Speaking at the Investing in African Mining seminar North West Premier Edna Molewa said that North West province was not content with being the most mineral-rich region in South Africa but wanted to dominate global mineral exploration and mine development and production. Molewa said that the provincial government had approved and allocated funds to build a number of mining theme parks – the ultimate goal being community beneficiation even once the mineral deposits had been exhausted.

 In this vein, the province was developing a platinum beneficiation park to teach students to produce platinum jewellery. The park would eventually be used by small and medium mining enterprises. Furthermore, a park to supply goods and services to large mining producers in the western limb of the Bushveld Complex – and which is seeking more investors – is being set up with private sector funding.

North West Science Park, with a value of R30-million, is being developed at North West University. The R60-million, private-sector driven Mafikeng minerals cluster project at the Mafikeng Airport – which has the potential to create more than 13 000 jobs – would act as a SADC regional diamond exchange. North West has 87 large-scale active mines and holds 64% of South Africa’s platinum, 32% of its chromite and 25% of its gold reserves.