North West Dept of Economic Development, Environment Conservation & Tourism

North West Dept of Economic Development, Environment Conservation & Tourism The northern and western parts of the province have many sheep farms and cattle and game ranches.

The mainstay of the economy of North West Province is mining, which generates more than half of the province's gross domestic product and provides jobs for a quarter of its workforce. The chief minerals are gold, mined at Orkney and Klerksdorp; uranium, mined at Klerksdorp; platinum, mined at Rustenburg and Brits; and diamonds, mined at Lichtenburg, Christiana, and Bloemhof. The eastern and southern parts are crop-growing regions that produce maize (corn), sunflowers, to***co, cotton, and citrus fruits. The entertainment and casino complex at Sun City and Lost City also contributes to the provincial economy.

DAY 2 - TOURISM SAFETY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN Day 2 of the Tourism Safety Awareness Campaign is underway at the R556 and R51...
18/09/2026

DAY 2 - TOURISM SAFETY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Day 2 of the Tourism Safety Awareness Campaign is underway at the R556 and R510 junction near Tsitsing and Maile villages in the Moses Kotane Local Municipality.

Team Nature Conservation & Tourism, together with the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management and Provincial Traffic officials, are engaging motorists and communities to promote tourism safety, road safety and crime prevention.

The route is an important link to some of the province’s tourism destinations and has previously been identified as an area where tourists have been targeted by criminals.

DEDECT Nature Conservation officials are also conducting inspections to combat the illegal trade in protected and endangered species, including tortoises, pangolins and chameleons.

During the operation, officials found a passenger in illegal possession of two bags containing fish, identified as catfish and blue carp, in contravention of Transvaal Ordinance 12 of 1983. Four undocumented passengers travelling to surrounding areas were also identified.

In addition, the officials intercepted a truck and trailer transporting 3 Impalas two (2) male, and one (1) female, without the required transportation permit, in contravention of the Nature Conservation Ordinance 12 of 1983.

The three impala were being transported from Dwaalboom in Limpopo to the Free State Province.

The driver was issued with J534 fines of R1,500 for the contravention.

The operation demonstrates the importance of joint efforts between government, law enforcement, tourism stakeholders and communities in promoting compliance, protecting the province’s wildlife resources and creating a safer environment for both visitors and residents.

Let’s work together to promote tourism safety and keep North West a safe, welcoming and enjoyable destination.
Your safety is our priority.

The DEDECT Informal Traders Support Programme continues to drive empowerment for local entrepreneurs across all district...
18/09/2026

The DEDECT Informal Traders Support Programme continues to drive empowerment for local entrepreneurs across all district municipalities in the province. Today, MEC Bitsa Lenkopane officiated the handover of start-up packages to top 10 youth enterprises from the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District following the YAEI x Absa Zenzele Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge.

Hosted at NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus, this initiative is a collaborative effort between DEDECT, the Young African Entrepreneurs Institute (YAEI), North-West University (NWU), Absa, and key strategic partners. ​The programme empowers young innovators to pitch high-growth ideas in Energy, Innovation & Technology, and General Business - driving job creation, social impact, and long-term economic sustainability. Through this effort, DEDECT continues to advance its core mandate of supporting SMMEs and informal traders as vital drivers of local economic development.

Addressing the beneficiaries, MEC Bitsa Lenkopane delivered an inspiring call to action, urging the youth to step forward and seize the available opportunities.

​"Our focus is on real, sustainable employability—not just collecting certificates, but turning passion, commitment, and innovative ideas into thriving enterprises. We are opening doors alongside our partners to ensure that underutilized funding for small business allocation, reaches you directly. The resources and support structures are here; now I challenge our youth to raise your hands, take ownership of these tools, and make the bold transition from job seekers to sustainable employers who drive our province forward."

​By bridging the gap between public resources, academic institutions, and grassroots entrepreneurs, DEDECT and its partners continue to build a resilient economic foundation that turns local potential into lasting commercial success.

​

18/09/2026

[WATCH LIVE] Handover of Start-Up Business Packages for Traders who successfully completed The Informal Traders Support Programme | 18/9/26 | NWU, Potchefstroom Campus.

On the Calendar Today | MEC for DEDECT, Ms. Bitsa Lenkopane, alongside departmental partners - the Young African Entrepr...
18/09/2026

On the Calendar Today | MEC for DEDECT, Ms. Bitsa Lenkopane, alongside departmental partners - the Young African Entrepreneurs Institute (YAEI), NWU, and ABSA Bank, will officiate the handover of Start-Up Business Packages to Informal Traders at the North West University, Potchefstroom Campus.

North West MEC for DEDECT, Bitsa Lenkopane, yesterday convened traditional leaders through the House of Traditional and ...
18/09/2026

North West MEC for DEDECT, Bitsa Lenkopane, yesterday convened traditional leaders through the House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, led by National Chairperson, Kgosi Thabo Seatlholo and Provincial Chairperson, Kgosi Thari Maotwe, for a session marking the closure of the 2026 hunting season. The engagement centred on the critical role of traditional leadership in biodiversity conservation, wildlife management and the development of the wildlife economy.

Addressing dikgosi and traditional leaders, the MEC emphasised that conservation efforts cannot succeed without the active participation, leadership and support of communities living alongside wildlife resources. MEC highlighted the need for traditional authorities to be recognised not merely as stakeholders, but as economic partners in the wildlife economy, ensuring that communities benefit directly from hunting, tourism and related value chain opportunities. Discussions also focused on balancing conservation with economic development, strengthening partnerships between government and traditional institutions, and ensuring that wildlife resources contribute meaningfully to local livelihoods while remaining protected for future generations.

