Ramaphosa leads high-level talks on Northern Cape’s development agenda

President Cyril Ramaphosa has convened a high-level meeting with the Northern Cape Provincial Executive, stressing the importance of collaborative governance and strategic projects to accelerate economic development and improve service delivery across the province.

The engagement, held under the theme “A Nation that Works for All,” marks the sixth formal dialogue between the national government and provincial authorities, following similar discussions with Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Eastern Cape. 

Ramaphosa, accompanied by ministers and deputy ministers, met with Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul, provincial executive members, and mayors from the five district municipalities.

In his address, Ramaphosa highlighted the significance of working together across government levels.

“Advancing cooperative governance is mandated by our Constitution. As the Government of National Unity, we see this as an important part of building a capable, ethical, and developmental state.”

He elaborated on the challenges that have historically hampered progress, including “working in silos” and “parachuted development,” where projects are initiated at the national level without sufficient local consultation or relevance.

“These challenges have been time-consuming and costly, and they have contributed to a widening trust deficit between government and communities,” he explained.

The President praised the Northern Cape as a “pioneer and frontier of innovation,” citing its leadership in renewable energy and green hydrogen projects. 

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A 2022 Pulitzer Centre profile described the province as South Africa’s emerging economic powerhouse, especially in the clean energy revolution. 

Ramaphosa suggested that: “Once the energy transition unfolds as envisaged, the Northern Cape could be the new heartbeat of the economy.”

The province’s Green Hydrogen Masterplan is a core component of this vision, promising significant regional and global economic benefits. 

Ramaphosa noted ongoing multilateral discussions and business forums that position South Africa as a leader in renewable energy, calling the Northern Cape “a critical driver of this transition.”

He said that the province aims to develop beyond energy as an industrial hub, leveraging traditional sectors like mining and expanding into special economic zones, industrial parks, and infrastructure projects such as port and rail upgrades. 

According to the 2024 Provincial Socio-Economic Review by the National Treasury, despite positive economic indicators, persistent challenges remain, including rising poverty levels, declining access to basic services, and high youth unemployment.

Ramaphosa acknowledged fiscal constraints impacting municipal projects such as disaster response, land restitution, rural electrification, and public housing. 

He stressed the need for innovative funding mechanisms, citing examples like the Northern Cape Industrial Corridor, the R1 billion housing initiative, and the Kimberley Big Hole precinct.

“We urgently need to reexamine the current delivery models to enable regulatory approval and investment activation,” he said.

The meeting also focused on the importance of integrated planning between national, provincial, and local governments, including state-owned enterprises as key stakeholders. 

The President emphasised aligning provincial plans with national priorities through the District Development Model and Medium-Term Development Plan.

Climate change preparedness, municipal debt management, revenue collection, and leveraging tourism assets were critical issues for discussion. 

“These are among the issues that we will deliberate on today,” Ramaphosa stated, highlighting the government’s commitment to addressing the province’s challenges.

This engagement underscores the government’s ongoing efforts to foster cooperative governance and unlock the Northern Cape’s vast economic potential.

thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za

IOL Politics