SANDTON – The Northern Cape can be South Africa’s next mining hub, having the potential to unlock significant revenue from a revitalised and expanded mining sector.
At a collaboration session in Sandton ahead of the upcoming inaugural Northern Cape Investment and Jobs Conference 2026, Bongani Motsa highlighted the province as a key driver of South Africa’s mining future.
Motsa, acting chief economist of Minerals Council SA, reaffirmed the strategic role of the province in unlocking investment, beneficiation, and sustainable economic development.
This high-level collaboration session on 18 March in Sandton was convened by the Northern Cape Provincial Government in partnership with the National Business Initiative to bring together key stakeholders and leadership.
Dr Zamani Saul, premier of the Northern Cape, and Venus Blennies-Magage, MEC of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, were among the Northern Cape Provincial Government representatives to advance public-private partnerships and unlock sustainable economic opportunities.
‘See province at the centre’
Saul framed the province not as peripheral, but as a strategic investment destination critical to South Africa’s next phase of economic growth.
“We present the Northern Cape not as a province on the margins of the economy but at the centre of a new growth trajectory.”
He highlighted the province’s competitive edge, abundant renewable energy, critical minerals, vast land and emerging logistics corridors positioning it as a future-facing industrial hub.
Saul said mining is one of the six critical pillars of the province’s industrialisation and development strategy, along with infrastructure development and transport corridors to support an expanded mining sector.
The Northern Cape is the country’s most under-explored and underutilised yet highest potential region. Worldwide, industrial advantage is shifting towards regions that offer abundant green energy, proximity to natural resources, a trained skills base; and access to markets through reliable infrastructure. According to him, the Northern Cape is firmly on this trajectory.
Amid global demand for critical minerals such as manganese, copper, and zinc rising sharply, Saul drew attention to the Northern Cape holding significant deposits of these minerals, while being well positioned to become a dependable, long-term supplier to global manufacturing value chains.
‘Northern Cape a new growth front’
In late February, delivering his annual State of the Province Address in Springbok, Saul said the Northern Cape is projected as the new growth front for South Africa, enabled by the province’s resource profile, which includes minerals, energy, infrastructure, and agriculture.
ALSO READ: ‘Northern Cape positioned as country’s new growth frontier beyond industrial heartland’
“Resource and energy development investments in the province provide the country with a new growth front beyond the current industrial triangle of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape,” he then said.
Strategic role in evolving economic landscape
Mpumi Zikalala, chief executive officer at Kumba Iron Ore, provided an investor perspective on the Northern Cape’s positioning as a leading destination for mining and industrial investment.
She underscored the critical importance of policy certainty, infrastructure development, and sustained collaboration between government and the private sector in unlocking long-term value.
Her contribution highlighted the province’s strategic role in driving investment-led growth, industrialisation, and job creation within South Africa’s evolving economic landscape.
Inaugural conference in Kimberley
The first Northern Cape Investment and Jobs Conference takes place from 13 to 15 April at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre in Kimberley.
It aims to bring together public sector leadership, industry experts, investors and community stakeholders to unpack the investment opportunities, challenges and long-term vision for the industrialisation of the vast Northern Cape – the biggest province in the country.
Helena Barnard
novanews.co.za
