As the sun rises over the newly secured, electrified perimeter of the Matjhabeng Enterprise Industrial Park (MEIP), it doesn’t just illuminate freshly paved walkways and refurbished buildings; it lights a path to a brighter economic future for Thabong and the wider Matjhabeng community. Today, I speak as a witness to a remarkable transformation, a testament to what is possible when vision, collaboration, and unwavering commitment converge.
For years, the MEIP stood as a symbol of neglected potential. Today, it has been reborn as a dynamic hub for innovation, enterprise, and local economic growth. This refurbishment, championed by the Lejweleputswa Development Agency (LDA) and funded by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), was always about more than bricks and mortar. It was about rebuilding hope and creating a foundation for sustainable prosperity.
Our mission was clear: to restore this park to its original purpose as a catalyst for Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprise (SMME) development. I am proud to report that we have delivered on this promise. Thirty-five fully serviced, secure, and modernised units now stand ready to welcome local entrepreneurs. The centrepiece of this revival is the conversion of the main building into a state-of-the-art Smart Place Centre and business incubation hub. This facility will be a crucible for innovation, equipping our local talent with the digital skills and business acumen needed to compete and thrive in new industries, including the promising helium gas sector.
What makes this achievement truly special is how it was accomplished. This project was built by the community, for the community. We prioritized local enterprise, ensuring that 34% of the project’s value flowed directly into the hands of local SMME subcontractors. From electrical work to civil engineering, painting to plumbing, the skills and dedication of Matjhabeng’s own businesses are embedded in every corner of this park.
Furthermore, we created 122 valuable job opportunities for local residents during construction, providing not just an income, but valuable experience and skills that will serve them well in their future careers. This project has always been a vehicle for inclusive growth, focusing on empowering historically disadvantaged individuals and fostering a sense of ownership within the community.
The park now boasts a formidable new electrified brick wall perimeter, high-mast lighting, and a comprehensive CCTV security system, ensuring a safe and secure environment for businesses to operate day and night. We have reinstated all essential services and upgraded the infrastructure to modern standards, creating a professional and attractive environment that any entrepreneur would be proud to call home.
The completion of this park is not an endpoint; it is a powerful new beginning. It is a launchpad for dreams and a workshop for ambition. It is a place where a local artisan can perfect their craft, a tech startup can develop its next big idea, and a community can gather to learn and grow together.
The keys have been handed over. The doors are open. Now, the real work begins. I call upon the ambitious entrepreneurs of Matjhabeng to step forward, to occupy these units, and to seize the opportunities that this world-class facility provides.
Let us work together, business owners, the LDA, the municipality, and the community, to ensure the MEIP becomes the thriving economic engine we know it can be.
The future of local industry is not just a concept we discuss; it is here, it is real, and it is ready for business.
