By AGISANANG SCUFF 11 October 2025- The North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane and Head of Department (HoD), Relebohile Mofokane, have concluded a two-day Strategic Planning Session aimed at refining the departmental 2026/27 Annual Performance Plan (APP) and Operational Plan (AOP). Lenkopane said the session held from 8–9 October 2025 at the Mmabatho Convention Centre in Mahikeng, was attended by senior management, Heads of Entities, and strategic partners.
She further said it served as a platform to ensure that departmental priorities are aligned with the 7th Administration’s vision of inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction, and building a capable, ethical, and developmental state. Lenkopane added that there should be urgency in implementing impactful programmes that stimulate local economies, attract investment and create sustainable employment opportunities.
“This department contributes exceedingly to the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS), which is the cornerstone of economic transformation in our province. We must collectively drive investment, tackle poverty, and reduce unemployment; the people of this province depend on our success.
“Departmental strategic plans must be bold and solution-driven. Our province has immense mineral wealth, yet it continues to face high unemployment. We must change this narrative by packaging our investment pillars to attract meaningful economic growth and ensure that no one is left behind,” she said.
Lenkopane said for the 2025/26 financial year, DEDECT and its public entities, the North West Development Corporation (NWDC), North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWP&TB), and North West Gambling Board (NWGB), will strengthen partnerships with the private sector to stimulate job creation, promote compliance, and advance inclusive economic development across the province. She said the session aimed to consolidate departmental strategies and ensure alignment with key policy frameworks, including the PGDS, Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP), Departmental Budget Speech, Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), and other special project plans.
“We urge departmental leaders, programme managers, and entity CEOs to use the session as a platform for robust engagement and evidence-based planning. Our strategies must directly address the challenges faced by our businesses, particularly in the energy and mining sectors.
“High electricity costs are crippling industries and leading to retrenchments. As the engine of economic development, DEDECT must champion investment in alternative energy solutions to stabilise and revitalise the provincial economy,” said Lenkopane.
She said to strengthen investment readiness, she has directed that feasibility studies by various entities be finalised and presented to ensure that investor targeting is precise and aligned with district-specific economic priorities. Lenkopane said highlighting logistics as a key enabler of growth, she has instructed the department to enhance coordination in the transport sector, including revitalising the province’s airports and improving airline connectivity to stimulate trade, tourism, and investment.
“We also announced plans for beneficiation initiatives in the chrome and platinum sectors, in partnership with the Limpopo Province, to advance industrialisation and value addition. Outcomes of this collaboration will be presented to the Premier and the President in due course.
“The effective management of mega projects remains critical. Coordination, monitoring, and timely implementation are essential to ensure these projects deliver tangible results in job creation and economic growth. As part of ongoing efforts to attract investment, we also announced that the department will host its own Investment Conference and Jobs Summit by the end of November 2025,” she said.
Lenkopane said this will assist in focusing on sector-specific opportunities and building on existing international market engagements. She said this initiative will build upon existing international market profiling, particularly where demand for products such as citrus fruit has already been identified.
“We urge delegates to ensure that the APP for 2025/26 reflects practical, measurable strategies that align with the 7th Administration’s priorities, driving inclusive economic growth, promoting industrial development, and creating sustainable jobs. The collaboration across all programmes, entities, and stakeholders will be essential to ensure the successful implementation of these strategic interventions.
“We need to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the 2026/27 plans are actionable, measurable, and transformative, our people depend on us to position the North West as a competitive hub for economic growth and sustainable development,” said Lenkopane.
She said the strategic planning session was attended by DEDECT’s key partners, including the Provincial Treasury (Internal Audit), Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME), National Department of Tourism (NDT), Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA), Office of the Premier, and Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).
Lenkopane said additional strategic partners in attendance include the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEFA), universities such as North-West University (NWU), Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), and the University of South Africa (UNISA), the Young African Entrepreneurs Institute (YAEI), the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), and representatives from District Municipalities’ Local Economic Development (LED) units all contributing valuable insights to the session.
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