 2022, and is expected to be completed and ready to be handed over to the community in September 2023.
Infrastructure at the new manganese mine at Mokala under construction. (Credit: Ruwa-Con)
The Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul, made a bold claim in his annual State of the Province address in February 2022. He said, “Madam Speaker, the next hundred years of mining in the country are in the Northern Cape.”
He has good reason for such optimism. The single biggest mining investment in South Africa is moving ahead smoothly near Aggeneys where Vedanta Zinc International has been extracting zinc since 2018. New manganese projects are being undertaken in the eastern part of the province with the new mine near Hotazel, Mokala, one of the most prominent. Interest in copper mining (and retreatment) is growing, not least because copper has a role to play in the green economy.
Electric vehicles are dependent on copper and it can transmit and help store energy. Combined with the Northern Cape’s abundant resources of wind and sun, it is easy to see how planners are seeing linkages throughout the green economy and thinking of the roles the province may play.
A Northern Cape Green Hydrogen strategy has been approved and Sasol is doing a feasibility study. Planning for a deepwater port at Boegoebaai, which will greatly assist in logistics operations for the mining and agricultural sectors, is being linked to the potential to tap into the potential of green hydrogen.
Bid Window 6 of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) was launched in April 2022, promising to bring a further 2 600 MW to the national grid. Since the first bid was finalised, a total of 66 756 GWh of renewable energy has been procured, much of it in the Northern Cape which has a particularly strong suit in solar power projects.
The Redstone Concentrated Solar Power Project in Postmasburg. (Credit: ACWA Power)
Investment opportunities
An Investment Conference held in 2019 showcased a number of initiatives being taken by the Provincial Government of the Northern Cape to attract investors and to make the experience of investing easier. This was followed in 2022 by another investment conference with a specific focus on mining.
The Northern Cape Investment Booklet provides a comprehensive overview of the province’s assets and advantages, together with a list of investable projects in a wide range of sectors.
Key projects are linked to broader spatial and sectoral plans that play to the province’s strengths. Among these high-impact projects are:
A multi-nodal corridor is envisaged for the province, running from the Atlantic coast to the commodity-rich Gamagara mining corridor in the vicinity of Kuruman.
An overall view of the Gamsberg project. The anchor investor of the Namakwa SEZ will be Vedanta Zinc International which is already running the Gamsberg Zinc Mine and intends to build a smelter. (Credit: Kevin Wright/Vedanta Zinc International)
Invest SA, through the National Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) has established a provincial One Stop Shop for investors, lowering the cost of investing and helping to iron out any bureaucratic delays.
Another angle for attracting investors to the province is to improve infrastructure. This is being done in terms of roadworks (with the South African National Roads Agency, SANRAL), waterworks and information and communications technology (ICT). A range of organisations are working on bringing the province up to date with the latest in ICT. This includes the National Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) which is paying for bursaries for students in data science at Sol Plaatje University and training electrical engineers and fibre optic technicians. The DSI is a key participant in the SKA programme.
The Northern Cape is investigating the creation of a state construction company to take on up to 30% of infrastructure projects in the province. The creation of the Northern Cape Innovation Forum (NCIF) points to the way ahead for the province. The NCIF intends to bring together academics, government and business leaders, civil society and labour, to consider the impact of innovation and technology, and to work out how best they can be harnessed to the maximum advantage of all citizens. The project is led by Sol Plaatje University with support from the National Department of Science and Innovation and the Technology Localisation Implementation Unit of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
With the location within the Northern Cape of one of the world’s greatest technological marvels, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope, there is scope for young scientists and engineers to dream. Sol Plaatje University in Kimberley has a strong suit in teacher training, but an expanding curriculum speaks both to being able to exploit the SKA link through subjects such as ICT and data science and an appreciation of the past via heritage studies and paleo-sciences.
The university’s location in an arid region means that future programmes will be developed to study agriculture in water-stressed conditions. Building on the campus, which will eventually cover 190 000 m², is expected to continue for another decade.
Central Campus Square, Sol Plaatje University. (Credit: SPU)
The economy
Mining and agriculture, the traditional pillars of the provincial economy, remain important. Both sectors continue to contribute (despite fluctuating iron-ore prices and periodic droughts) but both sectors are showing potential to expand into new and productive terrain.
The Kalahari Basin contains 80% of the world’s manganese reserve, but only 15% of global production comes from this area so there is enormous scope for development. Several new black-owned manganese projects are underway. The world receives 7% of its diamonds from the Northern Cape, and exports of zinc and lead from the province account for 13% of global demand.
