Mahikeng
Mahikeng (formerly called Mafikeng) lies on the banks of the Molopo River and is the capital city of North West
Province. Situated in the north-west sector of the province near the Botswana border, the city has a strong services sector and a population of approximately 300 000.
Since 2002, the city’s main growth sectors have been financial services, other services, transport and trade. A key economic driver is the Mafikeng Industrial Development Zone (MIDZ) where the focus is on manufacturing, mineral beneficiation and agri-processing. The Garona district houses the North West parliament and government buildings. The administrative headquarters of the baRolong tribe are located in the city. The arts are promoted by the Mmabana Cultural Centre while the North West Institute of Hotel and Tourism Management is one of three tertiary institutions in the city. North West University’s Graduate School of Business and Government Leadership is located in Mahikeng, and Unisa has a presence.
Other institutions are the Taletso FET College and the International School of South Africa. The town is well served by hotels such as the four-star Premier Protea Hotel Mafikeng and gambling aficionados are catered for by the Tusk Mmabatho Casino Resort. Mafikeng Game Reserve has white rhino and giraffe among its fauna.
www.mafikeng.gov.za
Potchefstroom (City of Tlokwe)
The city of Potchefstroom is administered by the Tlokwe Local Municipality. The main campus of North West University and its business school is located in the city, as is the Vuselela FET College and the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture. More than 120 000 people attend the Aardklop Festival every year. World Cup winners Spain chose the sports facilities of North West University as its base for the 2010 World Cup South Africa.
Tlokwe is a hub for the strong
commercial agriculture of the region and has South Africa’s largest chalk factory and a factory that makes organs. Some of the bigger enterprises include fertiliser companies such as Kynoch, munitions manufacturers and food processeors like King Korn and Nestlé. An army base contributes to the economy and the airfield formerly used by the military is now run by the municipality. The N12 Treasure Route passes through the city and holds potential for further development of tourist highlights such as the Mooi River on which the town is located and Boskop Dam.
www.potch.co.za
Bloemhof
Bloemhof is a centre of maize growing and cattle raising on the southern boundary of the province and Dairy Belle has a large milk production facility in the town. The Bloemhof Dam is one of the three large dams on the Vaal River that supply bulk water to surrounding areas.
The Bloemhof Bonanza is the biggest and
most lucrative inland angling event in South Africa, with more than 2 000 anglers trying to win R1.5-million in prize money. The nearby SA Lombard Nature Reserve has a fine herd of black wildebeest.
www.lekwateemane.co.za
Vryburg
Vryburg is the principal town of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mopati District Municipality. Cattle auctions held several times a year are among the biggest and best supported in the country. The Theiler Agricultural Museum and Cattle Centre is an important research centre for the livestock sector. Tigerkloof school, situated south of Vryburg, is a Dinaledi school, whereby extra interventions are made to improve mathematics and science teaching and it is also one of a handful of schools identified for upgrading by the national Historical Schools’ Restoration Project. Notable past pupils include Sir Seretse Khama and Dr Ruth Mompati, The Leon Taljaardt Nature Reserve has white rhinos,
buffalo and zebras.
www.vryburg.com
Klerksdorp (City of Matlosana)
This town’s first boom came as a result of gold and mining still plays a big role in the local economy. Engineering enterprises service the mining industry. Senwes, the agricultural company through whose silos some 30% of South Africa’s grain and oil seed move every year, has a giant silo in the town. Matlosana is situated on the N12 Treasure Route and is marketing itself as a potential logistics hub.
An inter-nodal facility based on the town’s airport has been developed. The city council has
set aside land for the development of industrial and commercial enterprises. Break-bulk facilities, storage space and distribution centres are needed, offering concrete opportunities for investors in those fields.
www.klerksdorp.co.za
Rustenburg
Rustenburg is close to platinum mines and Sun City, two of the economic jewels in the crown of the North West Province. The town is also near beautiful parts of the bushveld, the Magaliesberg Mountains and the Pilanesberg National Park.
Rustenburg has a varied manufacturing sector, although most of it is mine-related. Large-scale platinum smelters operate in Rustenburg. One of Orbit FET College’s campuses is in Rustenburg, Unisa has a regional office, and the Agricultural Research Institute’s industrial crops unit and the Seda Platinum Incubator are located in the city.
The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace hosted six games during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. England used the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus as their base.
www.rustenburg.gov.za
