Main Sectors
The exact extent of contribution of the respective sectors to Fetakgomo's GGP appears to be disputed with the 2004/5 IDP stating that Community Services (55 per cent), Mining (21 per cent) and Trade (15 per cent) are the three main sectors. The LED plan for the region suggests that "Social Services" accounts for 34 per cent, mining 28 per cent, "private households" eight percent and "trade" seven per cent. The exact distinction between the categories is not clear. Within Fetakgomo, the village of Apel (now also called Fetakgomo) is a designated municipal growth point.
Sector % Contribution to Employment by sector
Farming 2,44
Mining 28,36
Manufacturing 3,53
Utilities 1,99
Construction 6,44
Trade 7,22
Transport 3,84
Business Services 3,33
Social Services 34,01
Private Household 8,66
Ex-territorial 0,11
Diplomatic 0,08
Total 100

Source : Municipal Demarcation Board, 2000
In terms of contribution to employment generation, it is not surprising that the Social Services sector provides 34 per cent of all jobs in the sub-region, followed predictably by mining at 28 per cent and, quite surprisingly, the private/domestic household sector which adds about 9 per cent to local job positions. The Trade sector contributes about 7 per cent of all available jobs.

In recent years the efficiency of social grant delivery has increased significantly, but the ability of the Fetakgomo economy to retain this fiscal inflow, through the provision of local goods and services, has not developed commensurately. A significant part of the economy is dominated by large mining with their headquarters and procurement base outside the district.

The participatory rapid appraisal process (October 2006) gathered qualitative and up to date information about the local economy. The focus was placed on inflows of money from external markets and outflows through external purchases. This approach emphasised the importance of competitiveness and futility of zero sum initiatives. The mix of business activities in the Fetakgomo local economy as identified, is illustrated in the orange block in the figure below. The arrows indicate the main sources of external income (revenue and investment) flowing into and leaking out of the economy.



The local economy depends mainly on mining and public sector funding. Land ownership, infrastructure availability and education levels were identified as the main constraints to growth.