Firms collapse in SPEDU

Friday, May 29, 2026 | 130 Views |

Fighting on: Selebi-Phikwe and its surrounding region, continues a battle to survive, after the collapse of BCL Mine in 2016 PIC: MBONGENI MGUNI

Approximately 18 of the 22 companies operating within the SPEDU region have collapsed over the past few years, dealing a significant setback to the region’s efforts to recover from the closure of the BCL Mine.

Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee of Statutory Bodies on Tuesday, SPEDU acting Chief Executive Officer, Othata Batsetswe, revealed that the closure of the companies between 2021 and 2025 resulted in losses amounting to P79.8 million and the disappearance of more than 200 direct jobs.

Batsetswe attributed the collapse of the businesses to several challenges, including limited market access, cash flow constraints and high utility costs.

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