The initiative includes the development of a dedicated mining campus in Rustenburg between 2027 and 2030. It has been lauded as a major step forward for education, youth development, and economic growth.

DA Member of the Provincial Legislature Freddie Sonakile praised the university’s vision, noting its potential to uplift the province’s economy and equip young people with critical skills.

“Speaker, I rise on behalf of the DA that this house welcomes and congratulates the North West University on its announcement to establish a School of Mines and Mining Engineering, with a dedicated mining campus to be developed in Rustenburg,” he said. 

“We note North West is the mining capital of South Africa, and this initiative will contribute significantly to skills development, research, innovation, and the beneficiation of mineral resources.”

Sonakile said the university’s groundwork in preparing for the initiative, including an inaugural Mining Indaba and benchmarking with Zimbabwe’s School of Mines. He highlighted the importance of the university’s international partnerships, notably with institutions in Brazil and Peru, which will play a key role in ensuring the success and global relevance of the school.

The School of Mines will not only position the province as a hub for mining education and innovation but will also drive economic growth.

The province continues to face severe unemployment challenges. The recent statistics show that while there has been a marginal improvement of 0.3% from the previous quarter and 1.2% year-on-year, the official unemployment rate is still at 40.1%. 

The expanded unemployment rate, which includes those who have given up looking for work, stands at a staggering 54.7%, with over 1.5 million residents unemployed.

North West Premier Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi has reiterated his administration’s commitment to driving economic development through strategic interventions. Mokgosi expressed hope ahead of the scheduled Presidential Imbizo and Cabinet visit to Rustenburg on Friday, 12 September.

“The visit stems from the National Government Programme of Action of 2025 to foster and strengthen Inter-Government Relations to see to the full implementation of the priorities of the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP-2024–2029).”  

The province recently adopted a comprehensive Growth and Development Strategy aimed at repositioning the local economy through its primary sectors: mining, agriculture, and tourism. “This includes prioritising the full functioning of the Bojanala Special Economic Zone.” 

‘Create nearly 20,000 jobs’

The Bojanala SEZ has already attracted investment commitments of over R200 billion and is expected to create nearly 20,000 jobs once operational licensing is secured.

“The SEZ will go a long way in assisting the province to address the scourge of unemployment and poverty afflicting our communities. I have met several mining companies since the start of this year and have expressed interest in seeing to it the SEZ succeeds and achieves its intended objectives.”

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg