Limpopo Business 2023-24

LIMPOPO 

BUSINESS 

GUIDE TO BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT 

MPOPO 

THE GUIDE 

PROVINCE 

TO BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT 

IN LIMPOPO PROVINCE 

US ONLINE 

JOIN US ONLINE 

2022/23 EDITION 

2023/24 EDITION 

The Musina-Makhado The Musina-Makhado Special Spe 

Economic Zone is a flagsh 

In 

Economic Zone is a flagship proje 

d 

d 

Limpopo Premier Limpopo Chupu Premier Stanley Mathabatha Chupu Stanley invites Mathabatha invites 

private investors private to work investors with the to public work with sector the in public sector in 

building infrastructure building and infrastructure growing the and economy. growing the economy. 

Iwant to start by 

Iwant 

thanking 

to 

Global 

start 

Africa 

by thanking 

Network 

Global 

for sustaining 

Africa Network 

the 

for sustaining the 

publication of this important 

publication 

magazine, 

of this 

Limpopo 

important 

Business. 

magazine, 

I also 


wish to join 

Business. I also wish to join Lim 

in celebrating this 12th 

in 

edition 

celebrating 

of what 

this 

I consider 

12th edition 

a premier 

of what 

business 

I consider 

and 

a premier business and pri 

investment guide for our 

investment 

beautiful Limpopo 

guide for 

Province. 

our beautiful Limpopo Province. 

alre 

Indeed, Limpopo Business 

Indeed, 

is an 


important 

Business 

partner 

is an 

in 

important 

the continued 

partner in the continued 

endeavour to market and 

endeavour 

position 

to 


market and 

as a 

position 

leading and 


most attractive 

as a leading and most attractive 

business and investment 

business 

destination. 

and investment destination. 

This informative edition 

This 

once 

informative 

again affords 

edition 

us an 

once 

opportunity 

again affords 

to take 

us an 

you 

opportunity to take you 

through the plentiful business 

through 

and 

the 

investment 

plentiful business 

offerings 

and 

of 

investment 

our province, 

offerings 

from 

of our province, from 

Bela-Bela to Musina. 


Premier Chupu 

Through this publication, 

Through 

you will 

this 

also 

publication, 

learn about 

you 

great 

will also 

private-public 

learn about great Stanley private-public Mathabath 

Wsuc 

partnership investments 

partnership 

that are the 

investments 

pulse of our 

that 

provincial 

are the 

economy. 

pulse of our provincial economy. 

ge 

As you will come to learn, 

As you 


will come 

is home 

to learn, 

to a 


thriving mining 

is home 

sector, 

to a thriving mining sector, 

ele 

tantalising tourism offerings 

tantalising 

and a 

tourism 

limitless 

offerings 

potential 

and 

for the 

a limitless 

agricultural 

potential 

sector. 

for the agricultural sector. 

The construction industry 

The 

is 

construction 

one of the booming 

industry is 

sectors 

one of 

of 

the 

the 

booming 


sectors of the Limpopo 

economy, the inherited 

economy, 

legacy of 

the 

an 

inherited 

infrastructure 

legacy 

backlog 

of an infrastructure 

means that the 

backlog means that the 

sector has a longer future. 

sector 

Investment 

has a longer 

in this 

future. 

sector 

Investment 

is an investment 

in this sector 

in the 

is an investment in the 

future. Limpopo Province 

future. 

has also 


moved 

Province 

to embrace 

has also 

the new 

moved 

digital 

to embrace 

economy 

the new digital economy 

through competitive support 

through 

infrastructure. 

competitive support infrastructure. 

The Musina-Makhado 

The 

Special 

Musina-Makhado 

Economic Zone 

Special 

(MMSEZ) 

Economic 

remains 

Zone 

our 

(MMSEZ) remains our 

flagship economic development 

flagship economic 

project. Through 

development 

this initiative, 

project. 

and 

Through 

through 

this initiative, and through 

partnerships with the private 

partnerships 

sector, 

with 

we hope 

the private 

to stimulate 

sector, 

economic 

we hope to 

growth, 

stimulate economic growth, 

create much-needed employment 

create much-needed 

opportunities 

employment 

and reduce 

opportunities 

the ballooning 

and reduce the ballooning 

gap of inequality. 


Business opportunities in 


this SEZ 

opportunities 

project are limitless. 

in this SEZ 

These 

project 

opportunities 

are limitless. These opportunities 

range from manufacturing, 

range 

agroprocessing, 

from manufacturing, 

automotives, 

agroprocessing, 

steel, pharmaceutical, 

automotives, steel, pharmaceutical, 

logistics and many more. 


What is even more tantalising 

What is even 

is the 

more 

fact 

tantalising 

that this project 

is the 

enjoys 

fact that 

the 

this project enjoys the 

overwhelming support 

overwhelming 

of our National 

support 

Government. 

of our National Government. 

As the Limpopo Provincial 

As the 

Government, 

Limpopo Provincial 

we have 

Government, 

placed this Musinawe 

have placed this Musina- 

Makhado SEZ Project at 

Makhado 

the apex 

SEZ 

of our 

Project 

priorities. 

at the 

We 

apex 

believe 

of our 

that 

priorities. 

the only 

We believe that the only 

Ch 

Pre 

WWW.GLOBALAFRICANETWORK.COM available option for us is 

available 

to make 

option 

this project 

for us 

a 

is 

resounding 

to | make WWW.LIMPOPOBUSINESS.CO.ZA 

this 

success. 

project a resounding success. 

WWW.GLOBALAFRICANETWORK.COM Limpopo | is open WWW.LIMPOPOBUSINESS.CO.ZA 

for business! ■ 

Limpopo is open for business! ■ 

M 

MESSA

EXPLORE LIMPOPO 

Start your adventure in Limpopo today! 

From ancient sites and cultural experiences to stunning vistas, world-class events and 

the Big Five, Limpopo has it all. Limpopo offers four great routes to whet your appetite. 

WHY DESTINATION LIMPOPO? 

Limpopo is the preferred eco-tourism destination with 44 nature reserves, 12 wildlife 

resorts and two huge Transfrontier Parks Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park and Greater 

Mapungubwe Transfrontier Park 

Iconic baobab trees, sacred lakes and forests complement beautiful unspoilt scenery, 

landscapes and vistas. Limpopo is the subtropical fruit basket of South Africa. 

CONFERENCING, EXHIBITIONS, INCENTIVES AND EVENTS 

Limpopo offers unique conference, meetings, incentives and other venues, resources 

and settings. The meeting and incentive industry within Limpopo has been on a growth 

trajectory despite the disruptions of Covid-19. Some of Limpopo’s Meetings, Incentives, 

Conferences, Exhibitions (MICE) products are situated a mere 1.5 to three hours from 

Johannesburg. Most of the venues are served by three airports with direct flights from 

Johannesburg and Cape Town, including Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit.

AFRICAN IVORY ROUTE 

Breathtaking scenery and endless vistas extend for 

2 000km in a giant arc through unique wilderness 

areas. The route has its origin in the legendary 

exploits of early ivory hunters and gold traders: 

• Can include a 4x4 adventure route 

• 12 camps offer accommodation 

KEY TOURIST EXPERIENCES 

Limpopo is a heritage and cultural destination 

Three key archaeological and heritage sites 

• Mapungubwe in the Mapungubwe National Park, a 

UNESCO World Heritage Site 

• Makapans Valley near Mokopane (World Heritage Site 

as part of the Cradle of Humankind) 

• Thulamela and Masorini Heritage site within the 

Kruger National Park 

Three biospheres in the province 

• Waterberg 

• Vhembe 

• Kruger to Canyon 

Heritage and cultural attractions 

• Rain-making Queen of the Balobedu people near 

Tzaneen 

• Rich history and heritage of Bapedi people of 

Sekhukhune 

• Sacred lakes of Fundudzi and Thate Vondwe forests 

• Traditional cuisine and the dance of the people of 


PHOTO: Fyre Mael on Flickr 

LIMPOPO MAPUNGUBWE ROUTE 

The Limpopo Mapungubwe Route is a self-drive 

option which explores the areas associated with 

the myths and legends: 

• Towns of Musina, Makhado, Thohoyandou, 

Alldays, Elim and Giyani 

• Mapungubwe World Heritage Site, baobab 

trees of Musina Nature Reserve, the sacred 

lakes and forests of the Vhembe District 

• Quaint villages, art and craft stalls, beautiful 

subtropical orchards 

LIMPOPO BIRDING ROUTE 

Discover the birds of the Soutpansberg 

Mountains and the Limpopo River Valley, a 

year-round abundance of birds: 

• Over 500 bird species, 55% of the country’s 

total count 

• Nylsvlei is an international RAMSAR site and 

the largest inland floodplain in South Africa 

• Moletsi and Polokwane sanctuaries and the 

Polokwane reptile park 

WATERBERG BIOSPHERE ROUTE 

• Towns of Bela-Bela, Lephalale, Mookgopong, 

Modimolle and Mokopane 

• Bushveld experience of the province’s western 

areas, the Waterberg Biosphere 

• Mineral hot springs and exclusive lodges

DISCOVER EXCELLENCE AT THE 

UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO 

Are you ready to embark on an educational journey like no other? 

The Science and Agriculture Faculty building 

Look no further than the University of Limpopo, 

a place where innovation, excellence and 

impact converge. 

Our institution boasts a remarkable legacy of 

“firsts” that have shaped South Africa’s educational 

landscape and transformed communities. Join us 

and be part of something extraordinary! 

Investing in medicine for a healthier tomorrow 

The University of Limpopo proudly stands as the first 

institution to establish a medical school since South 

Africa’s democratic dispensation. This monumental 

achievement has had a profound impact on the 

nation’s healthcare system, as it has significantly 

contributed to the country’s goal of increasing the 

number of doctors. When you choose to study 

medicine at the University of Limpopo, you’re not 

just gaining knowledge; you’re becoming a part of a 

vital mission to improve healthcare nationwide. 

Our cutting-edge medical programme combines 

rigorous academic training with hands-on clinical 

experience. Our faculty consists of leading experts 

in the medical field, ensuring that you receive 

the highest quality education. Moreover, our 

commitment to diversity means that we welcome 

students from all backgrounds to contribute to the 

future of healthcare in South Africa. 

Leading the charge in water and sanitation 

In a nation where access to clean water is crucial, 

the University of Limpopo took the lead by launching 

South Africa’s first fully-fledged Water and Sanitation 

Programme. Our programme is designed to equip 

students with industry-relevant skills to address 

immediate water and sanitation challenges. What 

sets us apart is our state-of-the-art water testing 

laboratory, which serves not only the provincial 

government’s obligations in terms of water quality 

testing but also as an experiential training site for our 

water service and sanitation students. 

Join us in making a real impact on water-related 

research and community engagement. At the 

University of Limpopo, we provide you with the tools 

to become a water and sanitation expert, helping to 

ensure clean water access for all. 

Unveiling geological mysteries 

The University of Limpopo continues to break 

new ground with the establishment of the first 

comprehensive department in geology and mining 

since South Africa’s democratic era. Our state-of-theart 

Earth Sciences Centre is a beacon of excellence, 

empowering researchers and students to explore 

the Earth’s geological processes like never before. 

Whether you’re interested in a BSc in Geology or 

pursuing an MSc or PhD, our programmes offer 

unparalleled opportunities to delve into the mysteries 

of our planet. 

Our commitment to the geological sciences 

extends beyond the classroom. The construction 

of the Earth Sciences Centre is taking shape and 

promises to be a state-of-the-art facility equipped

towards successful careers and contributing to the 

broader socio-economic landscape. 

Join our vibrant community of scholars and 

professionals, where you’ll have the opportunity to 

engage in cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary 

collaboration, and entrepreneurial endeavours. Our 

commitment to bridging the gap between academia 

and industry is exemplified by our Digital Hub in the 

Technology Transfer Office, which is taking shape to 

incubate talent from diverse backgrounds, including 

alumni and members of the larger community. Here, 

innovation knows no bounds and ideas come to life. 

with advanced laboratories, cutting-edge 

research equipment, and interactive spaces. This 

centre will serve as a crucible for transformative 

discoveries and innovative solutions to address 

the pressing environmental challenges that 

confront us. Join us and be a part of shaping the 

future of geological research. 

Charting a path to success in Accountancy 

Our commitment to bridging educational gaps 

extends to the Bachelor of Accountancy (BAcc) 

programme, which exclusively produces Chartered 

Accountants (CAs). This accreditation not only helps 

the university identify and nurture talent from rural 

areas of Limpopo but also provides these students 

with access to quality education and an opportunity 

to qualify as CAs. 

When you choose the University of Limpopo for 

your accountancy studies, you are joining a legacy 

of excellence in producing top-tier professionals. 

Our dedicated faculty and comprehensive 

curriculum will prepare you for a successful career 

in accountancy, opening doors to a world of 

financial opportunities. 

Forging partnerships for a brighter future 

At the University of Limpopo, we thrive on 

collaborations with industry partners, external 

organisations and international institutions. These 

strategic alliances serve as catalysts for innovation 

and knowledge exchange, propelling our graduates 

Championing climate change 

The University of Limpopo takes climate change 

seriously and is making significant strides in 

addressing its impacts and implementing adaptation 

responses. Through our two centres of excellence 

‒ the Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre and 

the Africa Centre for Sustainability Accounting and 

Management ‒ we collaborate with communities to 

reverse the environmental, social, economic and 

governance effects of climate change. 

Our commitment extends to training communities 

in climate change mitigation and adaptation through 

our Certificate in Climate Change Mitigation and 

Adaptation. When you join us, you become part of 

a movement dedicated to preserving our planet for 

future generations. 

Taking science to the people 

In 2023, we rolled out the groundbreaking 

Postgraduate Diploma in Science Communication. 

This innovative programme is aimed at making 

science accessible to all by bridging the gap 

between academia and the public. Join us in taking 

science beyond the laboratory and into the hearts 

and minds of people across South Africa. 

Empowering agro-entrepreneurs 

Our Limpopo Agrofood Technology Station (LATS), 

a subsidiary of the Technology Innovation Agency 

(TIA), was established in 2009 with a mission to 

reduce barriers to access for agro-processing 

innovators. By supporting technology-based agrofood 

processing products through research and 

development, LATS has become a vital resource for 

start-ups and existing small and micro-entrepreneurs 

in the Limpopo Province. 

When you join us, you gain access to cuttingedge 

resources, continuous training, and a 

supportive community of agro-entrepreneurs. 

Make your mark in the agro-food industry with the 

University of Limpopo.

CONTENTS 

Limpopo Business 2023/24 Edition 

Introduction 

Message from the Premier of Limpopo 5 

Limpopo Premier Chupu Mathabatha reports on successful 

infrastructure projects and invites investors to participate in 

growing the regional economy. 

MEC message: LEDET 7 

Rodgers Monana, MEC for Department of Economic Development, 

Environment and Tourism, outlines concrete steps being taken to 

tackle unemployment, poverty and inequality. 

Foreword 8 

A unique guide to business and investment in Limpopo. 

MEC interview: Transport and 

Community Safety 9 

Florence Radzilani, MEC for Transport and Community Safety, 

explains how increased air traffic could reduce the load on the 

province’s roads. 

Special features 

Regional overview of Limpopo 10 

Shovels and cranes are being put to good use in Limpopo as 

new projects in mining, agriculture and tourism are matched by 

infrastructure investments by regional and national government in 

roads and a major new hospital. 

Conservation and community 13 

Balancing the needs of local communities with utilising resources 

and protecting the natural environment is a tough task. But 

solutions must be found. 

Economic sectors 

Agriculture 30 

The southern hemisphere’s biggest tomato producer is 

planting avocados.

nities 

Infrastructure is a key 

e is a flagship project 

n for business! ■ 


end of the 

MESSAGE MESSAGE 

What is even more tantalising is the fact that this project stood enjoy at 

po 

overwhelming driver support of our in National job Government. creation an 

MESSAGE 

the provi 

ley Mathabatha invites 

which wi 

As the Limpopo Provincial Government, we have placed this Mu 

the public sector Makhado development 

SEZ Project at the apex of our priorities. We believe that the 

rowing 

ture 

usina-Makhado 

the 

is 

economy. 

The a key 

Special 

Musina-Makhado 

Infrastructure 

Special 

people o 

available option for is to make this a resounding success. 

omic Exciting Promoting 

Zone 7is industrialisation 

opportunities 

a flagship Limpopo LIMPOPO is open BUSINESS for project 

business! 2020/21 LIMPOPO ■ BUSINESS 2019/20 

rica Network for sustaining the 


b creation 

Business. I also wish to join 

and 

driver in job cr 

Limpopo Premier Chupu Stanley Mathabatha outlines his ad 

Premier Chupu Stanley MESSAGE Mathabatha MESSAGE invites 

I consider a premier business and 

priorities in welcoming potential investors to the varied econ 

on and offer inclusive in growth 

already receiving interest from China and elsewhere. 

ent 

opo estors Province. to work with the public sector in development 

rtant frastructure partner the and Limpopo continued growing Premier the economy. Chupu Stanley Mathabatha invites 

o as a leading Limpopo and most attractive Premier Chupu Mathabatha reports on successful infrastructure 

art Special 

by thanking Province 

Global private Africa investors Network for sustaining to work with the public sector projects and invites investors to participate in growing the 

regional building 


The Musina-Makhado 

economy. infrastructure and growing the 

is 

economy. 

key 

gship project Economic 

We the 

are fresh into promise of growth and develop 

of rds tanley this us important Mathabatha opportunity magazine, to outlines take Limpopo you his Business. administration’s 

I also wish to join 


the 6th Provincial 

Zone 7is a fla 

Iwant to start by thanking Global Africa Network for sustaining the 

publication 

driver 

of this important magazine, 

in job 


creation a Premier decent quality Chupu 

Business. I also wish to join 

and 

of Stanley life. This Ma 

ng is a 

tential this offerings 12th 13th investors edition of our to province, of the what varied I from consider economy a premier that business is and 

priorities 

Administration working in welcoming in partnership potential with inve 

from guide China for our and beautiful elsewhere. Limpopo Province. Premier Chupu 

already receiving interest from China 

all o 

after our most Our collective focus is on the 

mpopo learn about Business great is an private-public important partner Stanley in the Mathabatha continued 

successful national and provincial poverty and the urgency of build 

market of vites our provincial and position economy. Limpopo as a leading and most be Limpopo attractive created as investments and interventions are ramped up to a total 

in celebrating this 12th edition general of what election. 

Premier 

I consider This 

Chupu 

a was premier an 

Stanley 

business greater and focus 

Mathabatha 

and determination 

nto home vestment to promise a destination. thriving of mining growth sector, and development of the projected amount of R170-billion. 

in 

investment guide for our private economy 

beautiful election 

We are committed 

Limpopo investors for which jobs was and 

Province. to work 

We are fresh into prom 

fought on the with can only the be realised public through sectow 

potential cial ative edition a for decent the once agricultural quality again affords of sector. life. us This an is opportunity a promise which to take we you intend to keep, to both the Musina-Makhado the 6th SEZ Provincial and a de 

Indeed, Limpopo Business Fetakgomo-Tubatse is an important SEZ, each partner of which has the its continued 

business, organised labour and o 

ion 

entiful booming y. 

business 

working sectors and 

in of partnership 

investment the Limpopo with 

offerings 

all our 

of 

social 

our province, 

partners building from 

and stakeholders. infrastructure and own growing Administration 

character and the will econ work 

As we prepare to impleme 

usina. 

endeavour to market and position attract different Limpopo Premier 

types as of a investors. leading Chupu 

structure ost backlog Our collective means that focus the is on the creation We and expect most these attractive catalytic projects to 

ng the business and investment destination. Iwant 

of jobs, the need to end 

after our most O 

play a major to role start in industrialising by thanking our province. Global ruling Africa party, Network we move for from susta a p 

his publication, sector is an you investment will also learn the about great private-public Stanley Mathabatha 

cial poverty and the urgency of building a better life for all. This requires successful national and provincial pove 

estments to join 

This informative Limpopo edition Premier once In publication a again Chupu similar affords vein, Stanley of we this project us important Mathabatha opportunity to create magazine, the 

more to than outlines 

lives 

take 6 Limpopo of the 

000 you jobs his through Business. people 

administratio 

of I South 

embrace the that new are digital the pulse economy of our provincial economy. 

also w 

an greater focus and determination, and our set targets and objectives general election. This was an great 

l 

ess and through the priorities plentiful business welcoming the and implementation celebrating investment potential of this the offerings Industrial 12th investors edition of Parks our to province, Revitalisation of the what 

Millions 

varied I from consider 

of people 

Programme economy a premier 

have house 

. come to learn, Limpopo is home to a thriving mining sector, 

the can only be realised through working together as government, 

13th election which was fought the in that can bus 

rism all five districts of the province. The Critical Infrastructure 

drinking 

Programme 

water. Children 

has 

from p 

mic offerings Zone (MMSEZ) and a limitless 

Bela-Bela remains potential to Musina. already 

for the agricultural 

receiving investment sector. 

business, organised labour and other groups and interest organisations. from guide China for our and beautiful elsewhere. Limpopo Province. Premier Chu busin 

uction approved R49.9-million for the Seshego Industrial 

free 

Park 

education. 

to refurbish 

In 

the 

the past five 

hrough industry 

tinued 

this initiative, is one and of the 

Through 

through booming sectors of the Limpopo 

As we prepare to implement this publication, the manifesto 

top you Indeed, 

structures will priorities 

of also Limpopo 

11 factories. learn of the about Business great is an private-public important partner Stanley in the Mat Ac 

people on antiretroviral treatm 

pe inherited to stimulate legacy economic of an infrastructure growth, backlog means that the 

tractive ruling party, partnership we move from investments a premise that endeavour are over 

Central the the pulse past to market 

to these of 25 

economic our years provincial and position 

recovery economy. Limpopo as a leading and most rulin 

efforts rate is to of position new infections Limpopo is decrea 

unities nger future. and reduce Investment the ballooning 

this sector is an investment in the 

the lives of the people As you of will South We come Africa to have learn, business changed 

as an are Limpopo investment fresh and for is the investment into destination home better. to promise of a destination. 

the li 

o Province has also moved to embrace the new digital economy 

thriving choice of for mining growth both vulnerable domestic sector, and development and citizens foreign receive social of th 

Millions of people have houses, electricity 

ke you tantalising tourism offerings investors. 

and 

the and 6th This access 

a limitless This Provincial informative will 

to 

potential help 

clean edition to a enhance for decent the once agricultural the quality again much-needed affords of sector. life. us This creation an is opportunity 

Millio 

rights of workers to a organise, of promise col wto 

ct etitive are limitless. support These infrastructure. 

drinking water. 

opportunities 

Children from poor communities 

e, from 

The construction industry employment, Administration 

through have 

is one of the particularly the plentiful access to 

drink 

booming for business 

working our sectors young and 

in people. of partnership 

investment the Limpopo with 

offerings 

all our 

of 

social 

our prov 

automotives, a-Makhado steel, Special pharmaceutical, 

Economic Zone (MMSEZ) remains our 

work, and to strike. pa 

free Premier education. 

economy, Chupu In the past five years the 

the inherited legacy 

We 

of 

welcome 

an infrastructure 

the publication 

backlog 

of this 

means 


that 


the 

journal as a 

after 

Bela-Bela number of 

our 

to HIV-positive 

free 

mic development project. Through this initiative, and through Musina. 

Our work is guided by the co 

people on antiretroviral treatment has doubled most Our collective focus is on the creation o 

means to market and position the province as a most attractive business 

-public Stanley sector Mathabatha has a successful longer future. national Investment Through 

while the this 

overall 

peop 

ith fact the that private this project sector, we enjoys hope the to stimulate economic growth, 

this publication, sector is an you investment will collective also in learn achievements, 

the about great so priva muc 

rate of new infections is decreasing. Over and 17.5-million investment and provincial of destination. our most poverty and the urgency of building a bette rate 

ernment. eeded employment opportunities and reduce the ballooning 

future. Limpopo general Province election. has partnership also Several This moved investments 

projects was to embrace an point to greater the that new are 

priority focus digital the pulse 

that and we economy of our provincial econom 

vulnerable citizens receive social grants. We advanced the cause and 

determination, have allocated to and our vulne 

ity. 

se 

nt, we have placed this Musinariorities. 

portunities We in through Plan. Our working to 

sector, through competitive election support which the was infrastructure. 

As you will come to learn, Limpopo is home to a thriving mini 

rights of workers to organise, collectively bargain, Limpopo fought refuse on e-Government dangerous the can Strategy only be Implementation realised Infrastructure right 

l sector. 

A 

believe this SEZ that project the only are limitless. These opportunities 

number The Musina-Makhado of far-reaching objective Special tantalising Chupu 

Economic is to 

tourism Stanley 

build a 

offerings Mathabatha, 

capable Zone business, (MMSEZ) ethical 

and a 

organised development 

limitless remains potential 

labour state and to 

for 

serve 

the agricultu 

nufacturing, work, 

t a resounding agroprocessing, and to strike. 

success. automotives, steel, pharmaceutical, 

work 

One of the key drivers other of employ group 

mpopo flagship strategies economic are starting development the people The Premier 

project. construction of Limpopo 

any more. Our work is guided by the conviction that without diligently. ignoring Through our industry this As initiative, is one 

we prepare and of the through booming sectors of the O 

government’s to implement deliberate the investm man 

hat en more the collective tantalising achievements, partnerships to is the bear fact fruit that so with much for this the project the more private can enjoys economy, sector, and Among must the we the still the hope infrastructure be inherited done. to stimulate legacy that has economic of already an infrastructure been growth, completed backlog to mean colle 

economy and the people enable this digital transformation 

ruling 

are 

party, 

a Data Centre, 

we end move of the 

Network 

from 2018/19 

Operating 

a premise financial year, thap 

t support in the of our National create Government. much-needed employment sector has opportunities a longer future. and reduce Investment the ballooning 

stood this at above sector R5.5-billion. is an investm We 

popo Provincial of Limpopo Government, Province. we have placed this Control Centre and Contact the Centre. lives Fibre of the and people satellite of technologies South Africa have 

onomy gap of inequality. future. Musina- Limpopo Province has also moved the to province’s embrace infrastructure the new digital gran 


The Provincial Socioeconomic have been employed to connect Millions more of than people 50 sites have to the houses, network. electrici Infr 

a, 

Project at the apex of our priorities. We believe that 

Recovery Plan Business is anchored opportunities in in through the only 

The this provincial SEZ competitive project government’s are limitless. support Chupu 

drinking first These infrastructure. Stanley 

projects water. 

opportunities 

which will Mathabatha, help to stimulate the 

n for us is One to make of the this key project drivers a of resounding employment success. creation to Children digitise records from and poor comm 

ins our our intention range from to promote manufacturing, the agroprocessing, The the Musina-Makhado province is the 

administration will automotives, take place free in healthcare, education. 

steel, Special Premier 

pharmaceutical, 

Economic of people Limpopo 

One 

of Limpopo. Zone (MMSEZ) rem 

open for government’s business! ■ deliberate investment in infrastructure education In the and past transport. five years the 

hrough industrialisation logistics and of the many province more. flagship 

projects. 

Another economic 

By the 

gove 

vital strategy development is to develop project. a province-specific Through this and initiative, and 

end of the 2018/19 financial year, provincial infrastructure expenditure 

end o 

people on antiretroviral treatment has do 

rowth, through mega What projects is even in more the tantalising comprehensive partnerships is the energy with fact the plan. that private These this plans project sector, could we include enjoys hope the the to retrofitting stimulate of econom 

stood 7 7 at above R5.5-billion. LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2021/22 

agricultural, overwhelming manufacturing LIMPOPO We look 

support and 

BUSINESS forward to 

of our solar National panels to Government. 

all government rate buildings. of new The infections launch of the is Renewable decreasing. Over 1 

ooning 

create 2020/21 LIMPOPO spending BUSINESS more of 2019/20 

much-needed employment opportunities and 6 

stood 

reduce b 

the province’s infrastructure grants on capital infrastructure projects 

the p 

tourism sectors. 

Energy Strategy by Musina-Makhado vulnerable SEZ citizens in partnership receive social with the grants. We 

which will help As to stimulate the Limpopo the economy Provincial gap and Government, of create inequality. jobs for we the have placed this Musina- 

whic 

Over the next five to 10 years, United States Agency for International rights of workers Development to organise, was a significant collectively ba 

tunities people of Limpopo. 

we expect Makhado more than SEZ 48 000 Project jobs to at the milestone apex Business of in our opportunities 

our energy priorities. journey We in believe this SEZ that project the only are limitless. These peop opp 

work, 

■ 

eutical, 

and to strike. 

available option for us is to make range this from project manufacturing, a resounding agroprocessing, success. automotives, steel, pharm 

Limpopo is open for business! logistics Our work is guided by the conviction th 

■ 

and many more. 

6 

7 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2020/21 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2019/20 

ys the 

What is even more collective tantalising achievements, is the fact that so much this project more can e 

overwhelming 5 support of our National LIMPOPO Government. 

BUSINESS 2023/24 

usinahe 

only 

Chupu Stanley 

As the Limpopo Provincial Government, we have placed thi 


Makhado 

Mathabatha, 

SEZ Project at the apex of our priorities. We believe tha 

Economic Zone is a flagship pro

Terms and Conditions, visit mtnbusiness.co.za 

MESSAGE 

want to start by thanking 

want to 

Global 

start 

Africa 

by thanking 

Network 

Global 

for sustaining 

Africa Network 

the 

for sustaining the 

Limpopo Premier Chupu Stanley Mathabatha outlines his administration’s 

publication of this important 

publication 

magazine, 

of this 


important 

Business. 

magazine, 

I also 


wish to join 

Business. I also wish to join Limpopo Premier Chupu Stanley Mathabatha outlines his administration’s 

priorities in welcoming potential investors to the varied economy that is 

in celebrating this 12th 

in 

edition 

celebrating 

of what 

this 

I consider 

12th edition 

a premier 

of what 

business 

I consider 

and 

a premier business and priorities in welcoming potential investors to the varied economy that is 


investment guide for our 

investment 

beautiful Limpopo 

guide for 

Province. 

our beautiful Limpopo Province. 


Indeed, Limpopo Business 

Indeed, 

is an 


important 


partner 

is an 

in 

important 

the continued 

partner in the continued 

endeavour to market and 

endeavour 

position 

to 


market and 

as a 

position 

leading and 


most attractive 

as a leading and most attractive 

e are fresh into promise of growth and development of the economy for jobs and 

business and investment 

business 

destination. 

and investment destination. 

e are fresh into promise of growth and development of the economy for jobs and 

This informative edition 

This 

once 

informative 

again affords 

edition 

us an 

once 

opportunity 

again affords 

to take 

us an 

you 

opportunity to take you 

the 6th Provincial 

the 

a decent 

6th Provincial 

quality of life. 

a 

This 

decent 

is a 

quality 

promise 

of 

which 

life. This 

we 

is 

intend 

a promise 

to keep, 

which we intend to keep, 

through the plentiful business 

through 

and 

the 

investment 

plentiful business 

offerings 

and 

of 

investment 

our province, 

offerings 

from 

of our province, from 

Administration 

Administration 

working in partnership 

working 

with all our 

in partnership 

social partners 

with 

and 

all our 

stakeholders. 

social partners and stakeholders. 



after our most 

after 

Our 

our 

collective 

most 

focus is 

Our 

on the 

collective 

creation 

focus 

of jobs, 

is on 

the 

the 

need 

creation 

to end 

of jobs, the need to end 

Through this publication, 

Through 

you will 

this 

also 

publication, 

learn about 

you 

great 

will also 

private-public 

learn about great private-public 

successful national and 

successful 

provincial 

national 

poverty 

and provincial 

and the urgency 

poverty 

of building 

and the 

a better 

urgency 

life 

of 

for 

building 

all. This 

a 

requires 

better life for all. This requires 

partnership investments 

partnership 

that are the 

investments 

pulse of our 

that 

provincial 

are the 

economy. 

pulse of our provincial economy. 

general election. This 

general 

was an 

election. 

greater 

This 

focus 

was 

and 

an 

determination, 

greater focus 

and 

and 

our 

determination, 

set targets and 

and 

objectives 

our set targets and objectives 

As you will come to learn, 

As you 


will come 

is home 

to learn, 

to a 


thriving mining 

is home 

sector, 

to a thriving mining sector, 

election which was fought 

election 

on the 

which 

can 

was fought 

only be 

on 

realised 

the 

through 

can only 

working 

be realised 

together 

through 

as government, 

working together as government, 

tantalising tourism offerings 

tantalising 

and a 

tourism 

limitless 

offerings 

potential 

and 

for the 

a limitless 

agricultural 

potential 

sector. 

for the agricultural sector. 

business, organised labour and other groups and organisations. 

The construction industry is one of the booming sectors of the Limpopo 

business, organised labour and other groups and organisations. 

The construction industry is one of the booming sectors of the Limpopo 

As we prepare to implement the manifesto priorities of the 

economy, the inherited legacy of an infrastructure backlog means that the 

As we prepare to implement the manifesto priorities of the 

economy, the inherited legacy of an infrastructure backlog means that the 

ruling party, we move from a premise that over the past 25 years 

sector has a longer future. Investment in this sector is an investment in the 

ruling party, we move from a premise that over the past 25 years 

sector has a longer future. Investment in this sector is an investment in the 

the lives of the people of South Africa have changed for the better. 

future. Limpopo Province has also moved to embrace the new digital economy 

the lives of the people of South Africa have changed for the better. 

future. Limpopo Province has also moved to embrace the new digital economy 

Millions of people have houses, electricity and access to clean 

through competitive support infrastructure. 

Millions of people have houses, electricity and access to clean 

through competitive support infrastructure. 

drinking water. Children from poor communities have access to 

The Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) remains our 

drinking water. Children from poor communities have access to 

The Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) remains our 

free education. In the past five years the number of HIV-positive 

flagship economic development project. Through this initiative, and through 

free education. In the past five years the number of HIV-positive 

flagship economic development project. Through this initiative, and through 

people on antiretroviral treatment has doubled while the overall 

partnerships with the private sector, we hope to stimulate economic growth, 

people on antiretroviral treatment has doubled while the overall 

partnerships with the private sector, we hope to stimulate economic growth, 

rate of new infections is decreasing. Over 17.5-million of our most 

create much-needed employment opportunities and reduce the ballooning 

rate of new infections is decreasing. Over 17.5-million of our most 

create much-needed employment opportunities and reduce the ballooning 





rights of workers to organise, collectively bargain, refuse dangerous 

Business opportunities in this SEZ project are limitless. These opportunities 

rights of workers to organise, collectively bargain, refuse dangerous 

Business opportunities in this SEZ project are limitless. These opportunities 

range from manufacturing, agroprocessing, automotives, steel, pharmaceutical, 

work, and to strike. 

work, and to strike. 

range from manufacturing, agroprocessing, automotives, steel, pharmaceutical, 


Our work is guided by 

Our 

the 

work 

conviction 

is guided 

that 

by 

without 

the conviction 

ignoring 

that 

our 

without ignoring our 


What is even more tantalising is the fact that this project enjoys the 

collective achievements, 

collective 

so much 

achievements, 

more can and 

so 

must 

much 

still 

more 

be done. 

can and must still be done. 

What is even more tantalising is the fact that this project enjoys the 

overwhelming support 

overwhelming 

of our National 

support 

Government. 

of our National Government. 

As the Limpopo Provincial 

As the 

Government, 

Limpopo Provincial 

we have 

Government, 

placed this Musinawe 

have placed this Musina- 

Makhado SEZ Project at 

Makhado 

the apex 

SEZ 

of our 

Project 

priorities. 

at the 

We 

apex 

believe 

of our 

that 

priorities. 

the only 

We believe that the only 

available option for us is to make this project a resounding success. 

One of the key drivers of 

One 

employment 

of the key drivers 

creation 

of 

in 

employment 

the province 

creation 

is the 

in the province is the 

available option for us is to make this project a resounding success. 


government’s deliberate 

government’s 

investment in 

deliberate 


investment 

projects. 

in infrastructure 

By the 

projects. By the 


end of the 2018/19 financial 

end of 

year, 

the 

provincial 

2018/19 financial 


year, provincial 

expenditure 

infrastructure expenditure 

stood at above R5.5-billion. 

stood 

We 

at above 

look forward 

R5.5-billion. 

to spending 

We look 

more 

forward 

of 

to spending more of 

the province’s infrastructure 

the province’s 

grants on 


capital infrastructure 

grants on 

projects 

capital infrastructure projects 

which will help to stimulate 

which will 

the economy 

help to stimulate 

and create 

the 

jobs 

economy 

for the 

and create jobs for the 

people of Limpopo. 

people of Limpopo. 

7 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2019/20 2020/21 

7 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2020/21 

LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2019/20 

MESSAGE 

CONTENTS 

Mining 32 

De Beers’ giant conversion project has started producing. 

Energy 34 

Samancor will supplement its grid with solar power. 

Water 42 

Major infrastructure projects are underway. 

Construction and property 43 

A subsidy programme is boosting home ownership. 

ICT 44 

5G is being deployed at a Limpopo mine. 

Tourism 46 

Hoedspruit Airport’s potential is to be developed. 

Transport and logistics 50 

A new interchange will ease congestion for Easter pilgrims. 

Development finance and SMME support 54 

Enterprise Supplier Development boosts local economies. 

Education 56 

150 new classrooms are to be built. 

References 

Key sector contents 28 

Overviews of the main economic sectors of Limpopo. 

proves 

uilding 

erves 

nment’s 

terests 

w trusts MTN Business 

n, health, social and 

public services. 

doing today? 

ess, government 

now enjoy: 

ata with no 

olicy (FUP) 

losed 

minutes 

losed 

SMSs 

es to call 

rks 

smartphones. 

11 0787 

e.molepo@mtn.com 

usiness.co.za 

LIMPOPO BUSINESS THE GUIDE TO BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT IN LIMPOPO 

2022/23 

LIMPOPO 

BUSINESS 

THE GUIDE TO BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT 

IN LIMPOPO 

THE GUIDE 

PROVINCE 

TO BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT 

IN LIMPOPO PROVINCE 



2022/23 EDITION 

2023/24 EDITION 

The Musina-Makhado The Musina-Makhado Special Special Infrastructure is a key 

Economic Zone is a flagship 


project 

is a key 

Economic Zone is a flagship project 

driver in driver job creation in job creation and and 

Limpopo Premier Limpopo Chupu Premier Stanley Mathabatha Chupu Stanley invites Mathabatha invites 

private investors private to work investors with the to public work with sector the in public sector in 

development development 

I 

I 

building infrastructure building and infrastructure growing the and economy. growing the economy. 

WWW.GLOBALAFRICANETWORK.COM 

WWW.GLOBALAFRICANETWORK.COM 

| WWW.LIMPOPOBUSINESS.CO.ZA 

| WWW.LIMPOPOBUSINESS.CO.ZA 

MESSAGE 

W 

Premier Chupu 

Premier Chupu 

Stanley Mathabatha 

Stanley Mathabatha 

MESSAGE 

W 

Chupu Stanley Infrastructure 

Chupu Stanley Mathabatha, 

Mathabatha, 

Premier of Limpopo 

Premier of Limpopo 

ABOUT THE COVER: 

Top left then clockwise: Solar farm, Soutpan Solar; the Venetia diamond mine 

has started production, De Beers Group; the worth of a diamond is assessed, 

De Beers Group; the Magareng Chrome Mine is part of the Glencore-Merafe 

Chrome Venture; Limpopo is a golf destination, Shaun Roy/Sunshine Tour; 

avocado, Dirk Ribbler on Unsplash; rhinos ready for relocation, Exxaro. 


7 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2020/21 6 

7 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2020/21 6 

LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2023/24 6

MESSAGE 

MESSAGE 

trial master Limpopo’s plan Special Economic 

approved Zones will power progress 

al Economic Rodgers Zones Monana, are a vital MEC part for of Department the province’s of Economic Development, 

through industrialisation, Environment and as Tourism, the MEC outlines for Economic concrete steps being taken to 

vironment tackle and Tourism, unemployment, Thabo Mokone, poverty explains. and inequality. 

Once complete, the two projects will create in excess of 20 000 job 

opportunities in the metallurgical and mining sectors. 

Among the catalytic projects are the Broadband Network 

Through the MMSEZ, we aim to be a leading producer of energy 

Infrastructure Initiative, Mining Supply Hub, Technology Hub/Science 

through the production of coking coal that is found in huge reserves in 

Park, Digital Hub and two Special Economic Zones. 

Musina. Bottlenecks in the acquisition of land are being dealt with and 

The Musina-Makhado SEZ was launched in April this year and is 

we are ready to move with speed in the implementation of this project. 

continuously engaging with local and international investors. The 

It’s all systems go with the Fetakgomo Tubatse Special 

rollout of bulk infrastructure in the MMSEZ will focus on bulk sewersupply 

pipelines and wastewater treatment works; bulkwater storage 

Economic Zone, with a number of investors such as Mintek having 

committed to take sites. A mining equipment manufacturer has 

and supply pipelines; water-treatment works and internal roads and 

also made a commitment to operate a plant. 

storm water. Eskom has started with the inception and scoping report 

Limpopo Province is home to many platinum group metals 

for bulk electricity infrastructure of the MMSEZ. 

(PGMs) projects, found mostly in Sekhukhune and the Waterberg 

Districts, illustrating that there are many investment opportunities to 

Investment opportunities 

take advantage of and help build our economy. 

The investment value of the 1 000MW solar power plan to be 

nt, We take pride in Limpopo Province is the cultural calabash of South Africa, 

constructed in the SEZ is $1.5-billion and this project will be 

ism MEC 

being part of boosting three national parks, namely the Kruger National Park, 

implemented by Huadian Hong Kong Ltd. 

this important Marakele National Park and Mapungubwe National Park, the last of 

The MMSEZ SOC is collaborating with stakeholders across various 

publication which which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We are the only province 

spheres of government and Musina Municipality to develop a Smart 

promotes our province’s abundant which has two Kingships and a Queenship, namely, the Bapedi and 

Executive City in the Musina-Makhado Corridor. This initiative has opened a 

economic offerings. We value this VhaVenda Kingdoms and the Bolobedu Queenship. We are the 

approved new basket of investment opportunities with a great potential for 

partnership. 

melting pot of diverse cultures and different traditions that unite to 

Industrial return on investment. 

Our Department is known for form the spectacle that we pride ourselves on. 

2020-2030 At MMSEZ we recognise partnerships and continuous 

producing clean audits because of Our landscape makes for beautiful tourism attractions with lush 

province’s stakeholderengagement as an integral part of our value system. 

our responsible use of public funds forests and amazing flora and fauna, where all of the Big Five can be 

enda. This Nevertheless, the success of the MMSEZ is dependent on its ability to 

to improve service delivery to the seen roaming. 

structure of attract and maintain sound and mutually beneficial relationships with 

people of Limpopo Province. 

The task to which we are committed to is huge but achievable. 

investors. Both domestic and international investors are the mainstay 

The 2023/24 Financial Year With the men and women of substance that we have, our department 

epartment of the MMSEZ to grow Limpopo’s economy. 

promises to be a bumper year. declares that we are on the right track of addressing poverty, 

elopment, LEDET is moving forward on the actualisation of the Fetakgomo- 

Through our two key projects unemployment and inequality. ■ 

ism (LEDET) Tubatse Special Economic Zone (FTSEZ), which is at an advanced 

of the Musina-Makhado Special 

isation of the stage. We have finalised the business case for the designation of the 

Economic Zone and the Fetakgomo 

ough a series FTSEZ and the Department has put its support behind the Mining 

Tubatse Special Economic Zone, 

nufacturing, Input Supplier Park, owned by Glencore. There is also a quadripartite 

we aim to transform the economic 

ism, with a agreement consisting of four strategic partners: LEDET, Sekhukhune 

fortunes of this province through 

the Fourth District Municipality, Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality and the 

the creation of job opportunities. 

R). 

Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic). ■ 

5 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 7 2022/23 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2023/24

FOREWORD 

Limpopo Business 

A unique guide to business and investment in Limpopo. 

Credits 

Publishing director: 

Chris Whales 

Editor: John Young 

Business development 

manager: Shiko Diala 

Managing director: Clive During 

Online editor: Christoff Scholtz 

Designer: Tyra Martin 

Production: Yonella Ngaba 

Ad sales: 

Gavin van der Merwe 

Sam Oliver 

Gabriel Venter 

Vanessa Wallace 

Tahlia Wyngaard 

Graeme February 

Administration & accounts: 

Charlene Steynberg 

Kathy Wootton 

Sharon Angus-Leppan 

Distribution and circulation 

manager: Edward MacDonald 

Printing: FA Print 

The 2023/24 edition of Limpopo Business is the 15th issue of this highly 

successful publication that, since its launch in 2007, has established itself 

as the premier business and investment guide for the Limpopo Province. 

In inviting investors to consider Limpopo, the Premier of Limpopo 

and the MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism outline 

concrete steps that have been taken to add and improve infrastructure within 

the province and to tackle socioeconomic challenges. 

The delicate balance between the need to utilise the bounty of the 

earth’s minerals for economic progress and the imperative to do so in a way 

that both boosts the local economy and does not degrade the environment 

is the subject of a special feature in the front section of the journal. Several 

mining companies have mitigation projects, employ local people and 

support local small businesses but Exxaro’s appointment of an all-female 

team of mounted game rangers stands out as a rather special initiative. 

News related to mining, agriculture, tourism, construction and property, 

water, education and development finance is carried in overviews of the 

main economic sectors. 

To complement the extensive local, national and international 

distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online 

at www.globalafricanetwork.com. Updated information on Limpopo is 

also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe 

to online at www.gan.co.za, in addition to our complementary businessto-business 

titles that cover all nine provinces, our flagship South African 

Business title and the newest addition to our list of publications, African 

Business, which was launched in 2020. ■ 

Chris Whales 

Publisher, Global Africa Network Media | Email: chris@gan.co.za 

DISTRIBUTION 

Limpopo Business is distributed internationally on outgoing 

and incoming trade missions, through trade and investment 

agencies; to foreign offices in South Africa’s main trading 

partners around the world; at top national and international 

events; through the offices of foreign representatives in 

South Africa; as well as nationally and regionally via chambers 

of commerce, tourism offices, airport lounges, provincial 

government departments, municipalities and companies. 

Member of the Audit Bureau 

of Circulations 

PUBLISHED BY 

Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd 

Company Registration No: 2004/004982/07 

Directors: Clive During, Chris Whales 

Physical address: 28 Main Road, Rondebosch 7700 

Postal address: PO Box 292, Newlands 7701 

Tel: +27 21 657 6200 | Fax: +27 21 674 6943 

Email: info@gan.co.za | Website: www.gan.co.za 

ISSN 1993-0119 

COPYRIGHT | Limpopo Business is an independent publication 

published by Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. Full copyright to the 

publication vests with Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. No part 

of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the written 

permission of Global Africa Network Media (Pty) Ltd. 

PHOTO CREDITS | Airlink; Anglo American; Ba-Phalaborwa Local 

Municipality; Department of Water and Sanitation; Exxaro; Glencore; 

Implats; Fyre Mael on Flickr; MDS Architecture; Netcare Foundation; 

Northam Platinum; Olimoflo; PETCO; Premier Hotel Group; South African 

Presidency/Flickr; VKB; ZZ2. 

DISCLAIMER | While the publisher, Global Africa Network Media (Pty) 

Ltd, has used all reasonable efforts to ensure that the information 

contained in Limpopo Business is accurate and up-to-date, the publishers 

make no representations as to the accuracy, quality, timeliness, or 

completeness of the information. Global Africa Network will not accept 

responsibility for any loss or damage suffered as a result of the use of or 

any reliance placed on such information.

INTERVIEW 

Providing safe transport services 

Florence Radzilani, MEC for Transport and Community Safety, explains how 

increased air traffic could reduce the load on the province’s roads. 

How does GAAL and the PIA fit into the department’s overall mandate? 

Part of the mission of the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community 

Safety is to provide safe, sustainable and integrated transport infrastructure 

and services for the promotion of socio-economic development. Gateway 

Airports Authority Limited (GAAL) is charged with managing and developing 

Limpopo airports to provide ease of access to Limpopo province for both 

tourism and investment opportunities. Aviation plays a vital role supporting 

the department’s mission of implementing integrated transportation. 

Florence Radzilani, 

MEC for Transport and 

Community Safety 

BIOGRAPHY 

Florence grew up in Masakona village, 

outside Elim. A BA degree from the 

University of Venda was followed 

by two education diplomas and an 

Honours in Public Administration. 

She is currently studying for a Master’s 

in Public Administration. She has 

experience as an assistant director in 

the Office of the Premier, Executive 

Mayor of the Vhembe District 

Municipality and as MEC for the 

Department of Community Safety 

before it amalgamated with the 

Department of Transport. 

Can PIA strengthen Limpopo’s position as a regional logistics hub? 

Polokwane International Airport (PIA) is strategically located as a gateway 

into Limpopo and its proximity to SADC countries makes it a viable 

catchment for the establishment of the logistics hub. 

How can this be achieved? 

This can be achieved through engagements between major industries like 

agriculture and mining and the airlines and PIA. This collaboration will assist 

with the establishment of new cargo routes and new operators that will focus 

on cargo distribution. 

Is there a marketing strategy to increase the use of PIA by tourists? 

GAAL is finalising a Turnaround Strategy, which includes strategies on 

marketing with the big focus on education to the effect that air transport 

is public transport and it is available to everyone. In addition, the province 

is consolidating the concept of One-Destination Marketing with the 

Limpopo Tourism Agency. 

Is there a link in improving airport numbers to road safety in the 

province? 

Aviation helps achieve the department’s mission to provide safe transport 

services. The increase in the number of people that fly will relieve the load 

of traffic on the road, especially in peak seasons. Statistics released by the 

International Air Transport Association confirm that flying is one of the 

safest ways to travel. 

Is the department supporting the improvement of infrastructure at PIA? 

Yes, the department has appointed a capable board to implement a 

turnaround strategy and to oversee governance. The department provides 

support and oversight over the entity to ensure that its strategic goals 

are met, including support at provincial structures to ensure that GAAL 

receives the financial support to improve the airport infrastructure to attract 

operators and airport users. ■ 

9 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2023/24

A REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF 

LIMPOPO 

PROVINCE 

Production began at De Beers’ Venetia Mine in 2023, a major milestone in a multi-year project that will 

create work for local communities, and for valuers. 

Shovels and cranes are being put to good use in Limpopo as 

new projects in mining, agriculture and tourism are matched by 

infrastructure investments by regional and national government 

in roads and a major new hospital. 

By John Young 

Ground was broken all over Limpopo in 

2023 as new projects were launched. 

In Polokwane the first shovels of earth 

were moved towards the construction 

of the Limpopo Central Hospital. 

National Treasury approved plans for the 488-bed 

hospital, which will become one of South Africa’s five 

academic hospitals, in 2022. 

In the Sekhukhune District, contractors were 

handed their instructions at GaMalekane, Steelpoort, 

where a long-awaited multi-lane steel bridge will 

replace the old single-lane bridge. In the north of the 

province, a number of tourism projects have been 

launched in the last 18 months, and several more are 

in the pipeline. 

Several mining companies are breaking 

new ground, although in the case of De Beers 

at its Venetia Mine in the province’s far north, it 

is not so much new ground as old ground that 

is being mined in a different way. What used 

to be a surface mine is in the process of being 

transformed into an underground mine, a long 

and expensive project that began in 2012 and is 

now about 70% complete. A significant landmark 

was achieved in 2023 with the beginning of 

production at the facility that employs 4 300 

LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2023/24 

10 

PHOTO: De Beers Group

SPECIAL FEATURE 

people and is expected to produce four-million 

carats of diamonds annually. 

The bridge project at Steelpoort nicely illustrates 

the spirit of public-private partnership. No fewer 

than eight mining companies in the Eastern-Limb 

Cluster in the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality 

have contributed to the construction of the new 

road bridge at the intersection of the D2219 and 

R555: Anglo American Platinum, Glencore Alloys, 

Booysendal (Northam Platinum), Two Rivers 

Platinum, Samanchor Chrome, Dwars River Chrome, 

Rhakhoma Mining and Tjate Platinum. Roads 

Agency Limpopo (RAL) is managing the project, for 

which R127-million has been budgeted. 

A total of 12 partnerships between the Limpopo 

Provincial Government and various mining houses 

have a value of R1.1-billion. 

A public-private planning exercise, known as 

Impact Catalyst, is working on focus areas which 

include biofuels and intends to prepare the province 

to deal with the emergence of new sectors such 

as renewable energy. The Provincial Government 

is working with Impact Catalyst in several fields, 

including a coordination of enterprise development 

programme strategies. 

In the Lephalale region, Exxaro is in partnership 

with government to operate a satellite office in 

support of small business. Another partnership 

related to supplier development programmes is in 

place with Black Umbrellas. 

Among the other investments being made in 

the Limpopo mining sector is the expansion project 

at Northam Platinum’s Metallurgical Complex which 

has linked increased volumes with better efficiencies 

and a cleaner process from an environmental point 

of view. Less water and power are used by the newly 

installed machines and a high-tech two-stage chilling 

system has been introduced to control the reaction 

of leaching operations. 

One the province’s biggest companies is using 

its recently constructed packing facilities to prepare 

tomatoes and avocados for export. The fact that ZZ2 

is venturing into the avocado market is big news for 

the agricultural sector. 

A series of renovations and upgrades have taken 

place at Polokwane International Airport (PIA) which 

have placed the airport in a better condition to 

position itself as a cargo hub for the province and 

the region. Noting that the facility’s relative proximity 

to Johannesburg makes it less of a tourist destination 

as many of Limpopo’s destinations are within driving 

distance of the country’s biggest metro, PIA is 

investigating how it can leverage its central location to 

attract more cargo for further distribution throughout 

Limpopo and SADC. 

An airport in the eastern part of Limpopo that 

does receive many tourists is one of the gateways 

to the Kruger National Park, Hoedspruit Airport. 

Provincial authorities are looking at ways that this 

airport can play an ever bigger role in accepting 

visitors than it already does with its connections to 

Botswana, Mozamibique and Zimbabwe. 

Three major national parks – Kruger National 

Park, Mapungubwe in the north and Marakele in 

the Waterberg – are run by South African National 

Parks (SANParks) and attract large numbers of 

tourists every year. The province’s private game 

reserves and lodges enjoy a reputation for luxury and 

excellence of service that attracts tens of thousands 

of international visitors. The combined land area of 

Limpopo’s national, provincial and private game and 

nature reserves is 3.6-million hectares. 

The provincial government has committed to 

enhancing the value of Limpopo’s two UNESCO World 

Heritage Sites, Makapans Valley and Mapungubwe, 

where the superbly crafted little golden rhinoceros, 

a relic from medieval times, was found in 1932. This 

is also a priority programme in the National Tourism 

Sector Strategy. The Waterberg Biosphere Reserve is a 

UNESCO protected site. 

Some Limpopo nature reserves are to be 

commercialised using private-public partnerships. 

Among the first reserves to be part of the programme 

are Masebe, Rust de Winter and Lekgalameetse. The 

Limpopo Department of Economic Development, 

Environment and Tourism (LEDET) is responsible for 

53 provincial nature reserves. 

Limpopo is doing its best to attract new 

investors to the province. A number of targeted 

conferences have been held in several key sectors 

and the teams leading the push to establish Special 

Economic Zones in Limpopo have been working 

hard to promote the Musina-Makhado SEZ and the 

Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZ. 

Each of the SEZs has its own unique attributes 

but both of them seek to support the beneficiation 


Dignitaries were on hand to turn the first sod when 

African Century Group and the Premier Hotel Group 

started work on a four-star, 120-room hotel in 

Thohoyandou in the Vhembe District Municipality. 

of minerals that are plentiful in the region, encourage 

the growth of green energy hubs and green 

manufacturing, take advantage of their strategic 

location to welcome logistics companies and to use 

the SEZs as a means of uplifting local communities 

through training, jobs and contracts to supply 

goods and services to the SEZs themselves, and to 

companies that set up operations in the SEZs. 

Limpopo’s assets include the largest diamond 

mine in South Africa (De Beers Venetia Mine), the 

biggest copper mine in South Africa (Palabora Mining 

Company), the biggest open-pit platinum mine in 

the country (Anglo America’s Mogalakwena) and the 

biggest vermiculite mine in the world. The province 

has 41% of South Africa’s PGMs, 90% of South Africa’s 

red-granite resources and approximately 50% of the 

country’s coal reserves. Antimony, a highly strategic 

mineral found in large quantities in China, is another 

of Limpopo’s major assets. In 2019, the mining sector 

in Limpopo employed 48 782 workers and paid out 

R39.7-billion in wages and salaries. The provincial 

government records that the province will be 

receiving a total investment from mining of R36.3- 

billion in the period to 2025. 

Geography 

Limpopo covers about 10% of South Africa’s land 

mass and is home to about 10% of the country’s 

population. The 2011 census recorded 5.4-million 

residents. The main languages of the people of 

Limpopo are Sesotho, Xitsonga and Tshivenda but 

English is widely used in business and government. 

The Limpopo Province’s 125 754km² covers 

a remarkably diverse geographical and cultural 

landscape that is also rich in minerals and 

agricultural products. 

The N1 highway is a key reason for the province’s 

important role in the nation’s logistics sector. It 

passes through Limpopo from the south to the 

border town of Musina and on to Zimbabwe and its 

neighbours in the Southern African Development 

Community (SADC). The busy N11 highway links the 

province to Botswana to the west and Mpumalanga 

Province to the east. 

Most of South Africa’s logistics operators have a 

presence in the provincial capital city of Polokwane 

and logistics hubs have been established in that city 

and in Musina. 

The province has a sophisticated rail network 

which Transnet Freight Rail aims to further expand, 

primarily to haul the province’s vast reserves of coal 

away to the coast at Richards Bay. 

The province is home to two universities, the 

University of Venda and the University of Limpopo, 

and seven Technical and Vocational Education and 

Training (TVET) colleges. The Turfloop Graduate 

School of Business is in Polokwane. 

The centrally situated city of Polokwane is the 

capital of Limpopo province. Located on the Great 

North Road and almost equidistant from the highdensity 

population of greater Johannesburg and 

the neighbouring countries of Botswana, Zambia, 

Zimbabwe and Mozambique, Polokwane’s upgraded 

international airport plays an increasingly important 

regional role. ■ 

Mining companies are partnering with Roads 

Agency Limpopo to connect communities by 

building bridges and improving roads. 


12 

PHOTO: Premier Hotel Group | PHOTO: Implats

Conservation and community 


Balancing the needs of local communities with utilising resources for 

economic growth is a tough challenge. When the need to preserve and 

protect the natural environment is added to the mix, the task is harder still. 

But solutions must be found. 

By John Young 

Africa’s first all-female team of mounted 

rangers rode out for the first time as a 

group in February 2023. 

Alice Maphafu, Angelina Nkgweng 

and Penny Maboyane and Mounted Head Ranger 

Elelwani Mulaodzi are the guardians of wildlife 

in the Manketti Game Reserve, the conservancy 

space that surrounds Exxaro’s Grootegeluk Mine in 

Lephalale in the Waterberg District. 

The horseback quartet represent a neat 

solution to the challenges posed by the 

balancing act of mining, community interest 

and conservation. Training and employment has 

been offered in a field that actively protects the 

environment. 

Further employment opportunities are created 

through the Manketti Lodge where visitors are 

accommodated. The reserve also derives income 

from game trading and hunting. 

Within the 22 000ha Manketti Game Reserve, 

which acts as a mitigation of the impact of the 

nearby mining operations, there is an 800ha area 

from which large or dangerous game are excluded, 

giving guests a chance to hike, cycle or jog. 

The reserve is named for the Manketti tree, 

which occurs nowhere else in South Africa. The 

area where these trees occur has recently been 

declared by Exxaro as a Protected Woodland and 

the trees are regularly monitored and research 

undertaken. Among the game species are sable 

antelope and tsessebe. The reserve has many 

cheetahs and more than 200 bird species have 

been spotted. 

An Exxaro statement addresses the conundrum 

posed at the beginning of this article: “We believe 

that industry in combination with conservation is 

key for our country’s natural and environmental 

long-term sustainability.” The company referred 

PHOTO: Exxaro 


Colonel MR Mphashi thanks PETCO Regional 

Recycling Manager, Tlou Sebola, for the 

separation-at-source container. 

to the third part of the equation in expressing its 

pride in appointing the rangers as part of efforts to 

“empower historically marginalised people in order 

to foster equitable and sustainable socio-economic 

prosperity”. 

Volunteer rangers 

In the Mopani and Vhembe districts, 50 young 

volunteers have been trained as Honorary Rangers 

in a step to enhance skills among young people 

and to fight against environmental crimes. 

This initiative is part of the drive by the 

Limpopo Department of Economic Development, 

Environment and Tourism (LEDET) to integrate 

the Green Economy more fully into the lives of 

communities around the province. 

Biodiversity Economic Nodes have been 

identified and business plans are being developed 

for 10 areas which have shown potential. Feasibility 

studies are tackling the question of how a local 

community can best extract economic benefit from 

the communal areas over which they have control, 

and how this can be done in a way that brings both 

material benefit and serves to protect or enhance 

the environment. The plan is to connect these core 

conservation areas to all other conserved spaces, 

including public and private game reserves. 

A Wildlife Transformation Policy has been 

presented to the legislature by LEDET. Key 

features of the policy include the aim of bringing 

communities into the mainstream conservation 

and wildlife economy and supporting eco-tourism 

as a sector. 

The many game and nature reserves owned 

by the Provincial Government represent an 

opportunity to provide commercial opportunities 

to local communities, especially through the 

hospitality function. 

At Nylsvlei Nature Reserve, 20 new tourist 

chalets have been built and various improvements 

have been made at Wolkberg Nature Reserve, 

Makutsi Camp in the Lekgalameetse Nature 

Reserve, Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve and 

Blouberg Nature Reserve. 

Waste management 

LEDET is also trying to get the province thinking 

green. A Greenest Municipality Competition covers 

waste management, water management, energy 

efficiency, conservation, tree planting, landscaping 

and beautification. 

A joint programme with the Industrial 

Symbiosis Programme and the National Cleaner 

Production Centre (NCPC) aims to connect 

companies throwing stuff away with other 

companies that might be able to use that stuff. 

The NCPC is an implementing agency of the 

Department of Science and Innovation hosted by 

the CSIR. 

If this circular approach is widely adopted, 

much less waste will go to landfill and small 

businesses will have new avenues and markets. 

The South African Military Health Service 

(SAMHS) training centre at Lephalale has joined 

the recycling movement. PETCO recently supplied 

the base with a container to receive separated 

waste. With up to 250 recruits on site at any one 

time, tons of waste that currently goes to landfill 

will thus be diverted. 

PETCO is a Producer Responsibility Organisation 

representing the South African plastic industry’s 

effort to self-regulate post-consumer polyethylene 

terephthalate (PET) recycling. PETCO is involved in 


14 

PHOTO: PETCO


every aspect of the PET value chain – from resin 

producers through to converters, bottlers, brand 

owners, retailers and consumers. Bins and cages 

have also been placed at the base’s kitchen and 

accommodation quarters. Once filled, these are 

taken to the container, where participants in 

the Working on Fire programme, an initiative of 

the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the 

Environment, sort and store the recyclables. PETCO 

has also run recycling workshops to ensure that 

new recruits understand the different types of 

recyclables and how to sort and separate them. 

Moving to conserve 

Sometimes even really big spaces are not big 

enough. You might think that 32 000ha is a large 

area but when it comes to elephants and their 

habitat, thinking big is the order of the day. The 

Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve in northern 

Limpopo is part of the De Beers Group Diamond 

Route and near to the underground mine that the 

company runs there. 

The reserve is home to 400 species of birds and 

numerous flora and fauna but as the area could 

only properly cater to the movements and diets 

of 70 elephants, a new home was needed for 200 

of the giants. In 2018, working in partnership with 

Peace Parks Foundation, De Beers embarked on 

one of the biggest translocations ever attempted. 

The 1 700km journey to Zinave National 

Park in Mozambique presented many difficulties 

but the trip was worth it: with 400 000ha in 

their new home, there is lots of room for the 

elephants to roam. 

The De Beers Diamond Route network 

covers 200 000 hectares on eight reserves in 

Southern Africa. For every hectare of land used 

for operations, six are set aside for conservation 

through the Diamond Route. A Live Cam has been 

installed at a waterhole at one of the reserves, 

which can be found on the De Beers website 

under Sustainability. 

Since the Peace Parks Foundation and 

Mozambique’s National Administration 

for Conservation Areas (ANAC) signed an 

agreement to rehabilitate the Zinave National 

Park, ravaged as it was by the country’s civil 

war, more than 2 400 animals from 15 different 

species have been reintroduced. 

In 2022, seven critically endangered black 

rhino were safely translocated from Manketti 

Game Reserve to the park. A partnership between 

Exxaro Resources, Peace Parks Foundation and 

ANAC will see more than 40 rhinos relocated over 

a three-year period. White rhinos had previously 

been reintroduced to the park. 

These white rhinos are helping to restore 

Zinave’s grasslands as they graze, whereas black 

rhinos browse on very specific plants and process 

them uniquely, acting as a natural fertiliser and 

allowing the nutrients from vegetation to be 

cycled back into the earth efficiently. 

This is a case of nature providing the solution 

to the difficult problem of soil health. Nature might 

yet provide the solution to the triple challenge of 

balancing resource development, conservation 

and community. ■ 

Mozambique’s Zinave National Park is now 

home to seven endangered black rhinos after a 

successful translocation from Manketti Game 

Reserve in Limpopo. 

PHOTO: Exxaro Resources 


Brick by brick we will build this project 

for the current and future generations 

Lehlogonolo Masoga 

The CEO of the Musina Makhado 

Special Economic Zone, 

Lehlogonolo Masoga, reports on 

significant progress being made 

on one of the nation’s biggest 

catalytic projects. 

The much-awaited development 

of the Musina Makhado Special 

Economic Zone (MMSEZ) has finally 

commenced with the installation of 

the bulk services infrastructure. 

The Limpopo Provincial 

Government has committed over 

R700-million over a medium-term 

expenditure framework (MTEF) 

period to support the jump-starting 

of this game-changing initiative. 

Special Economic Zones are by their 

nature designed to offer investors 

a boutique, readymade, industrial 

platform to practise their trade. Brick 

by brick we will build this project for 

the current and future generations. 

Our business approach is 

centred around the plug-and-play 

model supported by state-of-the- 

art infrastructure and the provisioning of utilities (water, electricity, 

sewer, waste removal, roads, security, telecommunications, etc) to 

our investors. We are pleased that master planning and front-end 

engineering designs have been concluded and the construction 

phase has commenced in earnest. 

The development of the Musina Makhado Special Economic 

Zone takes shape at the time when global markets are in full swing 

to recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the global 

economic meltdown. This recovery process anchors the MMSEZ as 

one among many initiatives to breathe life into the Limpopo economy 

by attracting new capital and creating jobs and training opportunities, 

especially among the youth. Because of its catalytic nature, the 

MMSEZ has already created a demand for the additional infrastructure 

development in the Musina-Makhado Corridor. The completion of the 

multimillion Musina bypass by SANRAL bears testimony to growing 

investment which can be expected in this development node. 

We are currently collaborating with the Department of Water 

and Sanitation to explore sustainable and long-term solutions 

for security of water supply. This initiative will soon translate 

into water schemes that will make water shortages a thing of 

the past. We are pleased that our project is beginning to attract 

technology-driven industrialisation projects in various sectors such 

as the pharmaceutical industry, renewable energy, automotive, agroprocessing, 

logistics and more. There is no doubt that the MMSEZ 

will soon become a smart zone driven by modern technology with a 

commitment to sustainable development. 

During 2023, October Transport Month, we will launch a partnership 

with the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA) to explore 

collaboration in various areas to ease freight movement in the corridor 

and the Beitbridge Boarder Post in particular. Our partnership will also 

look into areas of regional skills development, development of a state-ofthe-art 

truck-stop facility and a vehicle-pound facility to promote crossborder 

road traffic law enforcement. Hot on the heels of the Presidential 

launch of the Border Management Authority (BMA) in our backyard, we 

will collaborate with the BMA to support our logistics industry players to 

become the immediate beneficiaries of the envisaged One-Stop Border 

Post currently being conceptualised and implemented by the agency. 

We will soon make a public announcement about our massive 

roll-out of a skills development programme in partnership with SETAs 

and the local Technical and Vocational Training (TVET) college. Our 

commitment to turn the tide against unemployment among the 

youth is unwavering. Musina Makhado Special Economic Zone is 

open for business, and we invite investors and industrialists to join us 

in partnership to exploit the game-changing opportunities available. ■

The Musina Makhado Special Economic 

Zone is making progress 

Ground is being broken on a variety of projects and northern Limpopo is 

gearing up for the expected boost that the zone will bring to all citizens. 

The Musina Makhado Special 

Economic Zone (MMSEZ) 

is getting into gear and 

powering ahead. Infrastructure 

for the zone and surrounding towns is 

being installed. 

Conceived as a major catalyst for 

economic growth, localisation and as 

a means of stimulating new economic 

sectors such as mineral beneficiation, 

the MMSEZ has already passed several 

hurdles in terms of legislation and 

approvals and is attracting attention from 

the investor community. 

Major infrastructure investments 

have been made, and are continuing 

to be made, within the two sites of the 

zone and within local communities. 

The launch of a Renewable Energy 

Strategy for the zone, in partnership 

with the United States Agency for 

International Development, has been 

announced. 

Energy is at the heart of the business 

case of the MMSEZ, but many attractive 

investment opportunities in a wide 

variety of sectors are available. 

SOUTH SITE 

ENERGY AND METALLURGY 

Solar Plant 

Steel Plant 

Stainless Steel Plant 

Coke Heat Recovery Plant 

Pig Iron Plant 

Ferrochrome Plant 

Ferromanganese Plant 

Vanadium Plant 

Lime Plant 

MMSEZ BUSINESS CASE 

NORTH SITE 

AGRO-PROCESSING 

Food Processing Facility 

Fresh Produce Handling 

Canning Facility 

Timber Processing 

LOGISTICS 

Logistics Services 

Warehousing 

Distribution 

Container Yard 

Vehicle Distribution 

Cold Storage 

Bonded Warehouses 

MANUFACTURING 

Electromechanical Operations 

OE Manufacturing Plants 

Automobile Centre 

Component Manufacturing 

Fertilisers 

Agro-chemicals 

Petro-chemicals 

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES 

OUTSIDE THE ZONE 

Industrial infrastructure 

Real estate 

Retail 

Hotels 

Corporate offices | Logistics services 

Regional fuel terminal | Industrial chemicals 

INSIDE THE ZONE 

Pharmaceuticals | ICT/4IR 

Automotive and components manufacturing 

and distribution | Renewable energy 

Musina Dam 

Renewable energy 

High-speed 

rail project 

Education and training | New airport development 

Health: private hospital 

Breaking ground at 

the MMSEZ 

Mobile offices on the 

MMSEZ site

2023

2023

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AL

2023 

Agro-processing and manufacturing 

Name: Mr Tshilidza Mathobo 

T.Mathobo@mmsez.co.za 

Tel: +27 66 587 2061 

Mineral Beneficiation 

Name: Mr Zweni Masilela 

Z.Masilela@mmsez.co.za 

Tel: +27 66 173 6727 

Executive Manager: Investment Promotion 

Name: Mr R. Zitha 

R.Zitha@mmsez.co.za 

Tel: +27 791 391 8188

MESSAGE 

Ensuring success for local businesses 

in all spheres 

By Kagiso Moncho, General Manager: Northern Region, MTN Business 

face of persistent loadshedding. The MTN network 

is at the heart of all our ICT solutions, enabling 

organisations of all sizes and from all sectors to 

continue growing. Augmented by the ongoing 

rollout of our 5G network, our comprehensive 

solution stack helped public and private sector 

organisations enhance their operations over 

the past year, and 2023 has already seen local 

companies using technology to find new ways to 

do things to accommodate for the challenges they 

are facing in their industries. 

When it comes to South Africa’s 

economic growth, most people 

don’t think of the Northern Region. 

However, Limpopo is home to 

some of the country’s most vital industries. 

From mining to manufacturing, agriculture and 

our power infrastructure, Limpopo helps keep 

the country running effectively while producing 

around 7.3% of our GDP. 

Unfortunately, our region has its fair share of 

challenges, but MTN is proud to be able to say that 

we are actively investing in solutions that we hope 

will help overcome some of them. In addition to 

expanding our network, MTNSA is investing R1.5- 

billion to ensure availability and resilience in the 

Network improvements 

The improvements we are making to our network 

– and through those, to all of our offerings – are 

the latest step towards achieving MTN’s Ambition 

2025: To provide leading digital solutions for 

Africa’s progress. As an important region that is 

part of the six that make up MTN South Africa’s 

focus areas, Limpopo is front and centre of how 

we are approaching the digital future. 

As MTN’s 5G network and IoT ecosystem 

grow, this province will come to be a technology 

leader. Already, local mines and farms are 

looking at different ways that sensor-connected 

systems can help make them more efficient, 

and we are leveraging our capabilities and 

partnerships to help them create roadmaps to 

achieve their goals. 

SMMEs, which are the bedrock of South 

Africa’s economic growth, are also turning to 

technology to stay competitive. We believe 

that SMMEs should have access to the same 

kind of support that large organisations do and 

MTN is proud to be assisting local SMMEs with 

their technology requirements, whether that is 

access to affordable connectivity solutions, cloud 


24

MESSAGE 

services like Microsoft Teams and Office 365, or 

access to digital financial services. 

MTN has been helping facilitate payments in 

Limpopo for many years, providing small businesses 

with an easy way to send and receive money. 

Mobile Money continues to grow, with millions of 

people in the region using it on a daily basis. 

When the going gets tough, the tough get our 

support 

MTN has long been the supplier of choice for 

the public sector in the Limpopo Province, and 

our focus will remain on helping government 

agencies improve their service delivery in 

2023. We already have existing long-term 

relationships with the Department of Education 

and the Department of Health, along with 

many municipalities, and are looking forward to 

growing those partnerships in the future. 

We have implemented plans to enable 

better access to connectivity in rural areas, 

further assisting service delivery mandates in the 

Limpopo Province – not to mention helping more 

people access the tools they need for modern 

connected life. To that end, we have ramped up 

investment into preventative measures to ensure 

the resilience of the network. 

In addition to loadshedding, the MTN network 

has to contend with the threats of vandalism and 

copper theft. We have therefore taken a holistic 

approach to improving network availability. 

This includes investment into, and deployment 

of, additional backup battery and generator 

capacity, as well as power contingencies such 

as 24x7x365 monitoring and response to ensure 

there is no downtime. MTN has also implemented 

software-defined power-saving features on base 

stations during higher stages of loadshedding to 

ensure 100% availability. 

MTN is also embarking on strategic and 

tactical plans to reduce reliance on the Eskom 

power grid so that future bouts of loadshedding 

won’t impact service availability. These plans 

include the implementation of bespoke solutions 

that are less reliant on traditional network 

topologies, collaboration with strategic partners 

to offer additional resilience and increased 

network capacity to cater for the increase in 

demand during loadshedding periods. We are 

also accelerating fibre distribution and optimising 

existing fibre routes. 

As local businesses continue to deal with the 

impact of loadshedding, not to mention having 

to find solutions to help them stay ahead in a 

challenging economic environment, MTN is 

proud to be able to provide the support and relief 

they need to remain competitive. Limpopo will 

continue to be a strong focus area for us in the 

year ahead, and a long time to come. 

This is why our local team, led by Norman 

Tshikovhele, is dedicated to enabling Limpopo’s 

business community in the face of ever-changing 

consumer and market trends. 

Meet Norman Tshikovhele 

With years of marketing and sales experience 

gained across local and multinational corporates, 

Norman Tshikovhele looks after a team that 

includes international mining houses, public sector 

organisations and SMMEs. His previous multinational 

client portfolio includes Anglo American PLC, RAM, 

DSV, Dimension Data, Exxaro and Ericsson. 

With extensive experience in the 

development and implementation of account 

sales strategies, retentions and acquisitions, 

Norman is a seasoned leader. He studied Business 

Development Management at the Gordon 

Business School as well as Internet of Things (IoT) 

at NWU, CCNA Routing and Switching, CCNA 

Voice, CCNP and CCVP at Torque IT. 

Norman has 19 years’ experience in the 

telecommunication industry. He started his 

career in 2007 at MTN as an account manager 

with a focus on international mining customers. 

He left MTN in 2016 and joined Telkom/BCX for 

a year before joining Vodafone. At Vodafone he 

was responsible for international public sector 

accounts such as the United Nations and its 22 

agencies, providing first-level support and crossselling 

converged technologies. ■ 

Email: Norman.Tshikovhele@mtn.com 


INTERVIEW 

Committed to transforming 

the economy 

The Regional Manager of the Industrial Development Corporation in Limpopo, 

Mashweu Matsiela, explains how products such as SME Connect help to get 

entrepreneurs on their feet in sectors such as tourism 

Do you have offices outside Polokwane? 

In more remote areas of Lephalale, the Vhembe district or 

Burgersfort, we work through our sister company, the Small 

Enterprise Development Agency (Seda). 

What are the main sectors that you operate in? 

Agriculture, mining and tourism. 

Mashweu Matsiela, 

Regional Manager, 

IDC Limpopo 

BIOGRAPHY 

Mashweu completed his 

undergraduate studies in Biological 

Sciences at the University of Stirling 

in Scotland. He holds an MBA 

qualification from the University of 

Pretoria, including a Post Graduate 

Diploma in Company Direction 

(GIMT) and an Executive Development 

Programme (GIBS) which he obtained 

with distinction. Within the IDC he has 

been account manager for Metals SBU, 

Agro-Industries and Franchising SBU. 

He was also Senior Post Investment 

Associate (PIMD) and Manager: Equity 

Investments. He was Regional Manager 

(Mpumalanga) until 2019. 

Are there limits to how big a project can be? 

Overall, the IDC is not limited by the size of projects. However, as the 

Small Business Finance and Regions (SBF Limpopo), we have a threshold 

of R20-million. Accordingly, we mainly look at providing funding support 

for SMEs. When bigger deals come in, we work together with a sectorspecific 

unit at head office, for example, the Tourism Unit, which might 

support something like a hotel project in northern Limpopo. 

Are you able to tell me more about that tourism project? 

We are busy with the initial assessment of a hotel in Musina, a 

development node because of mining activities there. De Beers 

has started producing from their revamped mine, there is a coal 

mine there and it is the home of the Musina-Makhado SEZ. The 

project came through the Venetia Mine Enterprise Development 

Programme (EDP). The entrepreneur was previously managing 

a mine accommodation facility; now she wants to put up a 

boutique hotel. 

Would this project fall under SME Connect? 

Indeed. SME Connect is a collaborative initiative which is anchored 

on three levers. Marketing is the apex of a triangle, with the other 

legs being finance and business support. 

A corporate will develop people who are providing services under 

its Supplier Development Programme (SDP) or they will help develop 

a business through the EDP. Through SME Connect, the IDC can plug 

in any leg of the triangle that needs support and the corporates can 

do the same. The main thing we ask from the corporates is for them to 

provide the market at the apex of the triangle. 

Like an offtake agreement? 

Exactly. On the back of that contract with the corporate we can 

be comfortable as a funder because the small business has a 


26

INTERVIEW 

guaranteed market. It is tangible, 

it is not a gamble in the dark. 

It is a collaborative model in 

that the IDC provides funding and 

business support and the corporate 

provides the market. However, 

because it is also interactive the 

corporates will sometimes have 

business support or funding 

available from their own ESD 

funds so we are able to exploit the 

synergies between us. 

Does the IDC mainly do loans or 

does it take equity in ventures in 

which it invests? 

The IDC mainly provides loans to businesses. 

The equity is an exception but since we are a 

development institution, we would from time 

to time assist the client in terms of cash flow. 

With a BEE, youth or women project we might 

give a loan for a portion of the amount and take 

another portion of the amount as equity. In the 

end, when the business is on its feet, then the IDC 

would be repaid the equity portion. That makes 

it more manageable in terms of the cash flow of 

the business. 

The IDC takes equity in strategic projects, so for 

example in Sasol or Columbus Stainless, the steel 

company. In Limpopo we have board representation 

at Westfalia and a stake in Merensky Timber. These 

stakes in strategic projects ensure that the IDC 

remains sustainable. When these companies pay 

dividends, it goes back into the pot and then we can 

continue to fund new projects. 

Is beneficiation of Limpopo’s resources a priority? 

That’s our space. We want more value-add 

projects so we will fund any processing relating to 

agriculture. For instance, macadamia and avocado 

processing, de-husking, packaging and cold 

rooms – we will fund all of those things. There’s a 

mining project that we’re looking at up north which 

involves the mining of gold and it will be processed 

up to a level. 

Which sector has recovered best after Covid? 

Tourism went from the extreme of being hit hard to 

now having quite a big recovery. Mining is the other 

one. Coincidentally the accommodation space in 

Musina is driven mainly by the mining activities in the 

area because when people fly in, they want to stay 

somewhere. New products are coming to market 

as in the example I gave. When I had a meeting in 

Burgersfort recently, I struggled for accommodation. 

The closest I could find was in Mashishing so there 

is a need. The IDC has had an approach about a 

hotel investment in Burgersfort. We have also been 

approached by a mine through SME Connect 

relating to two lodges that want to expand. 

In last year’s journal we had a story on the fourstar 

Premier Inn being built in Thohoyandou. 

Indeed. That project is well advanced. IDC teams 

are in that area now because of a glamping project 

for which we have approved funding. They want 

people to camp near the river; it is something for the 

adventurous tourist. 

Please tell us about programmes that empower 

youth, women and black-owned businesses. 

That is really something that defines us. We are there 

for the transformation of the economy in terms of 

bringing on previously disadvantaged people, mainly 

youth, women and black industrialists in general and 

people with disabilities. Some of our products are 

earmarked for that purpose. We have the Youth Fund 

where the IDC has put aside R1-billion and loans are 

priced at prime minus three. That hotel in Musina is 

100% women owned. We really pride ourselves on 

this sort of thing. ■ 

27 

LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2023/24

KEY SECTORS 

Overviews of the main economic 

sectors of Limpopo 

Agriculture 30 

Mining 32 

Energy 40 

Water 42 

Construction and property 43 

ICT 44 

Tourism 46 

Transport and logistics 50 

Development finance and SMME support 54 

Education and training 56

The unveiling of the world’s largest hydrogen-powered mine haul truck at Anglo American’s 

Mogalakwena PGM mine in Limpopo was an event of global significance. The 2MW truck is 

part of Anglo American’s drive to be carbon-neutral by 2040. PHOTO: Anglo American

OVERVIEW 

Agriculture 

The southern hemisphere’s biggest tomato producer is planting avocados. 

Everything ZZ2 does, it does in large measure. The 

company has now invested in avocados. 

South Africa’s best-known tomato producer ZZ2 has entered 

the avocado category to further diversify its product range. 

ZZ2 grows a large assortment of fruits including 

mangoes, onions, dates, cherries, apples, pears, stone 

fruit, almonds and blueberries. The company’s new R128-million 

processing facility for avocados and tomatoes is complete. With 

floor space of 11 200m² the facility is large, but then everything 

about ZZ2 tends to be on a big scale. There are ambitious plans 

to increase market share in avocados, a highly sought after and 

popular export product. 

A joint venture between ZZ2, Mission Produce and Criterion 

Africa Partners will see more than 1 000ha of avocado orchards 

developed, but ZZ2 will continue to develop other orchards 

independently. So far, the Selokwe Agri JV has planted 250ha. 

The EU market is seen as having the best potential, with average 

per capita consumption in that area currently less than half that of 

the US. South Africa has an edge over Peru in that the season begins 

before the South American’s peak period and the aim is to supply the 

popular Hass variety all year round. Core Fruit has been contracted to 

handle the logistics and transportation of product to Europe. 

A collaboration between Glencore Ferroalloys and AgriSETA has seen 

20 people from Steelpoort exposed to a new set of agricultural skills. 

The skills programmes were provided by Khuduthamaga 

SECTOR INSIGHT 

The National Empowerment 

Fund has put R32-million into 

an abattoir. 

Consulting (Pty) Ltd which 

offers a variety of courses 

in animal, poultry and plant 

production, landscaping and 

mixed farming systems. At 

the March 2023 graduation 

ceremony, young people 

who had completed the 

course received a Certificate 

of Competence in Farming 

Production and Systems to help 

them realise their full potential 

and expand their opportunities 

in the agricultural sector. 

Glencore Ferroalloys runs 

Enterprise Development Hubs 

where innovation is encouraged. 

Local farmers might aim to supply 

food by doing hydroponics 

farming, for example. 

The National Empowerment 

Fund has agreed to support 

the Lebowakgomo Abattoir, a 

poultry project of the Provincial 

Government, in the amount 

of R32-million. The project is 

designed to assist small-scale 

farmers and broiler producers. 

There will be 150 jobs created 

at the abattoir and many 

more along the value chain. A 

revival plan for Zebediela Citrus 

Estate is being implemented. A 

partnership agreement between 

the Bjatladi Community 

Property Association and the 


30 

PHOTO: ZZ2

OVERVIEW 

VKB Group runs eight silos in Limpopo. 

Humansdorp Cooperative has been signed to revive the orchards 

while the Impact Catalyst programme is providing help in drawing up 

a long-term plan for the sustainable development of the estate. The 

contribution of the Social Employment Fund, implemented by Impact 

Catalyst, created more than 600 jobs at the project. 

Provincial government efforts to promote specific value chains 

in different areas are bearing fruit as various types of infrastructure 

are rolled out to support small-scale farmers. 

Farmer Production Support Units provide a cluster of services 

which include livestock auction facilities, mechanisation services 

and a training centre for farmers. These areas have been targeted: 

Sekhukhune District: grain and cotton; Mopani District: vegetables; 

Waterberg District: red meat; Capricorn District: potatoes. 

Since the Koba-Tlala Production Brigade Project was initiated 

in 2022/23, the South African National Defence Force procured 

over R1-million worth of fresh produce from the farmers involved. 

An additional 32 collection points have been established to allow 

small-scale farmers near military centres to sell their products. 

Cotton growing is experiencing a renewal in the province. 

The Limpopo Provincial Government’s programme for revitalising 

irrigation schemes is helping. In Ephraim Mogale Municipality 

about 345 hectares of cotton has been planted which will benefit 

74 small-scale farmers in the area. 

Export contributions 

The percentage contribution of Limpopo agriculture to national 

agriculture is 7.6% although its contribution to provincial GDP is 

just 2.3%. Agro-processing has enormous potential to expand in 

every subsector. 

Limpopo’s fruits and vegetables form an important part of South 

Africa’s export basket and more than 45% of the annual turnover of 

the Joburg Market originates in the fertile province. 

Companies like ZZ2 are major contributors to the country’s annual 

production of 120 000 tons of avocados. Of the current crop, about half 

is currently produced in two Limpopo regions, Letaba and Tzaneen. 

ONLINE RESOURCES 

Citrus Growers Association: www.cga.co.za 

Cotton South Africa: www.cottonsa.org.za 

Macadamias South Africa: www.samac.org.za 

South African Subtropical Growers’ Association: www.subtrop.co.za 

Exports are rising exponentially. 

In response to this demand, and 

the potential of the Chinese 

market, almost 1 000ha per year 

of new land is being planted with 

avocados in South Africa. 

The same amount of 

new macadamia planting is 

underway every year, according 

to Macadamias South Africa 

(SAMAC), adding to the existing 

19 000ha. The other big sellers 

are mangoes and tomatoes. 

Limpopo grows threequarters 

of South Africa’s 

mangoes and two-thirds of its 

tomatoes. The Waterberg District 

produces large quantities of 

red meat while Capricorn has 

potatoes in abundance, and 

Vhembe in the north specialises 

in citrus and subtropical fruits. 

Mopani has those fruits too 

– and the Mopani worm. The 

Sekhukhune region in the 

south-east produces grain and 

the marula fruit that goes into 

Amarula Cream liqueur. 

Westfalia is another huge 

enterprise, part of the Hans 

Merensky Group, and it is the 

world’s largest avocado grower. 

It also produces significant 

quantities of mango, litchi, 

citrus and macadamia and has 

three agri-processing plants in 

the province. Greenway Farms 

supplies about 45% of the 

fresh-market carrots consumed 

in Southern Africa under the 

Rugani brand. 

VKB Milling runs white 

maize mills in Mokopane, 

Lydenburg and Louis Trichardt 

and sells via the Magnifisan 

brand. VKB also has eight silos 

and 29 retail outlets in the 

Limpopo region. ■ 

PHOTO: VKB 

31 


OVERVIEW 

Mining 

De Beers’ giant conversion project has started producing. 


The Limpopo Economic 

Development Agency owns 

Corridor Mining Resources. 

De Beers has started producing diamonds from its revamped 

Venetia Mine near Musina. 

In July 2023, as scheduled, De Beers Group celebrated the beginning 

of production at its Venetia Mine. 

The long-term, $2.3-billion conversion project of the diamond 

mine to an underground mine began in 2012 and will extend the 

life of the mine to 2045 or beyond. The mechanised underground 

operation will deliver up to seven-million tons of kimberlite ore per 

year to produce four-million carats of diamonds. Construction of 

the mine, which employs 4 300 local people, is now 70% complete. 

Mantengu has made a R700-million investment commitment in 

a chrome and platinum group metal (PGM) mine near Thabazimbi. 

Mantengu was previously known as Mining Restoration Investment 

and operated as an environmental-services company which worked 

on the environmental impacts created by the mining industry. 

The Langpan Mine, which reportedly has a chrome and 

PGM reserve statement of 2.17-million tons and a valuation of 

R851-million, also has a processing plant which forms chrome 

concentrate from the chrome ore. The by-product has a high 

concentration of PGMs. 

The R1.2-billion Sefateng Chrome Mine under development 

in the Sekhukhune District has so far created 350 jobs during the 

construction phase and will provide a long-term employment for 

600 people once production begins. 

Corridor Mining Resources, a diversified mining resources 

company wholly owned by the Provincial Government through 

the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA), is invested 

in a project where the equity partner, Sedibelo, is assembling 

R1-billion to upgrade the 

resource.Limpopo’s 2022 

Mining and Energy Conference 

covered a number of issues 

relevant to the mining sector 

and laid out the investment 

case for the province. 

African Rainbow Minerals 

has purchased the Bokoni 

platinum group metals mine 

for R3.5-billion. Bokoni is 

located near ARM’s Modikwa 

and Two Rivers PGM mines and 

gives the ARM more palladium 

to mine. 

Commodity prices buoyed 

the mining sector during the 

time of Covid-19. Rhodium, 

palladium, platinum and gold 

collectively rose in price by 

more than 50% in the course of 

2021and these are all minerals 

that occur in Limpopo. 

Increased demand for 

platinum group metals has 

been a trend for some years, 

but a huge drop in the global 

price of PGMs has occurred 

since rhodium attracted a price 

of $30 000 an ounce in 2020. In 

September 2023 it was trading 

at $3 500 (Financial Mail). 

Glencore (with a 79.5% 

stake) and Merafe Resources 

jointly own chrome mines 

in Limpopo on the Eastern 

Limb of the Bushveld Igneous 

Complex (Helena, Magareng 

LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2023/24 32 

PHOTO: De Beers Group

OVERVIEW 

Annual Mining & Technical Exhibitions are held in various parts 

of the province every year. 

and Thorncliffe), the Lion smelter complex near Steelpoort and the 

Lydenburg smelter. 

Expansion projects 

Rustenburg Platinum Mines (RPM), a subsidiary of Anglo American 

Platinum (Amplats), has bought the prospecting rights for two 

blocks close to its existing Mogalakwena PGM mine, south-west 

of Polokwane near Mokopane. The blocks were purchased from 

Atlatsa and provide space to expand what is already the biggest 

and richest opencast PGM mine in the world. 

A new mining right has been granted to PTM in the northern 

limb of the Bushveld Complex. The Waterberg project will 

be operated by PTM on behalf of Waterberg Joint Venture 

Resources which comprises Mnombo Wethu Consultants, Japan 

Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, Hanwa Company, PTM 

and Impala Platinum. 

Implats intends expanding production at its Two Rivers PGM 

mine by 180 000oz. The project will take four years and cost 

R5.7-billion. 

The soils of Limpopo are rich in platinum group metals, coal, 

copper, diamonds, gold, iron ore, nickel, rare earth minerals and tin. 

Limpopo contributes 4% of coal mining in South Africa, 

according to the National Department of Mineral Resources 

and Energy, but it is likely that within the next three decades, 

the province will be supplying about half of South Africa’s coal. 

Limpopo’s Waterberg coal field is estimated to contain about 

75-billion tons of coal. 

Exxaro’s two coal mines in the Waterberg represent three-billion 

tons of Measured Coal Resources and 1.8-billion tons of Indicated 

Coal Resources. 


