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.
OVERVIEW<br />
is why it is good news for <strong>Limpopo</strong> that the stated aim of Transnet<br />
Freight Rail is to lead the country in getting larger quantities of freight<br />
moved from road back to rail.<br />
On the national scene, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa<br />
(Prasa) is set to spend about R123-billion on upgrading and modernising<br />
the country’s rail system and rolling stock. This would include<br />
an investment in the building of 360 new coaches every year for<br />
two decades.<br />
Roads<br />
The Roads Agency of <strong>Limpopo</strong> (RAL), of which the provincial government<br />
is the sole shareholder, accounts for about one-third of the<br />
budget of the <strong>Limpopo</strong> Department of Public Works, Roads and<br />
Infrastructure. In <strong>2016</strong>/<strong>17</strong>, RAL has been allocated R737.3-million.<br />
The Department of Transport looks after transport infrastructure<br />
(other than roads) and public transport, and it has budgeted R1.9-billion<br />
for these facilities in <strong>2016</strong>/<strong>17</strong>. A bus monitoring system is due to be<br />
purchased by the province.<br />
Since 2009 RAL has built 21 bridges, upgraded about 407km of<br />
gravel roads to tar and rehabilitated more than <strong>17</strong>0km of tarred roads.<br />
Roughly 30% of the roads in <strong>Limpopo</strong> are tarred and some provincial<br />
expenditure is allocated to ensure access to schools and clinics.<br />
Another project whereby households living along routes are tasked<br />
with maintaining roads has been rolled out, and 25 such projects will<br />
be supported to the tune of R278-<br />
million, led by local municipalities.<br />
The provincial transport department<br />
has also made bicycles<br />
available to some school pupils<br />
who live further than 10km from<br />
their school.<br />
National government has<br />
spent ever-increasing amounts of<br />
money on road allocations over<br />
the last five years, increasing at a<br />
rate of 16% every year. The South<br />
African National Roads Agency<br />
Limited (Sanral) has successfully<br />
raised several billion rand through<br />
bonds and capital markets in<br />
pursuit of its mandate to finance,<br />
manage and maintain the national<br />
road network. In 2014, several<br />
provincial roads in <strong>Limpopo</strong> were<br />
transferred to Sanral.<br />
Great North Transport has<br />
more than 500 buses, covers<br />
about 36-million kilometres every<br />
year, employs more than 1 200<br />
people and transports 37.6-million<br />
LIMPOPO BUSINESS <strong>2016</strong>/<strong>17</strong><br />
56