Phikwe’s 'once- bitten' businesses dream beyond BCL revival :: Mmegi Online

One estimate suggests 85% of businesses in Selebi-Phikwe closed doors after BCL Mine was shut down. Churches now dominate the industrial area, in a sign of distress. Once bitten and twice shy, businesses in the town are looking to a future beyond the mine’s upcoming revival. Staffer, MBONGENI MGUNI writes

SELEBI-PHIKWE: Businesses in the once high-flying town have learnt the humbling lesson of depending on a single economic actor for their livelihoods. BCL Mine, directly and indirectly, supported both large and small businesses, with one study from 2006 estimating that local businesses and services depended on the mine to the value of up to P28.6 million a year.

Additionally, BCL Mine’s annual payroll of P180 million as at 2006, meant the injection of critical buying power by mineworkers in various businesses in the town, leading to the popular phrase ‘Chomela e ole’, a reference to the festive spirit in the town when mineworkers were paid their salaries every month.

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