Department of Mineral Resources and Energy: www.dmr.gov.za 

Minerals Council South Africa: www.mineralscouncil.org.za 

MTE: www.mteexpos.co.za 

South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: www.saimm.co.za 

This is where Exxaro 

operates its giant Grootegeluk 

Mine. Nine plants serve a 4kmlong 

and 120m-deep opencast 

mine on a 1 200ha site. 

Originally intended to supply 

the nearby power plants, 

Exxaro is now eyeing the 

export market with countries 

such as Ethiopia, Egypt and 

Pakistan potential markets. 

Mineral beneficiation is a 

key component of the Musina- 

Makhado Special Economic 

Zone (MMSEZ) in the far north 

of Limpopo and coal is needed 

for the making of steel. 

The planned Fetakgomo- 

Tubatse SEZ will focus on the 

beneficiation of platinum 

group metals, magnetite, 

vanadium and chrome. The 

other strong mineral focus in 

the eastern part of the province 

is at Phalaborwa where Palabora 

Copper, a subsidiary of Palabora 

Mining Company, produces 

about 45 000 tons of copper 

annually, most of which is sold 

domestically. It runs a smelter 

and a refinery and also mines 

magnetite, vermiculite, sulphuric 

acid and nickel sulphate. 

The popular annual 

Mining & Technical Exhibition 

(MTE) visits several Limpopo 

destinations every year. The 

MTE Lephalale event, due to 

be held in October 2023, will 

have a coal focus due to the 

huge reserves of coal that are 

in the area and the presence 

of Exxaro’s Grootgeluk 

mine. MTE, a division of IMD 

Conferences Exhibitions and 

Workshops, celebrates its 30th 

birthday in 2023. ■ 

PHOTO: RS Components 

33 


FOCUS 

Promoting employee 

home ownership and 

building social cohesion 

Northam Platinum’s affordable housing scheme at Lesedi Village is changing lives. 

A 

new housing project, Lesedi Village, is 

being established by Northam Platinum 

Holdings Limited (Northam Platinum) 

and will soon change the lives of many 

employees and surrounding communities who 

aspire to own decent yet affordable housing. 

Through the Social and Labour Plan (SLP) and 

the many housing projects launched locally and 

in labour sending areas, Northam has proven to 

prioritise the wellbeing of its people. Affordable 

housing and decent living conditions is a critical 

component of the Mining Charter, and Northam 

Zondereinde has dedicated the next five years to 

home ownership in line with the mine’s Social and 

Labour Plan (SLP). 

This is to assist employees of Northam who 

might be faced with challenges in entering the 

property market due to affordability or other 

reasons. The houses are sold at cost, and therefore 

have a high return on investment value for 

employees. Northam Platinum’s housing scheme 

also aims to build social cohesion among families, 

another attempt to improve employee morale and 

to keep families together. 

As Gerrie Geertsema, Northam Platinum 

Accommodation Strategy Consultant explains, 

“The company offers employees 30% interest-free 

loans to encourage home ownership and as part 

of its retention strategy. We also assist employees 

with bond applications and clearing of credit 

scores through an external party.” 

The plan provides for a total of 240 housing 

units to be constructed in phases, and is located 

close to amenities such as schools, shops and public 

transport. Phase 1, consisting of 72 units, is currently 

being developed and made available to the market. 

Of the 72 units, 32 are being built by a main 

contractor and four local Small, Medium and 


34

Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) are constructing five 

units each. To ensure that the project is executed 

within an agreed schedule, on budget and in 

terms of quality specifications, the mine has 

made available the services of a Clerk of Works, 

Johan Rossouw, as well as the main contractor to 

support the four SMMEs. 

Each of the four local SMMEs has a contract 

in excess of R3-million, of which three are 

women-owned. These companies are Ayathoma 

Construction, Ditiro Tebogo and Masedi Construction. 

These women have shown tremendous diligence 

and have paced themselves, producing high-quality 

houses that Northam is proud to hand over to its 

employees. The fourth contractor is Setquip, which 

was supported in the construction of Lefika Village, 

Northam’s first home-ownership project. 

The project seeks to achieve the following: 

• Make home ownership accessible and affordable. 

• Promote integrated family lifestyles for employees 

who would otherwise live in single units, with the 

rest of their families located in other provinces. 

• Integrate mine employees into local communities. 

• Drive investment in property that will sustain 

employees even after their employment on 

the mine. 

• Contribute meaningfully to communities 

around which we operate. 

The Northam Platinum Board of Directors 

visited the site to mark the first phase of the 

project completion with a tree-planting symbol. 

Emily Kgosi, chairperson of the social, ethics, human 

resources and transformation committee, with 

Temba Mvusi, Northam Platinum’s independent 

non-executive chairman. 

ABOUT NORTHAM PLATINUM 

Northam is an independent, empowered, integrated 

PGM producer. Our strategy is to grow production down 

the cost curve while reducing operational risk. Our 

aspirational target is to produce one million oz 4E pa. 

Northam’s activities are integrated, from underground 

mining through to Concentrating, Smelting and Base 

Metal Removal. Precious Metal Refining is outsourced. 

Since inception, Northam’s precious metals have been 

refined by Heraeus Deutschland GmbH & Co KG in terms 

of a toll refining agreement. 

With the recent expansion of output, Northam has 

recently contracted Johnson Matthey’s precious metals 

services to diversify its refining capacity. Northam wholly 

owns and operates the following mines: 

Zondereinde 

Zondereinde has reliably produced PGMs for over 

40 years in the Limpopo Province at this, the world’s 

deepest platinum mine. The group pioneered innovative 

technology at Zondereinde to mine successfully at these 

depths. Given recent expansion at 3#, Zondereinde 

employs more than 11 000 people, mainly from the 

local area. 

Booysendal 

The Booysendal property near Mashishing is underlain 

by a resource of >100 million PGM ounces and hosts the 

modern, mechanised North and South modular mining 

complexes on the property. This massive resource lends 

itself to brownfields exploration and renders this a long-life 

mining operation providing meaningful work and 8 000 

valuable jobs in a remote area of the country. 

Eland 

The Eland mine near Brits is ramping up to steady state 

production of 180 000 oz pa. The total capex investment 

in this mine is estimated to reach R4.5-billion by 2028. ■

FOCUS 

Marula uplifts its communities 

A new science laboratory is making 

a difference in Mashisi. 

Business Development Centre (BDC) to support 

host community businesses with enterprise and 

supplier development. Local companies can 

access a range of free services, including access to 

finance funding information and information on 

request for quotations and tenders, support related 

to intellectual property and secretarial services, 

accounting, tax administration, human resources 

and sales and marketing advice. 

Marula is 73% owned by Implats and 

was one of the first mining operations 

developed on the relatively undercapitalised 

eastern limb of the 

Bushveld Complex in South Africa. Located in 

Limpopo, Marula comprises two decline shaft 

systems and a concentrator plant. 

Marula is committed to delivering a lasting 

positive contribution to local communities and those 

affected by our activities. The mine contributes to its 

communities both directly and indirectly in terms of 

job creation, business opportunities and community 

infrastructure development. 

Marula has invested more than R1.3- 

billion on its social and labour plan (SLP) and 

beyond-compliance projects. Its local economic 

development and infrastructure projects focus 

on building, upgrading or supplying schools, 

water, electrification and roads. Marula opened a 

Supporting a future generation of leaders 

Marula, together with the Mashisi Community Trust, 

using dividends generated by the Makgomo Chrome 

joint venture, built and equipped a new science 

laboratory at Makgamathu Secondary School. The 

Mashisi Community Trust built the laboratory and 

Marula provided the laboratory furniture, apparatus, 

learning materials and chemicals. Marula also 

supported the plumbing work and assisted with 

teacher orientation. More than 2 800 learners from 

six local secondary schools are benefitting from the 

beyond compliance project, which, together with 

the science teachers, will provide a solid foundation in 

mathematics and science. 

Marula also rebuilt the Madikane Early Development 

Centre, with a strong foundation and structural design 

that ensures the school can fully serve its purpose. The 

new facility has two classrooms, each fitted with a nap/ 

rest area, two restrooms for the children, one restroom 

for the teachers, an office and a kitchen. 

To enrich the education learners receive, Marula 

runs an annual Grade 12 programme to encourage 

and support learners during the final stretch before 

their matric exams. The initiative has resulted in 

encouraging improvements in the performance of 

the schools around Marula. ■ 

CONTACT INFO 

Alice Lourens, Group Head: Corporate Communication 

Tel: 011 731 9033 

Email: alice.lourens@implats.co.za 


36

Creating a better future 

through the way we do business 

Skills Development 

Access to 

quality education 

Ensuring efficient 

water re-use. 

Educational 

support projects 

Bringing our values driven approach 

to everything we do. 

Coole Adv 19006

FOCUS 

Investments with a vision 

into the future 

Glencore Ferroalloys is investing in Limpopo and South Africa. 

The Thuthuzela Care Centre at Dilokong, erected 

by Glencore in partnership with the National 

Prosecuting Authority. 

Glencore’s ferroalloys business is one 

of the world’s largest integrated 

producers of chrome ore, ferrochrome 

and vanadium. 

Our chromite assets are held through a majority 

stake in the Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture and 

our vanadium assets through a majority stake in the 

Rhovan Pooling and Sharing Venture. 

The larger Glencore group also markets the 

products we produce at our operations, most of 

which are located across the Bushveld Igneous 

Complex of the North West and Limpopo provinces. 

The vision that sets us apart 

Our role in South Africa as a responsible operator is 

to engage with our employees, local communities 

and stakeholders in order that our operations benefit 

those in the areas in which we operate. In 2010, we 

invested over R100-million to build and develop a 

Mining Supply Park in the Steelpoort area of Limpopo 

that affords various companies the opportunity to 

utilise this infrastructure to conduct their business in 

an area where comparable developments are scarce. 

The aim of the establishment of the Mining Supply 

Park is to ensure that local companies that have access 

to the Mining Supplier Park can partner with local 

entrepreneurs or established larger corporations, to 

foster local economic activity in the area through sharing 

knowledge, skills and experience. To do so allows not 

only access to procurement and related opportunities 

at our adjacent operations, but also to those of other 

mining companies and industrial operations in the 

wider area. We are proud to highlight that through the 

robust business activity since its inception, the Mining 

Supply Park has been instrumental in driving economic 

investment in the province. 

In collaboration with the Department of Trade, 

Industry and Competition (dtic), the Limpopo 

Economic Development Agency (LEDA) and the 

Limpopo Provincial Government, the Mining Supply 

Park is well positioned as the anchor point in the 

development of the 1 220-hectare Fetakgomo- 

Tubatse Special Economic Zone (SEZ) which is 

currently under establishment in the province. 

Once established, the SEZ will be situated within 

the jurisdiction of the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local 

Municipality in the larger Sekhukhune District and is 

located on the boundary of Glencore Ferroalloys’ Lion 

Ferrochrome smelter along the R555 national road. 

In addition, Glencore Ferroalloys, in collaboration 

with other mining peers operating in Sekhukhune, 

has commenced with a R127-million project for the 

refurbishment of the existing steel bridge while a 

new double-lane concrete bridge in Ga-Malekane 

is being constructed. We envisage that this vital 

infrastructure development in the area will further 

serve as an enabler for economic development. 


26

A refreshed outlook on Enterprise and Supplier 

Development 

Glencore Ferroalloys is committed to supporting 

local entrepreneurs across various sectors to bring 

about sustainable impact. We are optimistic that 

our ESD programme equips these entrepreneurs 

to enable economic activity of other community 

members through a ripple-effect, thereby 

transforming the livelihoods of members of the 

wider community. 

Our three ESD business incubation hubs have 

been instrumental in building the capacity of 

local entrepreneurs with some attending classes 

at the Gordon Institute of Business Science 

(GIBS) to hone their business acumen, capacity 

and experience in understanding the business 

landscape, including risks. 

Furthermore, we focus on localising the 

economy by bringing our procurement closer to 

our operations so that we remain competitive by 

reducing logistics, costs, lead times and more. Among 

others, we recently supported a youth-owned 

business with a front-end loader and an established 

transport business with busses to fulfil their business 

objectives, thereby creating further job opportunities, 

particularly for unemployed youth. 

Future-focused skills and development 

Once the Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZ is established 

we are confident it will drive industrialisation and 

reposition Limpopo Province to propel economic 

growth and development in the area and we are 

accordingly re-focusing our skills and development 

programmes to include broader skills (not just 

mining-related) so that community members may 

become economically active in alternative spheres of 

the local economy either through self-employment 

or formal employment. 

In 2022 we rolled out 16 portable-skills 

programmes. With an 83% completion rate, 645 

community learners received certificates and 60% of 

the participants were female. The skills programmes 

included several engineering courses and business 

management, computer skills, carpentry, welding, 

plastering, tiling and painting, plumbing, road 

maintenance, brick manufacturing and vegetable 

farming, among others. We have also partnered 

with the AgriSETA to offer a programme that 

Conroy van der Westhuizen, Chief Community 

and Social Responsibility Officer. 

aims to create and promote opportunities for 

social, economic and employment growth in agrienterprises 

in both the primary and secondary 

agricultural sectors. Through this collaboration, 58 

beneficiaries have graduated with skills that can be 

deployed in the agricultural sector and in the long 

term, this will bring benefit to their communities. 

Other projects 

In response to President Ramaphosa’s National 

Strategic Plan (NSP) on Gender Based Violence 

(GBV), we were one of the first to respond and joined 

forces with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) 

in the construction of the very first free-standing 

Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) built with brick and 

mortar in Limpopo Province, which offers victims of 

abuse all the required services and assistance they 

need in one fully-fledged facility. Due to the high 

rates of GBV, the importance of such a facility cannot 

be overstated in an area where there simply are no 

other facilities to ensure that victims of these horrific 

offences experience no secondary trauma through 

the examination processes, and that a proper casefile 

is built for successful prosecution. The Dilokong 

TCC is set to be the blueprint for future TCCs in South 

Africa, as it will cater to a victim’s every need, in one 

central place. 

Our legacy 

Aligned to our value of entrepreneurialism, our 

vision for the Mining Supply Park which will be 

instrumental in the Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZ, as well 

as our other projects in Limpopo Province, supports 

the legacy we want to leave behind. Glencore 

Ferroalloys aims to set the benchmark in developing 

our community members, their families and their 

broader communities not only while we are working 

in these areas, but long after resources in the area are 

depleted and our work has come to an end. ■ 

39 27 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2023/24

OVERVIEW 

Energy 

Samancor will supplement its grid 

with solar power. 

Smelters use huge amounts of energy. 

A 

line in the draft 2023/24 Integrated Development Plan of 

the Waterberg District Municipality indicates a new trend in 

the energy landscape of Limpopo. The document includes 

a reference to the Nalane Green Solar Energy Project, which 

has started implementing its R5-billion investment plan. 

A province that has huge reserves of coal is starting to pay serious 

attention to renewable energy. 

The Premier of Limpopo, Chupu Mathabatha, announced 

in the State of the Province Address in February 2023 that a 

“province-specific and comprehensive energy plan to ensure that 

we build a new electricity generation capacity in our province” is 

to be developed. 

Provincial and municipal bodies will be encouraged to promote 

energy-production projects. This might include solar panels being 

retrofitted on official buildings. In the same speech, the launch of a 

Renewable Energy Strategy by Musina-Makhado Special Economic 

Zone, in partnership with the United States Agency for International 

Development, was announced. The strategy will act as a blueprint to 

guide investments in the SEZ’s energy cluster while simultaneously 

promoting sustainable development. 

Samancor intends building a 60MW solar photovoltaic (PV) 

plant to help power its Tubatse ferrochrome smelter complex in the 

Sekhukhune District Municipality. A battery energy storage system 

will also form part of the energy installation. 