The session further explored issues relating to hunting permit administration, legislative reform, sustainable utilisation of wildlife resources and opportunities for greater beneficiation by rural communities. The MEC announced plans to intensify engagement between the Department and traditional leaders, revive the North West Wildlife Forum, and ensure that traditional authorities play a more influential role in shaping policies affecting biodiversity and wildlife management.

Traditional leaders were also encouraged to continue promoting accountable governance, compliance and the responsible use of hunting quotas. As part of the programme, the MEC recognised and honoured traditional leaders and whose contributions demonstrated excellence in hunting administration, compliance, sustainable hunting practices, accurate reporting and skilled tracking. The awards were introduced as a means of recognising good practice, encouraging responsible stewardship of wildlife resources and celebrating the important role traditional leaders play in advancing conservation and community development across the province.

17/09/2026

[WATCH HIGHLIGHTS] North West Hunting Season Closure with Traditional Leaders. MEC Bitsa Lenkopane outlines the purpose of the session with Traditional Leaders, taking place today at Sun City.

[DITSHWANTSHO] Mokhuduthamaga wa Lefapha la Tlhabololo ya Ikonomi, Tikologo, Tshomarelo ya Tlhago le Bojanala mo Porofen...
17/09/2026

[DITSHWANTSHO] Mokhuduthamaga wa Lefapha la Tlhabololo ya Ikonomi, Tikologo, Tshomarelo ya Tlhago le Bojanala mo Porofenseng ya Bokone Bophirima, Mme Bitsa Lenkopane, o nnile le moletlo wa go tswalela setlha sa botsomi le Ntlo ya Dikgosi ya Porofense, mmogo le batsayakarolo ba intasiteri maitseboeng a gompieno Kwa Sun City.

Setlha se sa botsomi jwa semolao se simolotse semmuso ka di 1 Motsheganong 2026 go fitlha ka di 31 Phatwe 2026.

​Mokhuduthamaga mo moletlong o, o ile a neelana ka dikgele le ditshupo tsa ditebogo go dikgosi, e le go lebogela go tsaya karolo ga bone mo tshomarelong ya tlhago, le intasiteri ya botsomi. Intasiteri e ya botsomi ke e nngwe ya di intasetiri tse di tsenyang letseno mo letloleng la porofense.

PUBLIC SERVICE WOMEN MANAGEMENT WEEK MEETINGDEDECT's Head of Department, Mr Relebohole Mofokane, held and chaired the Pu...
17/09/2026

PUBLIC SERVICE WOMEN MANAGEMENT WEEK MEETING

DEDECT's Head of Department, Mr Relebohole Mofokane, held and chaired the Public Service Women Management Week Meeting at Three Oaks and Aloe Boutique Hotel for departmental women senior managers.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the HOD's 8-Principle Plan of Action for promoting women's empowerment and gender equality within the public service workplace.

The Public Service Women Management Week was launched at the first Public Service Gender Indaba in 2007 by the then Minister of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), Ms Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi.

The recommendations of the meeting state that each woman manager should monitor women at all levels and report accordingly, review the departmental forums and policies, and ensure equal participation between women and men at all decision-making levels and leadership categories.

North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, Bitsa Lenkopane will host ...
17/09/2026

North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, Bitsa Lenkopane will host an official hunting season close-out programme with Traditional leaders at Sun City. The session marks the formal conclusion of the 2026 Hunting Season which commenced on the 1st May 2026 and concluded on the 31st August 2026.

Additional programme highlights include recognition and awards for compliant traditional authorities, as well as an interactive discussion on how hunting and wildlife management contribute directly to the provincial economy.

The DEDECT, through its Tourism Safety Unit are currently conducting a Tourism Clean-up and Safety Campaign at the R556 ...
17/09/2026

The DEDECT, through its Tourism Safety Unit are currently conducting a Tourism Clean-up and Safety Campaign at the R556 junction near Tsitsing and Maile villages within the Moses Kotane Local Municipality. The campaign forms part of this year’s Tourism Month programme, recently launched by MEC for DEDECT, Bitsa Lenkopane.

The campaign aims to raise awareness about littering, particularly among motorists travelling along the province’s tourism routes. It is common for some motorists to throw rubbish from their vehicle windows, contributing to environmental pollution and depriving informal recyclers of valuable materials such as bottles and cans that could otherwise be collected and recycled.

Through the clean-up campaign, the department is encouraging motorists to refrain from littering along roads and to dispose of their waste responsibly by using rubbish bins at their destinations. Communities are also encouraged to practise separation at source when disposing of waste, making it easier for recyclers to collect recyclable materials. These responsible waste management practices are at the heart of the department’s campaign.

The campaign is supported by key stakeholders - SAPS, Sun City Resort, the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management’s Provincial Traffic officials and local community members. These stakeholders have pledged their commitment to working together to promote tourism safety along the R556, a route where tourists have previously been targeted by criminals and where DEDECT Environmental Services officials frequently conduct inspection of the illegal trade of endangered species, such as tortoises, pangolins and chameleons, often targeting tourists.

Through continued collaboration with these stakeholders and local communities, the North West Provincial Government remains committed to ensuring that the R556 remains a clean, safe and welcoming route for both visitors and the communities who live and work along it.

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Cnr Provident And University Drive
Mafikeng
2735

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 16:30
Tuesday 08:00 - 16:30
Wednesday 08:00 - 16:30
Thursday 08:00 - 16:30
Friday 08:00 - 16:30

Telephone

+27183885870

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