Merafong City Local Municipality’s Executive Mayor Nozuko Best, who has admitted that the city has faced the trials of economic stagnation for far too long, reported that mining houses in the area of Merafong remains key stakeholders in their local economic development (LED) agenda on Thursday, 21 August 2025.
Speaking during her State of the City Address at the Carlentonville Civic Centre, Best indicated that Harmony Gold is implementing 4 projects in Wedela, Kokosi, Fochville, and Carlentonville, with a combined value of R40 million, Sibanye Stillwater is running 3 initiatives in Blybank and East Drienfontein, valued at R26 million and Corobrik is upgrading the Carlentonville Taxi Rank and the Refurbishment of the Business Hive as part of the CBD Revitalisation.
Harmony Gold is also supporting and working with the municipality in relation to Kokosi Market Square – by facilitating the development of a central business node in Kokosi.
“These projects form part of their Social and Labour Plans (SPL) obligations, but they also demonstrate a meaningful alignment with Vision 2035,” said Best.
Best reemphasised that the economic turnaround strategy document is a blueprint for sustainable and inclusive growth for Merafong. It focuses on six transformative pillars, namely; renewable energy, tourism development, agriculture and agro processing, high-value wildlife real estate, township revitalisation and CBD revitalisation.
“We are already turning this vision into reality through the following flagship projects: Merafong Solar Farm Cluster Project: Six solar PV farms are being established near Carlentonville, contributing to Gauteng’s energy grid and helping combat load-shedding,” said Best.
To support her point, Best listed key projects like Merafong Bio-Energy Agro-Industrial Park, Carlentonville and Fochville CBD Revitalisation, Kokosi CBD Development (Kokosi Market Square) and Merafong Flora Project Revamp that are underway.
Amongst other things, these projects Merafong Bio-Energy Agro-Industrial Park are a catalytic initiative to build a farm-to-plate Agro-Processing Hub near Carlentonville that will boost food security, create jobs, and stimulate circular economies.
The city has partnered with the West Rand District Municipality for a project called Merafong Flora Project Revamp.
“Merafong’s Green Energy Transformation by Mulilo, appointed by the National Department of Electricity and Energy, for the construction of the battery storage facilities in Leeuwpoort and Welverdiend, with 77MW capacity for each, with a 20-year life span. This milestone project will not only power our city into a renewable future but also unlock significant economic benefits.
“We anticipate substantial employment opportunities during both construction and operation phases,” Best said.
Local businesses and residents are expected to benefit from the project by participating and being involved.
“Furthermore, the project will catalyse local business participation, from supply chain services to SMMEs involvement in ongoing operations and maintenance.
“By harnessing clean energy, Merafong is laying the groundwork for sustainable economic diversification, creating meaningful opportunities for our residents and empowering our local entrepreneurs to flourish in the green economy.”
