Limpopo Business 2016-17 edition
The 2016/17 edition of Limpopo Business is the eighth issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2007, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide to the Limpopo province. Limpopo is unique in terms of its abundant natural and human resources, and is also one of the key drivers behind the South African economy. This edition of Limpopo Business is officially endorsed by the Office of the Premier of Limpopo.
The 2016/17 edition of Limpopo Business is the eighth issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2007, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide to the Limpopo province.
Limpopo is unique in terms of its abundant natural and human resources, and is also one of the key drivers behind the South African economy.
This edition of Limpopo Business is officially endorsed by the Office of the Premier of Limpopo.
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
SPECIAL FEATURE<br />
The Modjadji Cycad Reserve contains some of the<br />
oldest and biggest cycad specimens in the world.<br />
<strong>Limpopo</strong> has two World Heritage Sites: the<br />
Mapungubwe National Park in the northern part of<br />
the province is a hill site where a 12th-century ironage<br />
civilisation settled and traded extensively in ivory,<br />
iron ore, copper and beads with traders from far afield.<br />
The Makapans Valley tells the story of the Ndebele<br />
people and has fascinating palaeontological deposits<br />
that tell an even older history.<br />
Situated like many of the other golf estates near<br />
the Great North Road (the N1 highway), Legend Golf<br />
and Safari Resort is part of 22 000-hectare nature and<br />
game conservancy and offers private homes, a hotel,<br />
a wellness centre and a conference centre.<br />
Regions<br />
<strong>Limpopo</strong> has regions with distinct geographical features<br />
and climatic conditions. The dry, cattle-rearing,<br />
western areas contrast with the subtropical regions<br />
of the east where forestry thrives and central regions<br />
where vast plantations produce 60% of the country’s<br />
tomatoes. The semi-arid regions to the north of the<br />
Soutpansberg Mountains are home to the unique<br />
baobab tree, the so-called upside-down tree because<br />
it looks as though its roots are reaching skywards. The<br />
Waterberg Mountains stretch over 14 500km² through<br />
the northern reaches of the province.<br />
<strong>Limpopo</strong> has five district municipalities:<br />
Capricorn District<br />
Capricorn is the economic centre of <strong>Limpopo</strong>, with<br />
the provincial capital Polokwane contributing 13%<br />
of the provincial GDP. The Zebediela Citrus Estate is<br />
one of the biggest citrus estates in South Africa, and<br />
the cultivation of potatoes and tomatoes is done on<br />
a large scale in the district.<br />
The capital city of Polokwane is the province’s<br />
main centre for industry, commerce, education and<br />
medical services.<br />
The city is close to big concentrations of mineral<br />
deposits and to fertile agricultural lands; its industries<br />
reflect this diversity. Large industrial concerns such as<br />
Silicon Smelters (one of the biggest of its kind in the<br />
world) and a big brewery run alongside at least 600<br />
industrial enterprises of a smaller scale. The range<br />
is broad, thus helping to protect Polokwane from<br />
downturns in the economic cycle: soft drink and fruit<br />
juice manufacture; confectionery; bricks; clothing;<br />
meat processing; packaging; jewellery.<br />
The strong retail sector was strengthened even<br />
more with the opening of the Mall of the North.<br />
This major project cost approximately R1.2-billion to<br />
complete. Covering more than 70 000 square metres,<br />
the mall offers a more convenient alternative<br />
to shoppers used to doing their monthly shopping<br />
in Johannesburg.<br />
Polokwane has good hotel and conferencing<br />
facilities and is well situated as a starting point for<br />
tourism trips into the province and beyond. Garden<br />
Court Polokwane is an example of a hotel that forms<br />
part of a national group, in this case, Tsogo Sun.<br />
Nearby Moria attracts up to a million people<br />
every year, when the Zion Christian Church<br />
celebrates Easter.<br />
Greater Sekhukhune District<br />
Government is the largest employer in this southern<br />
district, followed by agriculture and hunting. The<br />
vast majority of households are rural (94%), with a<br />
poverty rate of 69.9%.<br />
Groblersdal is the district capital. The region’s<br />
fertile lands produce maize, tobacco, peanuts, vegetables,<br />
sunflower seeds and cotton on a large scale.<br />
LIMPOPO BUSINESS <strong>2016</strong>/<strong>17</strong><br />
18