Thokozile Mnguni
Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong says Bojanala’s economy must be rebuilt through stronger coordination between government, business and communities, with a focus on inclusive growth, investment and job creation.
Speaking today at the Bojanala District Economic Development Symposium, Morolong said local economies remain central to national development and must be placed at the centre of planning and implementation.
He said South Africa’s economic structure has historical roots in mining, but warned that the benefits of growth were not shared equally.
“The South African economy was built on mineral discoveries and mining,” Morolong said. “However, this economic growth was not inclusive.”
He said inequality remains a major challenge despite progress since 1994.
“The transformation of the economic structure inherited from apartheid remains one of the greatest tasks of our democratic state,” he said.
Morolong said both growth and transformation are needed, warning that growth without inclusion is not sustainable.
He said current growth levels remain too low to reduce unemployment and inequality in a meaningful way.
“This is precisely why growth matters. It is not an abstract economic concept. It is the difference between opportunity and exclusion,” he said.
Morolong said unemployment, especially among young people, remains a serious concern.
He called for stronger industrialisation, localisation and development of local value chains, particularly in mining regions such as Bojanala.
He said Bojanala plays a key role in the country’s economy as a major platinum-producing district, but more must be done to ensure local benefit from mineral wealth.
“A fundamental question, therefore, is how do we ensure that the wealth extracted from beneath our soil creates sustainable prosperity above the soil,” he said.
He added that mining should support broader economic development, including manufacturing, logistics, engineering and services.
“The future of Bojanala cannot be limited to an extraction model. Mining must become the foundation upon which we build a diversified and industrialised economy,” he said.
Morolong said South Africa must increase investment levels to support long-term growth, noting that current investment levels remain below national targets.
He said government cannot fund development alone and called for stronger partnerships with the private sector.
“Government must lead, however it cannot do so alone,” he said.
He proposed catalytic infrastructure projects as a key part of Bojanala’s economic strategy, including energy, water, logistics and digital infrastructure.
Morolong also said mining companies should better align social and labour plan spending with long-term development priorities.
“The objective should be to leverage every rand invested to crowd in additional public and private investment,” he said.
He said the outcome of the symposium should be a practical framework for economic direction in the district, aligned with national and provincial plans.
“The minerals beneath our soil have given us a competitive advantage. Let this symposium mark the beginning of a new economic consensus,” he said.