Under the thema, Positioning Ngwathe as a Destination for Investment, Tourism and Opportunity, the Ngwathe Business Breakfast will take place on Thursday, September 17 at Woodlands Country Lodge in Parys.

The Business Breakfast forms part of the broader Ngwathe Spring Experience, a September programme created to connect tourism, business, investment, sport, culture, entertainment, entrepreneurship and Local Economic Development.

The Business Breakfast will bring together national, provincial and local government, corporates, investors, commercial banks, development finance institutions, tourism and hospitality stakeholders, organised business, entrepreneurs, SMMEs and strategic partners.

Its purpose is to create a practical environment in which stakeholders can engage on the opportunities that exist within Ngwathe, the barriers that must be addressed, and the partnerships required to turn economic potential into investment, enterprise development, tourism growth and employment.

At the centre of the Business Breakfast is a clear objective to connect opportunity with capital, businesses with markets, investors with projects, and government with the partners required to unlock sustainable economic development.

Policy and development alignment

The Ngwathe Business Breakfast is aligned with key development priorities across all spheres of government.

At national level, the platform supports the objectives of the National Development Plan: Vision 2030 and the Medium-Term Development Plan 2024–2029, particularly the focus on inclusive economic growth, job creation, investment, infrastructure development and stronger partnerships between government and the private sector.

At provincial level, it supports the broader direction of the Free State Growth and Development Strategy – Vision 2050, which places emphasis on economic growth, infrastructure, investment, enterprise development and employment.

At district level, it supports the development priorities of Fezile Dabi District Municipality, including Local Economic Development, tourism, agriculture and agro-processing, SMME support and stronger coordination between government, business and communities.

At local level, the Business Breakfast is closely aligned with the Ngwathe Local Municipality 2026/27 Integrated Development Plan, which places emphasis on Local Economic Development, infrastructure investment, SMME growth, tourism, partnerships and attracting investment.

The Business Breakfast therefore provides a practical platform to advance development priorities already identified by national, provincial, district and local government.

Making Ngwathe investment-ready

Ngwathe has significant potential in tourism and hospitality, agriculture and agro-processing, property and infrastructure development, energy, events, enterprise development and the broader service economy.

However, potential alone does not attract investment.

Businesses and investors need confidence in infrastructure, institutions, financing mechanisms, planning, access to markets and the overall enabling environment, the Edgar Legoale Foundation said.

The Business Breakfast will therefore create space for serious discussion around:

• infrastructure required to support investment;
• energy security;
• water, roads and transport connectivity;
• development and commercial finance;
• land and property development;
• investor confidence;
• tourism and destination development;
• public-private collaboration;
• supplier development;
• and local enterprise participation.

The objective is not simply to discuss challenges, but to identify what different stakeholders can practically contribute towards making Ngwathe more investment-ready.

MEC Dibolelo Mance to provinde provincial leadership perspective

Ms Dibolelo Kathleen Mance, MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure in the Free State, will deliver a Provincial Leadership Address and participate in the first high-level strategic discussion.

From opportunity to enterprise

A second strategic discussion will focus on Entrepreneurship and inclusive local economic growth

This discussion will examine how investment and tourism growth can translate into sustainable businesses, markets, employment and opportunities for people within Ngwathe.

Tourism as an economic asset

Tourism will form an important part of the Business Breakfast because Ngwathe already has a strong destination economy.

The area is supported by the Vaal River, the Vredefort Dome, accommodation establishments, restaurants, hospitality businesses, outdoor and adventure tourism, events and a growing lifestyle economy.

The opportunity now is to strengthen this base and ensure that more tourism spending benefits local businesses.

The Business Breakfast will therefore explore how Ngwathe can use its tourism assets to attract further investment, develop new tourism products and strengthen existing enterprises.

Agriculture and agro-processing

Agriculture and agro-processing will also form part of the broader economic conversation.

The opportunity extends beyond primary agricultural production. It includes processing, packaging, storage, logistics, distribution, procurement and creating greater value from agricultural products before they leave the region.

Partnerships between farmers, businesses, entrepreneurs, financiers, investors and government can help unlock further economic opportunities in this sector.

Moving from discussion to action

A key feature of the Ngwathe Business Breakfast will be its focus on practical follow-up.

The Foundation recognises that serious investment decisions require due diligence, feasibility studies, technical assessments, funding processes and internal approvals.

The Business Breakfast will therefore not seek unrealistic public commitments to immediate financial investment.

Instead, it will seek to facilitate Investment and Partnership Action Commitments.

An Investment and Partnership Action Register will be used to capture areas of interest, responsible organisations, agreed next steps and follow-up periods..

Economic opportunities

The Business Breakfast will also seek to strengthen the way Ngwathe presents its economic opportunities.ial.

Building the Ngwathe experience

The Ngwathe Business Breakfast forms part of the Foundation’s broader vision to establish the Ngwathe Experience as a sustainable platform connecting tourism, business, investment, culture, sport, entertainment and Local Economic Development.

The September programme includes:

* Ngwathe Tourism Expo – Friday, 4 September 2026, Parys Airfield

* Ngwathe Business Breakfast – Thursday, 17 September 2026, Woodlands Country Lodge

* Ngwathe Golf Experience – Sunday, 20 September 2026, Parys Golf Estate

* Ngwathe Spring Experience Music Festival – Saturday, 26 September 2026, Fezile Dabi Stadium

Cost

Registration and Networking will be between 08:00-09:00, followed by the breakfast between 09:00-12:00.

The cost for individual participation is R550 per person or R10 000 for a corporate package.

Partnership/Sponsorship Packages are also available.

For enquiries contact Nthabiseng Molejane, Project Manager – Ngwathe Experience on 071 080 6022 or email to business@ngwatheexperience.co.za