Sharon Steyn, chief executive officer of the Northern Cape Chamber of Business and Industry, painted a grim picture.She said what was needed was fixed rates and taxes for investors in the province.
She wanted industries and factories to replace the empty veld along the province’s roads, saying the vast distance could be connected if dams, factories and substations were built. She said water supply was switched off at 8pm in Kimberley because of the lack of proper infrastructure. “Instead of bringing the Chinese to hand over food parcels, the government must get their house in order through meaningful investments to help create jobs.”Meanwhile, the Frances Baard Business Forum was at its wits’ end about the construction of the new Sol Plaatje University, which was established in 2014.Sheldon Bojosi, from the forum, pointed out that local businesses were not benefiting from the R350 million which was set aside to complete the construction of the university in Kimberley.