North West Relaunches HRD Council to Drive Skills and Economic Growth

In a significant stride towards addressing unemployment and economic underperformance, the North West Provincial Government has relaunched the North West Human Resource Development Council (HRDC). The revitalisation of the Council was marked by a high-profile event held at the Mankwe Campus of Orbit TVET College, within the Moses Kotane Local Municipality.

The HRDC, chaired by Premier Kagiso Lazarus Mokgosi, has been reconceptualised to align with South Africa’s national Human Resource Development Strategy and the Master Skills Plan. Its central aim is to bridge the gap between education outputs and labour market demands by promoting skills development, particularly among youth, women, and people with disabilities.

A Strategic Platform for Provincial Transformation

Premier Mokgosi, in his keynote address, described the Council as a "strategic and catalytic platform" that will accelerate the province’s human capital development. He highlighted that while the North West is rich in natural resources, its full economic potential remains untapped due to low skills levels across sectors.

“Of critical importance is to commit to skills development as part of the province’s continued endeavours to empower young people, grow the economy and create jobs,” the Premier stressed.

The HRDC is envisioned as the engine room for skills planning and execution, and will focus on sectors identified in the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy:

• Mining

• Agriculture and Agro-processing

• Tourism

• Renewable Energy and the Green Economy

• Infrastructure Development

Diverse, Inclusive, and Expert-Led Council

The relaunched Council is multi-sectoral, drawing participation from across government, academia, business, and civil society. The HRDC will serve as an advisory and coordination platform, aimed at ensuring alignment between training institutions and labour market needs.

Notable members include:

• Executive Council members and District Executive Mayors

• Prof. John Lamola and Prof. Raymond Parsons, who will lead the Economic and Investment Advisory Committee

• Prof. Bismark Tyobeka and Dr. Pradheep Balkrishen, representing institutions of higher learning

• Kabelo Kgoro (organised labour), Benedict Modise (business), and Dieketseng Diale (civil society)

Premier Mokgosi called on the members to uphold integrity, transparency, and urgency in discharging their duties. He also urged optimal allocation and utilisation of skills development budgets, ensuring resources are used where they’re most needed.

Key Areas of Focus for the HRDC

The council’s mandate will span across several pivotal focus areas:

• Strengthening artisan and technical skills development

• Expanding workplace-based learning through internships and learnerships

• Empowering youth, women, and persons with disabilities

• Improving coordination between industry and education/training providers

• Tracking and mapping labour market trends to forecast skills needs

• Building the province’s capacity in renewable energy and green economy skills

National Strategy with Provincial Impact

The relaunch comes as part of a broader national initiative to modernise South Africa’s HRDCs across provinces. By repositioning the council as a results-oriented, inclusive body, the government seeks to lay the groundwork for sustainable socio-economic transformation.

The North West HRDC’s activation sets the tone for future policy and programming that will support inclusive growth, skills alignment with emerging economic sectors, and effective public-private collaboration.

As South Africa continues to navigate complex economic and labour market challenges, the role of regional HRDCs becomes increasingly crucial in achieving inclusive development, job creation, and economic resilience.