Business, government meet to discuss service delivery

Last Thursday (18 November) a delegation from the North West provincial government met with the North West Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NWCoCI), to engage on issues of service delivery. They sought to find lasting solutions to the social-economic challenges currently hindering economic growth and development in the province.

The government delegation was led by Premier Bushy Maape and the NWCoCI was led by the chairperson, Nick Setsetse.

The executive committee members of the NWCoCI who attended the meeting emphasised that no economic growth can or will take place if the current local government decay is not rectified quickly.

“More businesses plan to relocate from Lichtenburg and, therefore, more jobs will be lost. We are battling to employ people in Lichtenburg,” Benedict Modise of NWK said.

Johan Oosthuizen, the chair- person of the Klerksdorp Chamber of Commerce, said we can forget about new investment if the infrastructure problems remain. He also lamented the attitude of some of the people working in local government.

The CEO of the NWCoCI, André Coertzen, said there was an urgent need for a job summit and that unemployment should be a priority. He also noted that the township economy is 86 per cent foreign- owned. “Training unemployed people should also be prioritised, so our own people can run shops and take ownership of the local economy. That could contribute some 22 per cent to the GDP”.

Tshepang Ramosepele of NAFCOC and a member of NWCoCI suggested that the North West Development Corporation should become a bigger role player in developing the economy. “Agencies that have any-thing to do with economic development should be grouped together, so we can work as one,” he said.

The North West government recognised problems that have impacted negatively on business in the province. “The issue, of course, is how we resolve these to collectively give impetus to economic growth and job creation, with an emphasis on youth employment. We appreciate the constructive way the NWCoCI has raised issues and look forward to building that partnership into the future” Premier Maape said.

As a way forward, the parties agreed to set up a task team, including the economic sector and the MEC for Cogta, supported by a technical team of HODs. The team would develop an action plan to address issues raised by businesses in the meeting.

It was also agreed that business would be incorporated into the processes to establish a district development model in North West.