The Mineworkers Development Agency (MDA) and its partners Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA), Sibanye-Stillwater and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) have launched a new digital and small, medium-sized and microenterprise (SMME) hub in Welkom, in the Free State.

The partners expect the hub to be a catalytic project designed to equip former mineworkers and local youth with future-ready digital and business skills.

The hub forms part of MDA’s efforts to drive inclusive growth in mining regions, including through post-mining support and long-term regional development.

By partnering with entities such as RMA and Sibanye-Stillwater, MDA can build pathways for innovation, entrepreneurship and technology adoption in mining communities.

Developed in collaboration with the Matjhabeng local municipality, the digital and SMME hub offers training in digital literacy, coding, AI, drone technology and other Fourth Industrial Revolution-type skills.

It also provides enterprise development and incubation spaces for local entrepreneurs, helping communities transition from a resource-based to a knowledge-driven economy.

Through its targeted programmes, the hub is empowering women, youth and persons with disabilities to gain critical skills and participate meaningfully in high-growth sectors.

The initiative aligns with the South African Digital Economy Masterplan and contributes directly to national priorities around skills development, industrialisation and local enterprise growth.

Speaking at the launch in Matjhebeng, Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said the MDA continued to embody transformation in action.

“It is deeply encouraging to see the agency’s evolution from supporting mineworkers after retrenchment to driving innovation, entrepreneurship and technology access,” he stated.

Mantashe added that the establishment of the digital hub reflecteds the social compact between industry, labour and government and gave practical effect to the shared commitment that was inclusive economic renewal.

For MDA CEO Tshimane Montoedi, the hub demonstrated the power of partnerships that turned policy into progress. He said it represented a bridge between mining’s past and South Africa’s innovation future, one where former mineworkers, their families and local youth could participate meaningfully in a modern economy built on skills, entrepreneurship and dignity.

Sibanye-Stillwater also underscored the importance of partnerships that translated transformation into tangible opportunity.

“This hub represents transformation in action as it connects mining’s past to South Africa’s digital future,” noted Sibanye-Stillwater stakeholder relations executive VP Thabisile Phumo.  

“Through digital infrastructure and practical skills development, we are creating opportunities that extend far beyond the life of the mine and ensuring that mining communities remain active participants in a changing economy.”

Sibanye-Stillwater invested in the hub as part of its broader commitment to socio-economic regeneration in host communities.

To date, the facility has trained 60 young people through internationally accredited programmes such as Cisco’s Introduction to AI and IBM SkillsBuild Fundamentals, as well as introduced virtual-reality-based training in areas such as beekeeping, health and safety and professional skills.

The hub also houses robotics and technology demonstration labs, SMME pods, co-working spaces, and technology-enabled classrooms.

The infrastructure itself has transformed a previously underused site into a fully operational, modern, and accessible space featuring energy-efficient systems, security technology, and inclusive access ramps for persons with disabilities, MDA says.

Beyond digital training, the hub is nurturing entrepreneurship through incubation and acceleration programmes.

Local enterprises receive mentorship, workspace access, and business development support to help them grow and compete in the market.

Three small businesses are already operating from the hub – a liquefied petroleum gas enterprise promoting alternative energy solutions, a community Internet service provider expanding online access for local companies, and a farmhouse outlet supplying fresh produce from a nearby agriculture hub to Welkom residents.

Matjhabeng Mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha commented that the hub was more than infrastructure. “It is a spark of possibility. The hub supports our vision to position Matjhabeng as a future metro, attracting investment, technology, and opportunity”.

“It reflects the kind of catalytic partnership that helps turn Welkom into a centre of digital innovation and inclusive growth.”

For RMA corporate stakeholder partnerships head Adam Letshele, the partners invested in something real and tangible that supports long-term value creation.

“Supporting initiatives such as this forms part of our mandate to improve livelihoods for mineworkers and their families. Through digital upskilling and enterprise creation, we are restoring dignity and helping communities chart a new economic path,” he concluded.