Iron-ore miners have done particularly well recently but it is the development of new zinc and copper projects that are catching the eye. Vedanta Zinc International has invested $400-million in the first phase of its Gamsberg project and Orion Minerals has announced that its bankable feasibility study was positive for a planned zinc and copper project at Okiep.
The modern global economy needs particular minerals for its cellphones, renewable energy batteries and electric vehicles, and the Northern Cape has a lot of them. Investors are expected to follow in search of cobalt, copper, lead, nickel and zinc.
A notable feature of Northern Cape agriculture is its diversity, a result of the diverse soil and weather conditions. The 38 000 ha Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme produces wheat, fruit, groundnuts, cotton and maize and along the banks of the Orange River many high-value horticultural products such as table grapes, wine grapes, sultanas and cereal crops are cultivated. A quarter of the country’s onions are produced in the Northern Cape and in the drier areas, goats and sheep do well.
Niche products such as rooibos tea and karakul pelts are other provincial specialities, with aquaculture and mariculture showing great potential.
The Northern Cape is home to six national parks and five provincial parks and nature reserves. The Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape is a World Heritage Site and the Namaqualand spring flower display draws many visitors.
Most of the province is semi-arid (with a coastal strip) and it receives relatively little rainfall. Summers are hot and winters are cold.
The banks of the Orange River are a productive oasis for the cultivation of grapes. (Credit: Dippenaar Choice Fruit)
Municipalities
The Northern Cape has five district municipalities.
Frances Baard District Municipality
Towns: Kimberley, Barkly West, Warrenton, Hartswater, Jan Kempdorp.
This district accounts for 40.3% of the province’s economic activity. It is the smallest but with a population of approximately 325 500, it is the most densely populated. Strategically located and with good infrastructure, Kimberley is the leading centre in the province for retail, financial services, education, commerce and light industry.
The Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre and the Sol Plaatje University are in Kimberley. Mining and agriculture are found in rural municipalities. Agriculture in the region comprises crop cultivation and stock and game farming. The Vaalharts Water Scheme is the largest irrigation project of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality
Towns: Kuruman, Kathu, Hotazel.
Kuruman is the headquarters of local government in this region and contributes 19.7% to the province’s economy. The local spring produces 20-million litres of water every day.
Most of the district is situated on the Ghaap Plateau, which is over 1 000 metres above sea-level and can experience extreme temperatures. Most agricultural activity is limited to grazing and boer goats are a popular breed among farmers, although game hunting is growing.
The Sishen iron ore mine outside Kathu is a vast undertaking, providing employment for thousands of people. Samancor’s Mamatwan and Wessels manganese mines and plants are situated at Hotazel.
Namakwa District Municipality
Towns: Springbok, Calvinia, Niewoudtville, Garies, Williston, Fraserburg, Sutherland, Pofadder, Okiep, Port Nolloth, Alexander Bay.
The Namakwa district stretches from the north-western corner of the province, and the country, bordering Namibia and the Atlantic Ocean, to the southern border of the province with the Western Cape Province. It includes the famous star-gazing town of Sutherland on its southern edge. The district is sparsely populated, and predominantly rural. It contributes 11.1% to economic activity in the province.
A major new investment has been undertaken in zinc at the Gamsberg project.
The mining and agricultural sectors provide most employment, while tourism and small-scale manufacturing are also present. There are plans to upgrade the harbour at Port Nolloth.
The region’s economy gets a boost every spring when tourists flock to see the veld in bloom. Niewoudtville is the site of a rooibos tea factory.
The |Ai|Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, the Namakwa National Park and the Tankwa Karoo National Park have the potential to grow as travel destinations, as does the western coastline.
The district covers 102 000 square kilometres in the central Karoo and contributes 11.3% of the economic activity of the province. It has four national roads passing through it. De Aar, the site of the municipal headquarters, has national significance as a railway junction. The area around the town has several new solar farms.
Star-gazing is Carnarvon’s great claim to fame, and it is host to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope project.
The district is home to three of South Africa’s major dams. Agricultural production includes wheat, maize, peanuts, grapes, beans, potatoes, nuts and sheep farming. Pixley Ka Seme is the largest wool-producing district in South Africa, but most of what is produced is processed in the Eastern Cape, so opportunities exist for the establishment of a cotton mill, a tannery and a facility to add value to semi-precious stones. Horse breeding is a valuable contributor to the regional economy.
