01Session
Session typeArrival
Registration, exhibitions and structured networking
Arrive, complete registration and connect with relevant participants.
26 October 2026 / Frankfort
Summit-day programme.
The working summit runs from 07:00 to 17:00 SAST on Monday, 26 October at Frankfort Town Hall. Preparation across Mafube runs from 15 to 25 October, and follow-up continues afterwards.
Programme subject to change. Ministerial, provincial and other external participation is subject to confirmation. Commitments remain subject to the approvals and processes of the responsible institutions. Registration is open for the main summit on 26 October. The 15 October launch is a past event.
Four towns / One summit
The road to the summit.
Join the Mafube activations from 20 to 23 October, ahead of the main summit in Frankfort on 26 October. Tweeling Hall, Frankfort and Villiers start at 09:00 SAST. Cornelia’s start time is to be confirmed.
Tweeling Hall
09:00 SAST
Frankfort
09:00 SAST
Cornelia
Time TBC
Villiers
09:00 SAST
Main summit
Frankfort
07:00–17:00 SAST · Programme subject to change.
Looking for the past launch? View the 15 October archive or download its programme PDF.
Monday, 26 October 2026
Numbered running order
Programme subject to change.
No.TimeSession typeProgramme item
02Session
Session typeSpeech
Opening and municipal economic-development proposition
Summit purpose, shared objectives and municipal priorities.
03Session
Session typePanel
National and provincial economic-development interface
A panel on the public-sector responsibilities, infrastructure and programmes relevant to Mafube's business and investment priorities. External participation is subject to confirmation.
04Session
Session typeSpeech
Mafube economic proposition, operating model and priority project pipeline
How municipal functionality, local enterprise, external investment and anchor developments connect with Retain, Expand, Develop and Fund across agriculture, agro-processing, tourism, manufacturing, construction and mining.
05Session
Session typeBreak
Break, exhibitions and targeted introductions
Connect with relevant projects, partners and working discussions.
06Session
Session typeWorking session
Parallel working sessions and report-backs
Three focused rooms examine the requirements raised by local businesses and project teams. Each room records findings, proposed actions, dependencies and a report-back for the plenary.
Sub-sessions within session 06
06.1Retain
Keep existing businesses and jobs trading
Identify constraints affecting operating businesses, including infrastructure, supply chains, markets and business services. Record the responsible party and evidence needed for the next step.
06.2Expand
Prepare credible local growth plans
Examine customer demand, capacity gaps, operating requirements, markets and investment needs for enterprises with a practical route to growth.
06.3Develop
Move projects from concept to preparation
Clarify ownership, site, permissions, infrastructure dependencies, evidence and delivery milestones before proposals are taken to partners.
07Session
Session typePanel
Capital, capability and market partner responses
Partners respond to the requirements raised in the morning sessions, outlining relevant support, information needed and next steps.
08Session
Session typeBreak
Lunch, exhibitions and scheduled bilateral meetings
Smaller discussions to clarify requirements and advance relevant conversations.
09Session
Session typeWorking session
Parallel working sessions and report-backs
Three focused rooms test financing, investment and anchor-development opportunities against information requirements, local linkages and outstanding conditions.
Sub-sessions within session 09
09.1Fund
Match prepared opportunities to finance
Explore suitable financing routes, the business case, funding requirement, information still needed and the next review step with relevant finance providers.
09.2External investment
Assess opportunities to operate in Mafube
Consider the conditions, market access, services, skills and local partnerships needed for an external investor to establish or expand operations.
09.3Anchor development
Connect larger projects to local capability
Identify routes for larger developments to work with local suppliers, skills providers and enterprises, including the dependencies that require institutional follow-up.
10Session
Session typePanel
Infrastructure, municipal and intergovernmental dependencies
Identify the responsible institutions and processes for outstanding dependencies.
11Session
Session typeCommitment validation
Commitment validation and consolidation
Review the day's recorded outcomes and distinguish agreed actions, conditional commitments, expressions of interest and matters requiring further work.
12Session
Session typeClosing
Closing commitments and post-summit programme
Confirm what was agreed, what remains conditional, the responsible parties and the next steps after the summit.
Findings and proposed actions will be recorded during the sessions. Report-backs will draw on that record, and outcomes will be reviewed before closing to clarify responsibilities, conditions and next steps.
Four working rooms
From response panels to recorded commitments
The rooms give each conversation a practical brief. Findings and proposed actions return to the plenary, where they can be tested against the relevant support, dependencies and approval processes.
01
Retain
Address constraints affecting existing businesses and the jobs they sustain.
02
Expand
Examine growth plans, markets and investment needs for viable local enterprises.
03
Develop
Clarify the preparation steps, dependencies and delivery questions for projects.
04
Fund
Connect sufficiently prepared opportunities with relevant financing routes and support mandates.
The record after the discussion
Response panels and commitment register
Response panels are designed to clarify which partners, information and next steps are relevant to the requirements raised in the working rooms. They do not replace formal institutional, commercial or funding decisions.
The commitment register separates agreed actions, conditional commitments, expressions of interest and matters requiring further work. Each entry should identify an owner, a next step, dependencies and a date for review.
Preparation and follow-through
20–23 October
Prepare for a useful summit conversation
Town activations visit Tweeling Hall, Frankfort, Cornelia and Villiers on 20, 21, 22 and 23 October respectively. Tweeling Hall, Frankfort and Villiers start at 09:00 SAST; Cornelia’s time is to be confirmed.
After 26 October
Follow through
Relevant parties take agreed actions through project preparation, municipal and regulatory processes, partner engagement and financing decisions.