As the North West Provincial Government advances its commitment to unlocking the economic potential of the province through reform, investment, and partnership, the MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane, has intensified oversight of Department-funded micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to ensure public investment delivers sustainable businesses, decent jobs and lasting economic opportunities for local communities.
Accompanied by the Head of Department, Mr Relebohile Mofokane, senior managers and departmental officials, MEC Lenkopane visited three Department-supported enterprises in the Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality, the Dunlop Business in a Box initiative and Basha Itsoseng Bakery in Morokweng, as well as the Tshwaraganang Brick Making Cooperative in Phaposane Village.
The oversight forms part of the implementation of the MEC’s 2026/27 Budget Vote commitments to strengthen institutional accountability, improve enterprise sustainability, unlock investment, expand market access, and accelerate inclusive economic growth through localisation and industrial development.
Rather than serving as compliance inspections, the visits focused on evaluating the developmental impact of government support, identifying operational constraints affecting enterprise growth, and facilitating practical interventions to improve productivity, market competitiveness, and long-term sustainability.
The MEC said the department remains committed to building an enabling environment in which emerging enterprises are supported beyond financial assistance through technical support, mentorship, business compliance, market linkages, and access to economic opportunities.
She noted that while many entrepreneurs possess the determination and innovative ideas to succeed, persistent challenges continue to inhibit business growth.
MEC Lenkopane further expressed concern about the increasing number of small enterprises affected by difficult economic conditions and the theft of machinery and equipment provided through government support programmes, stressing that sustained post-investment monitoring is essential to protect public resources while maximising developmental impact.
“Our responsibility does not end when funding has been approved or equipment has been handed over. Real economic transformation requires continuous support, monitoring, and partnerships that enable businesses to remain competitive, expand their operations, and create sustainable employment. Every successful enterprise contributes to stronger local economies and more resilient communities,” said MEC Lenkopane.
During the oversight, the MEC commended progress made on the Dunlop Business in a Box initiative, an innovative plug-and-play tyre fitment centre housed in a 12-metre shipping container that is nearing completion in Morokweng. The facility will soon commence operations under the leadership of a local woman entrepreneur, demonstrating how strategic public investment can unlock entrepreneurship and economic participation in rural communities.
The MEC said the project represents the type of innovative enterprise the Department seeks to replicate across the province as part of its broader industrialisation and localisation agenda.
She added that supporting MSMEs remains central to achieving inclusive economic growth, as thriving local enterprises stimulate local supply chains, create employment opportunities and improve household incomes.
“When small businesses grow, communities grow. Every enterprise we sustain creates opportunities for families, inspires local innovation, and strengthens the economic resilience of our province. Our focus is to ensure that young people, women, persons with disabilities and military veterans are not only participants in the economy but become drivers of economic growth and job creation,” she said.
The Department’s oversight programme reflects a shift from funding businesses as isolated interventions to building a sustainable enterprise ecosystem that nurtures innovation, improves competitiveness and expands opportunities for entrepreneurs to participate meaningfully in the provincial economy.
Issued by the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism
For inquiries, contact:
Mr. Jeremiah Matebesi
072 333 0325
Email: JeremiahMatebesi@nwpg.gov.za
Twitter: @nwpg_dedect / Facebook: @nwdedect