Middelburg — The Mpumalanga Action Movement (MAM) brought together business and government leaders to discuss enterprise empowerment and community development across the province.
The glamorous Gala Dinner hosted on 31 October 2025 at the Sydney Choma Banquet Hall in Steve Tshwete Local Municipality saw attendance from executives from Eskom Duvha Power Station, Delmas First, Liberty Coal, traditional leaders and the Mpumalanga Provincial Government. It highlighted the event’s focus on bridging the public and private sectors.
Moeketsi Mpotu, Chief Executive Officer of MAM, said the organisation’s mission is rooted in empowering communities through enterprise development. “Empowerment begins when people gain the means to participate meaningfully in the economy. As black people, we cannot continue to be limited to supplying PPE (personal protective equipment) to mines but we need proper incubation and direct access to contracts that build sustainable businesses,” he said.
Mpotu outlined three key pillars of the movement: economic empowerment, education, skills development and community upliftment. “Every leader involved in this movement must personalise this project and ensure that it touches communities throughout Mpumalanga,” he said. “The purpose of this gala is collaboration between business, government and the community.”
Mpumalanga Provincial Government Director-General Margaret Skhosana highlighted the urgent need for public-private collaboration to address economic challenges.
“The unemployment rate remains alarmingly high at 33% nationally and 48,4% expanded in Mpumalanga,” she said. “We were once the fourth-largest contributor to South Africa’s GDP, but we have dropped to fifth place, contributing 7,7% or R578 billion. We must act now.”
Skhosana urged the movement to align its initiatives with the province’s goals of inclusive growth, job creation, women empowerment and industrialisation.
“We cannot fix the economy without empowering women. We must move beyond funding tenderpreneurs to funding industrialists and manufacturers who will drive long-term growth,” she said.
She also encouraged MAM to expand its reach beyond the Nkangala region into the Gert Sibande and Ehlanzeni Districts, pledging government support for partnerships that deliver tangible benefits to local communities.
In a show of collaborative support, Mpumelelo Mashifane, Head of Communications at Liberty Coal, announced a R3,8 billion investment plan to revitalise Optimum Colliery in the next three years.
“This is not just about reopening a mine; it’s about rebuilding hope and opportunity,” he said. “Liberty Coal’s success will be measured not just in tons mined, but in skills gained and communities strengthened.”
He revealed that Liberty Coal has established a Community Trust which owns 5% of the company, to ensure local communities directly benefit from its operations. The trust will work alongside MAM, local government, traditional leaders and community forums to promote inclusivity, transparency and sustainable development.
