Archives: News

ERRATUM – DEDECT VACANCIES -1

The North West Provincial Department of Economic Development, Environment,
Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) is developing a database and platform for Micro, Small
and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and large-scale exporters to improve market access,
presence, and efficiency through technology. The department is inviting export-ready
businesses to submit their details for registration on the platform and be considered for
marketing on government-endorsed digital platforms.

Interested businesses must:

• Be located and operating in the North West Province
• Be compliant with CIPC & SARS and have a SARS Exporter Registration Certificate
• Have products that are market-ready – Packaging, labeling, quality standards,
certifications (e.g., SABS, HACCP & ISO9000)

CLOSING DATE: 17 NOVEMBER 2025

Interested exporters are requested to register using the link below:

https://forms.office.com/r/gNDzssnfa1

For More Information Contact exportersdatabase@nwpg.gov.za.

DEDECT VACANCIES CIRCULAR 2025

The Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT),
and Its Agencies, North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) and North West Gambling Board
(NWGB) led by MEC Bitsa Lenkopane, joined thousands of enthusiastic participants at the Sun
City GM’s Kasi Ride on 26 October 2025 – a vibrant celebration of health, fitness, and social
cohesion.

The event, hosted within the scenic Sun City Resort, featured cycling, running, and walking
activities that combined wellness with local tourism. Kasi Ride also offers participants an
opportunity to experience the natural beauty and tourism attractions of the Bojanala region while
promoting a healthy lifestyle.

True to its commitment to social development and responsible citizenship, DEDECT used the
opportunity to advance its ongoing campaigns on responsible drinking and gambling. These
awareness initiatives form a vital part of the department’s mandate and are continuously rolled out
through roadshows, outreach activities, and flagship programmes such as Thuntsha Lerole.
Several departmental staff members also took part in the walk and run, proudly representing
DEDECT and embodying the department’s message of balanced, healthy living.

In alignment with its mission to drive inclusive economic growth, DEDECT once again placed micro,
small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) at the centre of the event. Through its Access to Market
Programme, the department provided eight enterprises from the Bojanala district with an invaluable
platform to showcase and sell their proudly local products and services to thousands of attendees.

The featured MSMEs included: The Eve Essential, Paleigh Designs, Oliviavalentia Pty Ltd,
TshegoM Enterprise, Candleberry Craft, Mmukwa Pty Ltd, Mpi Ntokozo, and Beige Butterfly. This
initiative underscores DEDECT’s commitment to creating sustainable opportunities for local
entrepreneurs, promoting local procurement, and supporting job creation within communities.

MEC Lenkopane commended the event’s spirit of collaboration, noting that platforms like the Kasi
Ride not only promote wellness but also strengthen community bonds and economic participation.

The MEC also conveyed the department’s message of promoting responsible drinking and
gambling, while discouraging support for unlicensed outlets. She also encouraged all Kasi Ride
participants and community members to continue supporting MSMEs by buying local to stimulate
their sustainable growth.

Issued by the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism

For inquiries, contact:
Mr. Jeremiah Matebesi
Director: Communication and IT Services (072 333 0325)
Email: JeremiahMatebesi@nwpg.gov.za
Twitter: @nwpg_dedect / Facebook: @nwdedect

The Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT)
is executed its dual mandate of regulatory compliance and economic empowerment as part of the
provincial Thuntsha Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery programme taking place on 24 October
2025 within the Madibeng Local Municipality.

Today, DEDECT spearheaded an environmental compliance inspection at a chrome wash plant in
Hartbeespoort. This operation focused on monitoring the facility’s adherence to a previous
compliance directive issued following a February inspection. The initial investigation found the plant
was non-compliant with environmental legislation, specifically due to the unauthorised clearing of
indigenous vegetation in a Critical Biodiversity Area.

DEDECT Environmental Compliance, confirmed that while the Section 24G process of the National
Environmental Management Act (NEMA) is ongoing and until the plant regularises its activities and
the necessary Section 24G application process is concluded, its operations cannot continue.
This intervention is aimed at persuing local economic benefits from the plant, such as job creation
and skills development, all within the confines of environmental law.

In another Thuntsha Lerole engagement, Women entrepreneurs who own Micro, Small, and
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Madibeng received accredited certificates after successfully
completing a DEDECT business and financial management training programme.

The training, a key initiative delivered in partnership with the Madibeng Local Municipality, aims to
equip women with the necessary skills to strategically grow and manage their businesses
effectively. The certificates were officially handed over at the DEDECT Brits office, officiated by Mr.
Mojalefa Nale (CEO) and Mr. Thapelo Mokotedi from the NWDC, alongside Madibeng LED
Director Ms. Seithati Monyake.

This initiative underscores the commitment of the provincial and local government to supporting
women in business, ensuring they are positioned for success and play a vital role in the economy
of the North West Province.

