Key statistics:
- R400-million for Junior Mining Exploration Fund.
- 1.2-million tons of cement produced at Sephaku’s Aganang plant.
- 40 770 employees and contractors across Sibanye-Stillwater’s operations in the province in December 2024.
The North West Province is aligned with the Western Limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex, a remarkably rich minerals formation. Over the last decade, several well-established mining houses have either changed their focus or sold assets, but mining activity is still robust, with global demand driving new investments in platinum group metals (PGMs) and (periodically) pleasing gold producers.
Both the provincial government (through the North West Development Corporation) and the Industrial Development Corporation are looking for ways to open opportunities in the mining sector for new entrants.
New developments
1. A new centre devoted to promoting the learning of mathematics and science has opened in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, giving children from local schools a chance to step into the province’s mining sector as engineers or mining professionals. In March 2026 North-West University (NWU) launched its newest Ikateleng centre at HF Tlou Secondary School, which is in Tlhabane township near Rustenburg. For 21 Saturdays, selected students will return to the school for extra lessons in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects.
The NWU Ikateleng Project is an initiative that has been running for almost 40 years in support of rural and township schools. The name “Ikateleng” comes from Setswana and means “empower yourself”, reflecting the project’s focus on empowerment through education and the HF Tlou centre is the second programme in the district, with the first centre being in Mooinooi.
2. The IDC has launched the Junior Mining Exploration Fund with an initial R400-million to support prospecting activities for junior mining companies.
The initiative is in partnership with the Council for Geosciences and the National Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources in an effort to accelerate the mining of critical minerals, key to the future of the mining sector. Anglo American has subsequently invested in the fund which will also look at other elements of the prospective green economy such as battery storage.
3. Miners and financial institutions expressed interest during the 2026 Investing in African Mining Indaba in supporting the North West Development Fund to promote inclusive growth.
4. Action is being taken against illegal miners, with 1 400 arrested at Matlosana.
5. The Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine, the Styldrift Mine and two concentrators, are now called Impala Bafokeng to reflect their new ownership.
6. Valterra Platinum is the new name for what used to be Anglo American Platinum (Amplats). The new company has retained the Amandelbult complex (in neighbouring Limpopo Province) and the Waterval smelter in Rustenburg. It has sold the Kroondaal Mine to Sibanye-Stillwater.
Major companies
- The Impala Platinum Rustenburg operation comprises a multiple-shaft mining complex and concentrating and smelting plants.
- Sibanye-Stillwater operates three mines near Rustenburg. The Kroondal complex has two concentrators. After expansion the Marikana mine should be producing 250 000oz per year of platinum, gold, palladium and rhodium in 2028. The Platinum Mile is a tailings retreatment plant.
- The Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture runs the Wonderkop Chrome Mine near Brits.
- Samancor’s Western Chrome Mine has three underground mines, two beneficiation plants and two tailings plants.
- Northam Platinum’s Eland Mine has an associated tailings facility and two concentrators.
- Bastion, a joint venture between Senwes and NWK, produces agricultural lime (dolomitic and calcitic) and gypsum products at three plants.
- G&W Base and Industrial Minerals runs limestone quarries in the Marico District.
- PPC runs a cement complex near Mahikeng and a mine.
- The Ditsobotla Cement Manufacturers Forum, comprising Afrimat, AfriSam and Sephaku, delivers CSI initiatives such as a refurbished Resource Centre for Taletso TVET College. All three companies have operations in Lichtenburg.
Resources
Rustenburg is the chief city of the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality. Plans to develop a Special Economic Zone in the province include calling such a facility the Platinum Valley SEZ. With 50% of the platinum produced in the world and 65% of South Africa’s PGMs, there can be no doubt about which is the province’s most important mineral resource.
Chromite is the other major mineral mined throughout the province, and there are several ferrochrome smelters and other processing plants. South Africa produces about 70% of the world’s chrome. Gold and uranium are found along the border of the province with Gauteng and the Free State (in Klerksdorp and Orkney). Other minerals include fluorspar, vanadium, rhodium, uranium, copper, limestone, slate, phosphate, manganese, coal and nickel. There are several limestone quarries.
