Orkney: The China-African Precious Metals Company has unveiled a refurbished gold processing plant in Orkney, located within the City of Matlosana Local Municipality, North West. This development is set to generate close to 4,000 job opportunities for the local population.

According to South African Government News Agency, the plant’s revitalization, which cost over R200 million, is part of a broader R2 billion investment by the company in its Orkney operations. The grand opening of the facility was graced by prominent figures including the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, North West Premier, Kagiso Lazarus Mokgosi, Executive Mayor of the City of Matlosana Local Municipality, Councilor Fikile Mahlope, and former Acting Premier Nono Maloyi.

Premier Mokgosi highlighted that the creation of these job opportunities reflects the success of governmental investment strategies aimed at combating unemployment and poverty in the region. “This means all our investment initiatives from the s
ixth to the seventh administration were not in vain. Moreover, our ongoing efforts to lure investments and address the scourge of unemployment and poverty is yielding desired results particularly in economically depressed communities like this one,” Mokgosi stated.

Looking ahead, the region is poised for further investment, with an anticipated announcement of a gas-to-power project within the same municipality expected before the year’s end. Mokgosi also noted, “On the 28th of this month, we will be meeting with a delegation of business people from the Henan province of China, led by the Ambassador, to engage in various investment opportunities in mining, tourism and agriculture, which are mainly the three economic drivers of the province.”

These developments come as the North West province records sixty-nine thousand job opportunities in the third quarter of 2024, signaling a positive trend in addressing socio-economic challenges. Mokgosi emphasized the significance of these efforts as a beacon of hope for
the province’s future prosperity.