By conducting crucial compliance checks and simultaneously investing in local business skills,
DEDECT is implementing the Thuntsha Lerole programme to foster a North West economy that is
both vibrant and environmentally responsible.

Issued by the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism

For inquiries, contact:
Mr. Jeremiah Matebesi
Director: Communication and IT Services (072 333 0325)
Email: JeremiahMatebesi@nwpg.gov.za
Twitter: @nwpg_dedect / Facebook: @nwdedect

8907 3-10-2025 NWestSeparate (1) 03102025

The MEC for North West Province Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and
Tourism (DEDECT), Ms Bitsa Lenkopane, together with the Limpopo MEC for Economic
Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), Mr Tshitereke Matibe, have announced the
establishment of a joint inter-provincial Beneficiation Task Team.

This decision follows a high-level engagement at Sun City Resort, where experts, industry
leaders, and senior officials from both provinces gathered in response to the national
government’s call for stronger collaboration across spheres of governance where mineral
beneficiation and biodiversity economy are concerned.

The partnership seeks to reposition Limpopo and the North West—two of South Africa’s most
mineral and biodiversity resources-rich provinces—from being mainly exporters of raw
minerals to becoming regional beneficiation hubs for greater economic benefits and job
creation.

The beneficiation strategy will prioritise minerals, fauna, and flora with high potential for
downstream industries. These minerals include Platinum Group Metals and associated metals
for catalytic converters, electro-chemical applications, smelting, and refining, chrome,
ferrochrome, and manganese for ferroalloys, stainless steel inputs, and others.

Whilst on biodiversity economy, the focus is on bioprospecting and biotrade,
Wildlife Ranching, EcoTourism, Medicinal Plants, Game meat, and Forestry.

The MECs committed to examining policies and infrastructure that support beneficiation. This
includes preferential procurement for locally beneficiated products, expediting permits and
environmental approvals, and partnering with industry to expand logistics, power, and water
infrastructure. A co-funding model with industry will also be explored for pilot projects,
research, and training hubs.

The partnership also endeavours to investigate ways of effective collaboration with research
and training institutions to drive Research & Development, advanced manufacturing, and skills
development.

The meeting concurred to a phased approach to the implementation of the framework, with
the first two years focusing on designating land within SEZs for demonstration plants, tap into
the already existing National Transformation Fund for beneficiation, and piloting two sites—
one chrome hub in Steelpoort, a PGM-linked training centre in Rustenburg among other
activities.

Concluding the session, MEC Lenkopane stressed that the initiative will directly benefit
communities in both provinces. “Our goal is to create jobs, new industries, and a sustainable
economy driven by beneficiation,” she said. MEC Matibe echoed this, adding, “The minerals
of Limpopo and North West must no longer be exported as raw commodities because this is
essentially exporting jobs. Through beneficiation, we can build industrial capacity, empower
local SMMEs, and position our regions as global players in value-added mineral products.”
The two provinces will reconvene later this year to finalise the Beneficiation Task Team’s terms
of reference and accelerate the rollout of the pilot projects.

#END#

Issued by:
DEDECT
Jerrimiah Matebesi
Director: Communication and IT Services – 072 333 0325

LEDET
Hitekani Magwedze
MEC Spokesperson – 071 864 8664

MEC Bitsa Lenkopane today hosted a Provincial Tourism Stakeholder Engagement with
industry leaders, associations and product owners at Sun City Resort. The engagement
formed part of the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and
Tourism’s (DEDECT) Tourism Month programme, held under the theme: “Tourism and
Sustainable Transformation.”

The session brought together captains of industry, community leaders, traditional leadership
and key stakeholders in a robust dialogue aimed at strengthening collaboration to sustain and
advance the tourism sector in the North West. The resolutions arising from the engagement
will play a critical role in positioning the province as a competitive and distinctive tourism
destination of choice, with inclusion and transformation at the centre of these resolutions.

In her address, MEC Lenkopane reflected on the department’s determination to engage with
both domestic and international stakeholders on key issues of tourism in the province.

This also includes benchmarking with other provinces in aspects of systems and innovation that
would benefit the tourism industry in North West. She highlighted the North West Provincial
Tourism Media Launch earlier this month at the Mphebatho Cultural Museum in Moruleng, an
initiative underscoring the province’s rich cultural heritage as one of the foundations of its
tourism offering.

The MEC further highlighted several initiatives underscoring the need to collaborate directly
with tourism stakeholders toward shared goals. Taking lessons from the previous Stakeholder
Engagements with the industry, MEC noted that the memorandum of understanding
previously signed between the department and industry players needs to be revived.

Complementing this is the need to understand the collective views of the tourism industry. To
this end, MEC directed that the department and the NWPTB will begin profiling each tourism
establishment in the province to ascertain the collective strength that lies within the industry
and how best government can assist in the development thereof. The MEC made a clarion
call for industry standards to be improved and called on accommodation owners to take
advantage of star grading of tourism establishments to advance their businesses.

