North West
North West is a province of South Africa. The provincial capital is Mahikeng, formerly known as Mafikeng. The province is located in the north-central part of the country, bordering Botswana to the north and west, and sharing domestic borders with Limpopo, Gauteng, Free State and Northern Cape provinces. North West has a population of approximately 4.1 million people and covers an area of about 104 000 square kilometres. The economy is dominated by mining, particularly platinum-group metals, with the province hosting a significant portion of the Bushveld Complex, one of the world's richest mineral deposits. Agriculture, especially livestock farming and maize production, also plays an important role in the provincial economy. Major urban centres include Rustenburg, a key mining hub, and Klerksdorp. The province is home to the Royal Bafokeng Nation, a traditional community that has leveraged mineral royalties for economic development and infrastructure investment. North West was established in 1994 following South Africa's transition to democracy, formed from parts of the former Transvaal province and the Bophuthatswana bantustan.
North West Updates
ActionSA North West submits written questions to Education MEC over 2 346 vacant teaching posts
14th August 2026 ActionSA North West has today submitted written questions to the newly appointed MEC for Education, Dr Desbo Mohono, seeking urgent answers on the... →
DA lays criminal charges against 10 ‘worst’ municipal managers 
By: Thabi Shomolekae 13th August 2026 The DA announced on Thursday that it will lay criminal charges against 10 municipal managers across nine municipalities, labelling these officials... →
38.1% unemployment. 56% locked out. 15,000 jobs lost. ANC has failed North West
12th August 2026 The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey delivers a devastating verdict on the ANC government’s handling of the North West economy. The province’s... →
Future disconnect: The digital divide in SA’s energy minerals boom
12th August 2026 The minerals that keep the world’s digital infrastructure running are extracted from communities where many young people still struggle to access... →
South Africa mine dump collapse kills 14 illegal miners, police say
By: Reuters 11th August 2026 At least 14 suspected illegal miners were killed and eight injured when a mine dump collapsed in South Africa's North West province on Monday... →
ActionSA unveils three Mayoral candidates to fix North West municipalities
29th July 2026 ActionSA today unveiled three mayoral candidates who will lead the fight to restore capable, accountable local government in the North West.... →
Operation PROSPER deals heavy blow to illicit mining, organised crime
By: Thabi Shomolekae 17th July 2026 In a massive nationwide crackdown, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have intensified... →
Why we should count our chickens
By: Econ3x3 16th July 2026 South Africa has 168 million chickens. What does their location tell us about food security and the resilience of this key agricultural sub-sector?... →
R964m to be spent at Sibanye-Stillwater's K4 platinum group metals shaft
By: Martin Creamer 13th July 2026 Remaining project capital of R964-million of the total of R4.4-billion in real 2026 terms is to be spent this year and next on Sibanye-Stillwater’s... →
Five provinces now load reduction free – Eskom
By: Creamer Media Reporter 8th July 2026 State-owned Eskom says it has reached an important milestone in its nationwide Load Reduction Eradication Programme, with five of the country's... →
