Committee criss-crosses Vryburg to verify 2024/25 projects and encourage local buying

VRYBURG — Tuesday, 28 October 2025. The Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) conducted an oversight and project-verification visit across the Naledi Local Municipality area, focusing on SMMEs that received tools of trade through the district’s Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture programmes.

Led by Chairperson Cllr. Mike Lekgotle, the committee visited a cross-section of enterprises that reflect the district’s growing creative and service economy. Stops included:

• Blackroots — a creative house specialising in photography, fashion and art;

• Aubrey Moprinti — a well-known custom T-shirt and merchandise producer, and artist;

• Bophirima Bricks Making Project (BBM) — a brick manufacturing venture based in Huhudi township;

• Essence Health Spa Services — a spa operator working closely with the local hospitality sector;

• HOPE TO SUCCESS DÉCOR AND CATERING — a catering and events décor business.

According to the committee, the purpose of the visit was to verify that procured equipment is on site, in use and driving productivity, and to assess whether support is translating into jobs, revenue growth and market access.

District officials from the Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture Department, led by Mr. Percy Pitso, briefed the committee on each beneficiary’s package and the cost of equipment supplied. Beneficiaries, in turn, demonstrated the tools, explained how they improved turnaround times and quality, and outlined further needs to scale operations.

Cllr. Lekgotle commended the department for the targeted support and urged the team to sustain and expand assistance to start-ups showing traction. Mr. Pitso encouraged beneficiaries to remain visible, compliant and market-ready, positioning themselves as beacons of the district’s innovative SMME economy.

Committee member Cllr. T. S. Phokoje called on fellow councillors and the broader community to buy local, noting that many of the supported firms are youth-led and are creating pathways out of unemployment and poverty.

While entrepreneurs reported clear gains from the equipment, they also raised operational challenges—including working capital gaps, input costs, premises of operations, access to reliable markets, branding and distribution. The committee undertook to consider practical interventions within the district’s remit and to escalate issues requiring intergovernmental or private-sector partnerships.

The Vryburg Independent Post will continue to track these beneficiaries and the committee’s recommendations as part of our ongoing coverage of local enterprise development and public accountability in the Dr RSM District.

-The VIP Team 

-Dr. RSMDM 

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