The Orange River supports a thriving agricultural sector and a growing tourism sector. The investment climate is ripe for tourism along the Orange River and around unique physical attractions such as the Augrabies Falls.
Upington is already a busy town with processing facilities for agricultural products.
Most of the population of the //Khara Hais Local Municipality lives in Upington. Agriculture is a prominent feature of the local economy, as well as wholesale and retail services in and around the town. Various kinds of high-speed car racing and testing takes place on the roads, tracks and airport runway in or near the town.
The processing of wine and dried fruit is one of the biggest manufacturing activities in the province. Mining activities take place in Kgatelopele, where diamonds and lime are found. Together with sheep and cattle farming, mining provides most of the employment to be found in Siyanda.
Read more in the 2022/23 edition of Northern Cape Business
Namaqualand flowers, Northern Cape Province (Credit: NC DEDAT)
The 2022/23 edition of Northern Cape Business is the 12th issue of this highly successful publication that has, since its launch in 2009, has 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, Northern Cape Business is unique as a business and investment guide that focuses exclusively on the province. Specific investment opportunities are treated in detail in this journal, with a focus on geographic hotspots that are due to become the focus of sector-focused infrastructure development.
The industrial parks envisioned for Kathu and Upington each have their own focus while the Namakwa SEZ has as its anchor one of the biggest mining projects in South Africa’s history, the Gamsberg mine of Vedanta Zinc International. Developments in renewable energy are covered, including the new global interest in green hydrogen, which has applications for the Northern Cape.
Air Products hands over the cheque to Sacred Heart College. L – R: Lynn Walker, Arthi Govender (Air Products), Heather Blanckensee, Mark Potterton, Volente Naidoo, Seane Nthabiseng and Mpho Kgole (Air Products).
Air Products recently sponsored the Sacred Heart College’s Aganang Skills Development Training Program in Observatory, Gauteng. The donation will be utilized towards upgrading facilities and enabling the training program to offer courses in catering and confectionary.
The program aims to benefit the youth who live in one of the country’s most diverse and fragile communities where severe economic obstacles exist. Aligning to the strategic focus of the corporate social investment (CSI) initiatives, which is focused on the youth and education, Air Products perceived this as an ideal opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the youth.
Located on the borders of Bellevue, Yeoville and Hillbrow, Sacred Heart College established a project called the “Three2Six School Project” in 2008 which provides education to refugee children as they realized there was a desperate need for safe learning spaces for the youth. The project was founded to heed the Marist call to “look at the world through the eyes of a poor child”.
The areas surrounding the school, caters for low-income households, including people who arrive in Johannesburg from different parts of Africa, as well as other provinces within Southern Africa. The areas mentioned plays an important role in the survival of thousands of displaced South Africans and migrants who arrive in the city. Over time, this area has become home to many households who cannot afford to live in other central locations.
According to Heather Blanckensee, Head of the College, they have received tremendous support for their programmes from the Observatory community, other community groups and their alumni and is confident that they will continue to receive support for their new initiative.
Sacred Heart College is dependent on donor funding for the Aganang Skills Development Training Program, as is the case with the “Three2Six School Project”, and it will provide an opportunity for several unemployed youths to upskill themselves to a level where they would be able to access income generating opportunities.
Blanckensee further mentions: “The goal is to create a space where the skills and resources can be shared with the youth, where they will be provided with coaching and mentorship. We want to establish the Aganang Skills Development Training Program as a platform where the unemployed youth can build up their confidence and skills to successfully integrate into the job market or pursue business opportunities. In the long run, sustainable economic development is what this is about.”
Arthi Govender, Chairperson of Air Products’ CSI Committee comments on the project: “We have seen the magnificent work that Sacred Heart College has done to date with their “Three2Six School Project” and how they have gone about rendering support for the project. They have not hesitated to make their own facilities available after school hours to accommodate these learners from the surrounding areas and to enable them to also access education. We are fortunate to form this partnership and support the College to the first step towards raising the funds they require for this program. We believe in their goals for this program and the difference it will make to the lives of many young people.”
College plumbing students with industry partners who were part of the World Plumbing day initiative.
The College of Cape Town’s Thornton Campus offers Plumbing under the Centre of Specialization programme, where trainees are trained to be fully qualified artisans. The Thornton Campus and the Marketing and Communications Department took it upon themselves to annually participate in the World Plumbing Day initiative by conducting a Corporate Social Investment initiative (outreach campaign) in the previously disadvantaged communities.
