On Wednesday, 21 October 2020, the NWDC’s SEZ unit conducted a high-level briefing and site visit at the Bodirelo Industrial Park in Mogwase, in the Moses Kotane Local Municipality where the proposed Bojanala Special Economic Zone (SEZ) will be established.

The visit was arranged for the benefit of the leadership of the four provincial departments that constitute the provincial Economic and Infrastructure Development (EID) cluster. The EID cluster consists of MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi: DEDECT, MEC Desbo Mohono: Agriculture & Rural Development, MEC Gaoage Molapisi: Public Works & Roads, and MEC Motlalepula Rosho: Provincial Treasury (Finance).

Before embarking on the site visit the Project Executive for the Bojanala SEZ, Mr Davis Sadike, first briefed the cluster members on the current status of the SEZ’s development process and license application. Highlights of the presentation included briefings on the topics of: development opportunities; infrastructure development; sector focuses on mineral beneficiation, mining capital equipment, agro-processing, renewal energy; stakeholder management; SMME development; skills development; and socio-economic impacts.

The cluster members were taken on a tour of the Bodirelo industrial park, earmarked for the development of the SEZ, where they were shown the newly erected fence and a number of factories already refurbishment in the park. Their most pertinent point of feedback was the need for visible service delivery in the area such as grass cutting and regular cleaning of the industrial site, to ensure it remains safe and attractive to both current tenants and prospective investors.