For years, the mines had been the lifeblood of Gauteng’s West Rand district. Through strategic partnerships and extensive stakeholder engagement, the Bokamoso Ba Rona initiative in partnership with Agri SA Enterprises seeks to breathe new life into an area once dependent on mining.
In Gauteng’s West Rand district, communities are watching as the once bustling mining operations slowly vanish before their eyes due to decreasing mining activity. For years, the mines had been the lifeblood of the region, providing employment and sustaining livelihoods.
However, amidst the uncertainty, a glimmer of hope emerged in the form of the Bokamoso Ba Rona initiative. The initiative is aimed at breathing new life into the region by deploying over 30 000 hectares of privately owned land for intensive agriculture development.
Bokamoso Ba Rona was established by the Gauteng Infrastructure Financing Agency (Gifa), Sibanye Stillwater, the Far West Rand Dolomitic Water Association, and the West Rand District Municipality.
According to Noxolo Mtembu, project manager at Gifa, working as the project preparation unit as an entity of the provincial government, they support initiatives and sector departments by developing concepts into feasible projects.
“These projects span various sectors, from accommodation to social infrastructure, waste, water, and energy,” Mtembu said, emphasising the importance of post-mine economies.
Life after mining
Jurgens Kühl, head of advisory and management at Capital Asset Project Integration Consultants (Capic), explained the company’s involvement, stating that as a specialist consultancy focused on the development, financing, and management of economic and social infrastructure assets across multiple sectors, Capic generates and implements strategies to transform concepts into sustainable businesses.
The intersection of mining and agriculture is crucial in this initiative, Kühl said.
“Many years ago, this area was a thriving agricultural heartland with a dolomitic aquifer. However, mining activities affected the groundwater supply, bringing intensive agriculture in the area to a standstill.
“With the decline in gold mining activities, there’s a need to transition these land and water resources into a socially and environmentally just, post-mining landscape,” he explained.
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Step towards economic diversification
As part of their partnership, Agri SA Enterprises provides technical support and expertise to the initiative.
Craig Murrell, head of rural development and advisory services at Agri SA Enterprises, said developing projects under the initiative required extensive stakeholder engagement, due diligence, and market testing.
Highlighting the impact the initiative will have on agriculture, Murrell said, “Agriculture stands to benefit greatly from this programme in two ways.
“Firstly, there will be a nominal increase in hectares under production which will enhance food security within the sector. Secondly, this project will demonstrate agriculture’s vital role in post-mine economies.”
Partners involved believe that Bokamoso Ba Rona’s initiative in the West Rand mining area represents a significant step towards economic diversification and the rehabilitation of post-mining environments.
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