Most importantly, MEC called on the private sector to partner with government on key
initiatives that complement visitor attraction to the province. This is especially the case with
direct air connection to the province, currently being explored by the department.
“These engagements are not about ownership but about how our people, especially the
unemployed, can benefit from opportunities created through tourism and related sectors’
collaborative efforts. By working together with industry, government can do more to uplift
communities and transform the industry,” said MEC Lenkopane.

During the engagement, Sun City Resort was given an opportunity to showcase their
transformation objectives and localisation efforts which directly benefit communities and
businesses within the province. These efforts toward localisation are a direct result of
government and Sun City partnership towards uplifting small businesses within the tourism
industry. Mr Tebogo Mokgejane of Sun City presented facts around their procurement which
should be a benchmark for other established resorts in the province. Fifty-six percent of Sun
City’s total budget was spent on procuring goods and services from local suppliers. From this
amount, it was reported that 517 million rand was spent on contracts with black women-owned
enterprises.

In her conclusion, the MEC appealed to stakeholders to shift focus from challenges and work
with the department to strengthen collaboration, moving together in one direction for the
growth of the tourism sector. She emphasised that communities are not only looking to
government to improve their living conditions, but are also depending on industry leaders as
the key drivers of the economy, toward job creation.

The department will consolidate inputs from this engagement and the industry at large, to
develop a business proposal that benefits all industry players. MEC Lenkopane was
accompanied by Kgosi Nyalala Pilane of the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela, DEDECT HOD Relebohile
Mofokane, CEO’s of entities and a visiting delegation from Limpopo led by MEC Tshitereke
Matibe.

Issued by the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and
Tourism

For inquiries, contact:
Ms. Suzan Molaodi

Media Liaison Officer (082 979 0459)
OR

Mr. Jeremiah Matebesi
Director: Communication and IT Services (072 333 0325)
Email: JeremiahMatebesi@nwpg.gov.za
Twitter: @nwpg_dedect / Facebook: @nwdedect

The Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism
(DEDECT), led by MEC Bitsa Lenkopane, in partnership with the Department of Forestry,
Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Municipalities, Traditional Authorities, and
Environmental Clubs, has embarked on a massive tree-planting programme across the
province during the National Heritage Day 2025.

Targeting schools, clinics, and churches in all districts, the initiative forms part of the
Presidential 10 Million Trees Programme, a five-year project launched in 2021 to promote
climate action. It is also integrated with other government initiatives such as Thuntsha Lerole,
Heritage Day, and Arbour Month – ensuring that the tree planting programme is being
intensified and that the communities across the North West are being mobilised to participate
to promote Green Legacy for a sustainable future.

As custodian of the environment in the province, MEC Lenkopane officially launched the North
West One Million Trees Campaign in Mahikeng under the theme: “My Tree, My Oxygen –
Plant Yours” in Mahikeng. The provincial target is set at 115,000 trees by March 2026, to be
rolled out in phases.

To mark both Heritage Day and the province’s commitment to sustainability during this
programme in Mahikeng, MEC Lenkopane, joined by the Executive Mayor of Mahikeng Local
Municipality, Councillor Tshepiso Mphehlo, planted trees at the Mahikeng Nursery,
Lomanyaneng Primary, Senkgwe Primary, and Lotlamoreng Primary Schools. During these
visits, the MEC and Mayor encouraged learners to protect the environment while staying
rooted in their cultural heritage.

MEC Lenkopane further called on municipalities, schools, traditional authorities, businesses,
and community members to plant trees in public parks, libraries, religious institutions,
municipal offices, gardens, and other spaces, to contribute to the ambitious provincial target
and create a greener North West.

The campaign has also extended to municipalities in Madibeng, Tswaing, Moses Kotane,
Moretele, Rustenburg, City of Matlosana, JB Marks, Maquassi Hills, Greater Taung, Naledi,
Mamusa, Kagisano Molopo, and Lekwa Teemane. Here, DEDECT Environmental Services
officials, alongside representatives from DFFE, municipalities, NWPTB, and traditional
authorities, offered practical demonstrations on water-saving planting techniques and tree
care, empowering learners and community members to sustain the initiative.

The One Million Trees Campaign is more than a planting drive – it is a symbol of unity, climate
action, and heritage preservation. It reaffirms the North West Province’s commitment to
placing environmental sustainability at the heart of development while leaving a lasting green
legacy for generations to come.

Issued by the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and
Tourism

For inquiries, contact:
Mr. Jeremiah Matebesi
Director: Communication and IT Services (072 333 0325)
Email: JeremiahMatebesi@nwpg.gov.za
Twitter: @nwpg_dedect / Facebook: @nwdedect

Call for Proposals – Provision of Access to Markets for MSME’s through Exhibitions, Flea Markets and Events