By Levy Masiteng
Northern Cape Premier Zamani Saul said the province closed its inaugural Investment and Jobs Conference in Kimberley this week with R105.330 billion in investment pledges, with the province saying the commitments could contribute nearly 19,800 jobs.
Saul said the outcome marked a major step in the province’s economic drive, with mining, renewable energy and agriculture among the sectors identified as central to growth. “These pledges take us a long way toward achieving our goal of growing the provincial economy and creating sustainable jobs for our people.”
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The three-day conference formed part of the province’s strategy to attract investment, deepen industrialisation and position the Northern Cape as a growth hub.
National government also backed that push, with Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau telling delegates the province was strategically placed to lead in clean energy, critical minerals and green hydrogen.
“We are building a modern, growing and successful province, and these investments signal strong confidence in the Northern Cape as a viable destination,” he said.
The investment push aligns with the province’s longer-term target, set out in Saul’s February State of the Province Address, of growing the economy to R200 billion and creating 60,000 additional jobs by 2030.
The conference also came as the provincial government pointed to recent gains in infrastructure and employment.
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In his State of the Province Address, Saul said the Northern Cape’s official unemployment rate had fallen to 27.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025 from 31.2% in the previous quarter, while the province has also been promoting a wider investment pipeline tied to infrastructure, energy, mining and agriculture.
“Our focus is not just on attracting capital, but on ensuring that this investment translates into real opportunities for our communities,” he said.
The conference, held under the theme “Unlocking Investment for Jobs through Industrialisation”, also coincided with the launch of the Northern Cape investSA One Stop Shop, part of efforts to reduce red tape and make it easier for investors to do business in the province.