The College, in collaboration with the Institute of Plumbing South Africa, spent the day at Heideveld Senior Secondary School, where they fixed some of the plumbing issues faced by the school. They repaired and replaced taps, and toilets, and installed new pipes, toilet seats and showerheads.
College students fitting pipes for the basins.
IOPSA also invited various plumbing organizations like; Shaun’s Plumbing and Maintenance, Leak Find, Green Fields plumbing, and J Walker Plumbing to form part of the task team to assist at the school. The presence of the companies did not only have a positive impact on the school, but it was also a good skills and knowledge sharing experience for our college students who received coaching from these industry experts on how to confidently succeed in the industry. The team leader for the task, Mr. Don Anthony, who is a Facilitator at the College of Cape Town encouraged more plumbing organizations to join in and assist in communities where there is a need and not make it about money but to make a difference in people’s lives.
The Deputy Principal: Innovation and Development, Mr. Achmat Gafieldien, also took his time to visit the school and engage with the school management and build an ongoing relationship with the College.
The school principal thanked the college for all the changes they have made to the school as now learners will have running toilets, especially as the absence of basic sanitation facilities can result in an unhealthy environment which will affect the attendance of learners. We look forward to many more initiatives that will better the life of youngsters.
Ayanda Wakaba, CEO of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation.
The Eastern Cape is a vibrant province of unmatched beauty with a wealth of natural resources and a world-class manufacturing industry which includes South Africa’s leading automotive manufacturing industry.
Often referred to as a “world in one province”, the Eastern Cape boasts the most successful Industrial Development Zones in South Africa, the East London Industrial Development Zone, and Coega Industrial Development Zone, with the newly-established Wild Coast Special Economic Zone all ideally situated for easy access to world markets.
Responsible for the facilitation of investment and trade in the province, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has been repositioned as a central economic development agency for the province. The ECDC’s strategic thrust fosters advocacy work which promotes provincial economic transformation, inclusive growth and competitiveness, investor-focussed solutions, pioneering innovation in key growth sectors, operational efficiency and financial sustainability.
At the ECDC, we place emphasis on the implementation of trade and investment programmes which intend to leverage on the inherent economic potential of the province. These activities encourage trade and investment in the priority sectors of the Eastern Cape economy which have a high potential for job creation, beneficiation and opportunities for the development of a competitive local SMME sector.
For the ease and convenience of doing business in the Eastern Cape, the InvestSA One Stop Shop Eastern Cape, which is a South African presidential investment facilitation initiative implemented in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, serves as a vehicle to reduce the administrative burden often experienced by investors.
The InvestSA One Stop Shop Eastern Cape facility thus acts as a single point of contact for investor interface, queries and aftercare. Matters relating to regulatory compliance, licensing and permits, interface with local authorities and communities are among the services the InvestSA One Stop Shop Eastern Cape prides itself on.
The ECDC welcomes you to the unmatched potential of the Eastern Cape Province.
After a two-year forced hiatus due to Covid lockdowns and restrictions, one of Africa’s most established multi-sector trade shows is back.
In its 28th year, SAITEX is being co-hosted with food and beverage show Africa’s Big 7 and the Halal International Trade Expo at the Gallagher Convention Centre between 19 and 21 June 2022.
“For almost three decades, SAITEX has been bringing buyers and sellers together, but this year feels markedly different, as it has been such a long time since our exhibitors and visitors last engaged in person,” says Portfolio Director of Food, Hospitality and Trade of dmg events Evan Schiff.
“This represents a unique opportunity for industry professionals to reconnect and develop strategic trade partnerships for future intra-Africa growth,” he says.
With leading buyers and suppliers from over 25 countries showcasing their latest products and service innovations across seven exhibitor zones, the expo will also feature a series of technical masterclasses run over three days, aimed at paving the way forward for businesses across the trade and township economy sectors.
According to Schiff, in 2019, over 4,900 industry professionals attended the event, and of these visitors, almost two thirds had senior decision-making roles within their businesses.
In 2022, several interactive workshops and panel discussions will offer a dynamic mix of in-depth learning, development and discussion, led by a range of high-profile trade experts, financial institutes, and entrepreneurs in the sector. The ministerial keynote address will be given by the Honourable Rajeshkumar Indukant Modi, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce in Zimbabwe.
Visitors looking for support on access to SMME finance can attend a dedicated workshop hosted by Banking Association of South Africa on how to mobilise funding for SMMEs, while a fireside chat presented by SHE Trades will focus specifically on assisting female entrepreneurs to unlock new market opportunities.
Technological solutions and IT and software make up a significant percentage of products on exhibit at the show, and there will also be several workshops supported by e-Commerce Forum Africa, centering around the implementation of new digital strategies to protect, manage and grow business in a post-Covid marketplace.
The increasing importance of Africa’s township economy will also be recognised at SAITEX. In a stakeholder engagement session presented by the Gauteng Department of Economic Development, public and private stakeholders will delve into the details of the recently passed Township Economic Development Bill and the Township Economy Partnership Fund, considering its impact on individual businesses and existing commercial activity moving forward.
SAITEX is honoured to have Mpho Parks Tau, Gauteng MEC, Gauteng Department of Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture & Rural Development, Saki Zamxaka, Chief Executive Officer, Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP), Tshokolo Nchocho, Chief Executive Officer, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Xolile George, Chief Executive Officer, South African Local Government Association (SALGA).*
Schiff says that with an estimated 355 million middle class consumers, Africa has one the most rapidly growing retail markets in the world, making SAITEX a must-attend event for business owners, entrepreneurs, retailers, wholesalers and distributors from across the continent.
“SAITEX provides a unique platform for African importers and exporters to source latest products and services from a global manufacturing base, as well as establish partnerships and complete import and export deals,” he concludes.
Registration for SAITEX is currently open. For more information or to register, please click here.
In the 2022 State of the Nation address, President Cyril Ramaphosa recognised the importance of supporting small-scale farmers and integrating them into value chains.
A recent Sustainability Initiative of South Africa (SIZA) study on gender equality in the South African agriculture sector found that perception is still a major problem in South Africa’s sprawling agriculture industry. The study revealed that women who work in agriculture still battle with the perception that farming is a ‘man’s job.’
With female unemployment at a record high of 48.7%, there is opportunity for women to harvest a new future for themselves through agriculture, and in turn, grow the South African economy. Even then, the reality is that 35% of female farmers in South Africa find that their income from farming does not cover the needs of their family. But should being able to feed one’s family be the extent of a female farmer’s aspirations? Can they not break the cycle, grow a flourishing business and create sustainable jobs for their communities?
The Momentum Metropolitan Foundation (MMF) has partnered with Agri Enterprises to launch the Women in Farming programme. This three year incubator aims to enhance the skills of female farmers to enable and empower them to better feed their families and create jobs for their communities.
Starting in KwaZulu-Natal, the programme will see 60 female entrepreneurs participate in a business pitch approach to provide them with an opportunity to sell their agriculture business ideas to a panel of industry experts headed by the CEO of Agri Enterprises, Omri van Zyl. Selected entrepreneurs will be trained and mentored by the Agri Enterprises Sustainability and Rural Development Division in Woodberg, Pietermaritzburg.
The Agri Enterprises Sustainability and Rural Development Division focuses on providing scarce skills along the broader agricultural value chain. Sulaimaan Patel Head of Rural Development and Social Investment at Agri Enterprises says the academy has adopted a Comprehensive Mentorship Approach (CMATM), offering training from a technical level right up to an executive strategic level. “We firmly believe this approach creates innovative entrepreneurs within the agriculture value chain,” says Patel.
Agri Enterprises’ four-step approach to entrepreneurial development includes:
The Innovation Station – developing criteria to identify potential business ventures within the agricultural industry.
Business Incubation – equipping individuals with financial, entrepreneurial, and relevant business skills.
Start-up Business – mentoring and supporting in how to launch a business successfully.
Agri-preneurial development – providing high-level training to allow continued growth through training programmes aligned with finances, governance, project management, and strategy.
Nkosinathi Mahlangu, Youth Employment Portfolio Head from MMF says agriculture is the perfect sector to kickstart gender equality in the South African economy. “Millions of women living in rural and remote areas sit on the side-lines of our economy. As agriculture relies on our country’s rural communities, transforming this sector into one that is more inclusive can address our high unemployment rate, ensure food security, and improve farming innovation at the same time.”
The programme and its partners are currently fielding applications in order for the 60 participants to be identified. All-in-all, hundreds of business proposals are to be heard and will be whittled down to a chosen batch of 60.
The 60 entrepreneurs will come from various parts of the agricultural value chain with a strict focus on limited sectors within agriculture to ensure the programme remains focused.
“We believe by giving women the tools, advice and experiences, we can empower them to be unstoppable in their pursuit of success. Through agriculture, we have an opportunity to empower African women by equipping them with entrepreneurial skills to start their own businesses,” concludes Mahlangu.
If want to know more about the programme, click here.
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