GM miner Ivanhoe Mines wants to procure some of the power it 

needs for its Platreef mine from green sources. The mining company 

is building its own 5MW solar plant and has also signed an offtake 

agreement with Renergen to have access to the electricity generated 

by that company’s gas and solar power plant in the Free State 

province. Renergen is powering ahead with a project to produce 


A high school in Modimolle is 

a trend-setter. 

helium and liquified natural gas 

at its Virginia Gas Project. 

Both Special Economic Zones 

in Limpopo are making a play for 

the green hydrogen market. 

The Musina-Makhado SEZ 

has also signed an agreement 

with a Chinese company for 

the first phase of a project 

that will supply 1 000MW of 

solar power to support the 

SEZ’s metallurgical complex. 

The two local municipalities in 

the area have been allocated 

R147-million by provincial 

government for infrastructure 

upgrades, including electricity. 

The Fetakgomo-Tubatse 

SEZ also has intentions of 

attracting green power. One of 

the region’s biggest mineralsprocessing 

companies, 

Samancor Chrome, intends 

building a solar photovoltaic 

(PV) plant that will deliver up 


40 

PHOTO: Northam Platinum

OVERVIEW 

Hoërskool Nylstroom is powering ahead. 

to 60MWp-capacity (Mining Weekly). The current will be converted 

and sent to the Samancor grid in support of the Tubatse ferrochrome 

smelter. The company has appointed consultants to carry out a 

heritage impact assessment on the farm Goudmyn in the Fetakgomo 

Local Municipality. 

A new public-private planning exercise, known as Impact 

Catalyst, is working on focus areas which include biofuels and intends 

to prepare the province to deal with the emergence of new sectors 

such as renewable energy. 

Two of the province’s other big mining companies have also 

announced plans to generate their own power. Exxaro’s huge coal 

mine at Grootgeluk (which supplies Eskom power plants) will be the 

site of an 84MW solar project and Northam Platinum is building a 

10MW solar plant at its Zondereinde smelter. The company expects 

to recoup its investment within four years. At Northam’s Eland Mine 

a PV Solar Project serves the dual purpose of keeping cars cool in the 

car park while also producing energy from the solar panels. The solar 

farm will generate approximately 1 800MWh of electricity annually or 

4% of annual electricity demand and help to reduce emissions. 

The concentrator of the Mogalakwena Mine run by Anglo 

American Platinum (Amplats) relies on constant and reliable 

electricity supply. With energy comprising a significant portion of 

costs and Eskom experiencing difficulties in terms of its debt and 


National Energy Regulator: www.nersa.org.za 

South African Independent Power Producers Association: 

www.saippa.org.za 

South African National Energy Development Institute: 

www.sanedi.org.za 

South African Photovoltaic Industry Association: www.sapvia.co.za 

its ability to supply reliable 

power, the mining company is 

investigating the installation of 

a large solar PV project. 

Implats is already using 

natural gas to supply its refinery 

in Springs. In Phase one of the 

project 20 Doosan fuel cells are 

generating 8MW of power. The 

long-term goal is to generate 

22-30MW. 

A high school in Modimolle 

has signed up with energy-as-aservice 

company Solarise Africa 

for solar panels and a water 

heating system. The Hoërskool 

Nylstroom plant, with a total 

capacity of 49.05kWp and an 

estimated annual production of 

83MWh, will reduce the school’s 

carbon emissions by 3 333 tons 

of CO2 emissions during the 

contract period. 

The company says that 

the integration of heat pump 

solutions sets the project apart, 

enabling as it does the school 

to save an impressive 60MWh 

through the water heating 

system alone. The combined 

energy saved from the water 

heating system and solar PV 

system amounts to143MWh 

annually. 

The financing model allows 

the school to benefit from the 

system without having to lay 

out a huge upfront payment. 

Headmaster Anton du Plessis 

commented on the educational 

benefits of the installation. He 

said, “By harnessing renewable 

energy, we are not only 

reducing our carbon emissions 

but also creating a learning 

environment that empowers 

our youth to actively contribute 

to a greener future.” ■ 

PHOTO: Solarise Africa 


OVERVIEW 

Water 

Major infrastructure projects are underway. 


The Tzaneen Dam wall is 

to be raised. 

Tzaneen Dam. Credit: DWAS 

The National Department of Water and Sanitation has undertaken 

to take on a number of large infrastructure projects in Limpopo, 

including the raising of the Tzaneen Dam wall, Olifants 

River Water Resources Development, bulkwater supply for the 

Musina-Makhado SEZ and the the Nandoni Water Treatment Works. 

The provincial premier has also made a commitment in the State 

of the Province Address that the people of the Giyani region “must 

drink water before the end of the financial year”. Various projects to 

improve water supply in the area have stalled over the years. 

Mopani District Municipality, under which Giyani falls, has 

appointed contractors to lay infrastructure for reticulation so as to be 

ready for the pipelines when they are laid. 

Supplying water for the newly-designated Musina-Makhado 

Special Economic Zone is a critical issue in an area where that 

resource is not plentiful. Talks are underway with Zimbabwe and 

other SADC member states. 

Limpopo has markedly different rainfall patterns in its three 

main geographical regions: the escarpment (sub-humid with annual 

rainfall of more than 700mm); semi-arid middle veld and Highveld; 

and the arid and semi-arid Lowveld. 

The province’s rivers are under threat from the damaging effects 

of the mining industry, power stations, chemicals used in agriculture 

and from sewage treatment in catchment areas. Opportunities 

exist in this sector for innovative solutions. Concern about drought 

conditions and water quality under pressure from mines and industry 

has led to the calling of a Provincial Water and Sanitation Summit. 

The Water and Sanitation Services branch of Polokwane 

Municipality operates five water-purification plants and three 

sewage-purification plants. 


Innovation Hub: www.theinnovationhub.com 

National Department of Water and Sanitation: www.dws.gov.za 

Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority: www.tcta.co.za 

As part of its Regional Water 

Scheme programme, Polokwane 

provides water to the residents 

of the rural areas of Mothapo, 

Mothiba and Makotopong. The 

Capricorn District Municipality 

funds a water-testing laboratory 

on the campus of the University 

of Limpopo. 

Phase 2B of the multi-year 

Olifants River Water Resources 

Development Project is under 

discussion by project manager, 

Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority 

(TCTA), which is looking at 

funding options together 

with the Development Bank 

of Southern Africa (DBSA). The 

project will entail the building 

of a 70km pipeline from Flag 

Boshielo Dam to Pruisen near 

Mokopane. This would improve 

water supplies for mines and 

domestic users. 

Phase 2A of the Mokolo- 

Crocodile Water Augmentation 

Project has stalled. Another 

TCTA project, the MWCAP, is 

designed to transfer water 

from the Crocodile River to the 

Lephalale and Steenbokspan 

areas. Lephalale is the site of 

coal mining and Eskom’s huge 

new power station, Medupi. 

A joint venture comprising 

Bigen Africa Services, Nyeleti 

Consulting and Gibb has been 

contracted to design, construct 

and supervise the project. ■ 

LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2023/24 42

Construction and property 

A subsidy programme is boosting home ownership. 

OVERVIEW 

The Provincial Government of Limpopo’s housing finance 

agency, Risima, together with the Limpopo Department of 

Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional 

Affairs (COGHSTA) has made about R11-million available 

in subsidies to 147 people to enable them to become homeowners. 

The Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme, for those 

earning between R3 501 and R15 000 per month, caters to the 

so-called gap market. Grants are distributed to cover a deposit 

or to make up the shortfall between an asking price and what 

the applicant can afford. The South African Affordable Residential 

Developers Association (SAARDA) caters to the gap market. 

A non-mortgaged financial product assists government 

employees to get a foot on the property ladder. Risima is also 

exploring cooperation with mining houses such as Exxaro, 

Amplats and Northam at Thabazimbi. 

Premier Chupu Stanley Mathabatha handed over the site for a 

new hospital to be built in Polokwane in June 2023. Funded to the 

tune of R4-billion by the National Department of Health, Limpopo 

Central Academic Hospital, the 25ha campus on Webster Street is 

next to the site of what will become the School of Medicine of the 

University of Limpopo. 

The provincial government has appointed 41 engineering 

consultants to design roads in all five districts of the province, 

which will mean work for construction companies and contractors. 

Clinics are also being built, providing more work opportunities in 

the construction sector. 

A four-star Premier Hotels property under construction in 

Thohoyandou is being built by Nakiseni Business Enterprise and 

should provide about 480 jobs in the first phase. This includes 

labourers, artisans and project managers. 

The Enterprise Development and Finance Division of the 

Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) offers loans 

to businesses in the construction and property sector and 

runs specialised training in vocational skills such as bricklaying, 

plastering, carpentry, plumbing, electrical and welding. 

Thavhani Mall, pictured, is operating in Thohoyandou in a 

bigger development called Thavhani City. The 27ha site will 


Black Business Council in Built Environment: www.bbcbe.org 

Construction Industry Development Board: www.cidb.org.za 

South African Property Owners Association: www.sapoa.org.za 


Construction of the Limpopo 

Academic Hospital is due to 

start in 2023. 

Credit: MDS Architecture 

eventually include an office 

park, automotive-related 

businesses, private healthcare, 

a library, an information 

centre and a sports stadium. 

Its anchor retail tenants 

include Woolworths, Edgars, 

Pick n Pay and SuperSpar. 

The partners in the R1-billion 

project are Thavhani Property 

Investments, Vukile Property 

Fund and Flanagan & Gerard 

Property Development. 

Five libraries are under 

construction in the province 

and four new libraries 

are planned for Tshaulu, 

Makhuduthamaga, Vleifontein 

and Botshabelo in the Mopani 

District. The Schoemansdal 

Museum is to be upgraded. ■ 

43 


OVERVIEW 

ICT 

5G is being deployed at a Limpopo mine. 


Donations are creating 

opportunities for school pupils. 

MTN and Huawei are working together with Minetec Smart 

Mining to create a 5G-enabled smart mine at Garatau 

in the Fetakgomo Tubase Local Municipality. Nkwe 

Platinum and Zijin Platinum intend the pilot project to 

improve monitoring and performance in all spheres. 

Ebenezer High School in Mahwelereng, Mokopane, now 

has its own computer laboratory, pictured, courtesy of Netcare 

Foundation through non-profit social enterprise One on One 

Community Based Programmes. 

Mamaolo Primary School in Chuenespoort, Polokwane, 

received a similar donation of second-hand computers which are 

helping to expose pupils to a wider range of subject choices and 

skills that will help them when they enter the job market. 

The Provincial Government of Limpopo has previously 

provided teachers with laptops and scholars with tablets at 

selected schools in the 1-3 quintiles. 

Digital Hubs are to be created at Seshego in Polokwane and 

Nkowankowa in the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality of the 

Mopani District Municipality. The hubs will offer training, provide 

access to ICT facilities and enable incubation for young entrepreneurs 

in the ICT sector. 

Limpopo Connexion has been appointed as the operator of the 

Seshego hub and the provincial government has budgeted R23-million 

for the project. 

Good progress has been made in rolling out digital infrastructure 

in the province, with a Data Centre, a Network Operating Control 

Centre and a Contact Centre complete. A total of 52 sites have 

been connected to the network, using both fibre and satellite 

technologies. Phase One of the Broadband project is complete, 


State Information Technology Agency: www.sita.co.za 

Support Programme for Industrial Innovation: www.spii.co.za 

Technology Innovation Agency: www.tia.org.za 

including the development 

of investment models and 

strategies for sustainability. 

Serial property developer 

Mike Nkuna has announced 

that his Masingita Group will 

develop a R5.4-billion project 

in the Collins Chabane Local 

Municipality in the far northeast 

of the province. To be called 

Nkuna Smart City, Construction 

Review reports that 119 

hectares at Nkuzana hamlet, 

near the town of Elim, has been 

allocated for the project. 

The National Department of 

Communications is responsible 

for the Independent 

Communications Authority 

of South Africa (ICASA), the 

regulator of communications, 

broadcasting and postal 

services, the SA Broadcasting 

Corporation (SABC) and three 

other agencies. 

The Technology and 

Human Resources for Industry 

Programme (THRIP) is a 

programme of the National 

Research Foundation and 

supports an average of 235 

projects per year. THRIP 

supports initiatives that use 

science to bring benefits to 

wider society. This can relate to 

boosting distant rural computer 

literacy or for scientists working 

at the University of Venda who 

have received THRIP funding for 

soil research. ■ 


44

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OVERVIEW 

Tourism 

Hoedspruit Airport’s potential is to be developed. 


The IDC offers incentives for 

tourism operators to go green. 

Of the 78 000 passengers that landed at Hoedspruit Airport 

in 2022, 61 000 of them were European tourists. With 

CemAir offering flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town 

and Airlink connecting to destinations such as the Victoria 

Falls in Zimbabwe, Maun in Botswana and Vilanculo in Mozambique, 

the strategically located airport, sometimes called Eastgate Airport, 

has enormous potential to further increase tourist traffic to the 

eastern part of the province. 

The airport is conveniently sited for access to the Orpen Gate 

of the Kruger National Park, Klaserie Game Reserve, Timbavati 

Game Reserve, Thornybush Game Reserve and several others. 

The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety is 

working on a strategy to develop the airport in such a way as to 

boost the tourism sector. 

The Industrial Development Corporation is active in the tourism 

sector in Limpopo. Among its products is the Green Tourism 

Incentive Programme which incentivises privately owned tourism 

companies to move towards using renewable energy and efficient 

water utilisation. It also supports local economic development, 

such as initiatives in the north of the province to develop new 

hotels in the Musina area. 

The northern parts of the province are experiencing a boom in 

business tourism due to the uptick in mining operations and the 

preparations being made for the development of a major economic 

development in the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone. 

In another part of the Vhembe District Municipality, the African 

Century Group is building a four-star Premier Hotel at Thohoyandou 

and the team behind the venture expects to fill its 120 rooms. The 

Vhembe District has a host of attractions and is connected to the 


Limpopo Tourism Agency: www.golimpopo.com 

Marula Festival: www.limpopomarulafest.co.za 

South African National Parks: www.sanparks.org 

northern section of the Kruger 

National Park via the Punda Maria 

gate. Elsewhere in the district are 

sacred lakes, the Mapungubwe 

World Heritage Site and many 

baobab trees of legend. 

In the Waterberg area, 

Shekinah Lion and Game Lodge 

has made an initial investment of 

R60-million in a luxury ecotourism 

which offers walks with cheetahs 

among its many attractions. 

The Limpopo Department 

of Economic Development, 

Environment and Tourism 

(LEDET) is responsible for 53 

provincial nature reserves. Some 

Limpopo nature reserves are to 

be commercialised using privatepublic 

partnerships. Among the 

first reserves to be part of the 

programme are Masebe, Rust de 

Winter and Lekgalameetse. 

Three major national 

parks – Kruger National Park, 

Mapungubwe in the north and 

Marakele in the Waterberg – are 

run by South African National 

Parks (SANParks) and attract large 

numbers of tourists every year. The 

province’s private game reserves 

and lodges enjoy a reputation for 

luxury and excellence of service 

that attracts tens of thousands of 

international visitors. 

The combined land area of 

Limpopo’s national, provincial 

and private game and nature 

reserves is 3.6-million hectares. ■ 


46 

PHOTO: Airlink

MESSAGE 

Limpopo awaits with more to enjoy 

Limpopo Tourism Agency Chief Executive Officer, Moses Ngobeni, is 

confident that investors will find much to inspire them in Limpopo. 

Moses Ngobeni, LTA CEO 

Our province is the 

northmost in the 

country with several 

competitive advantages 

including sharing borders with 

three countries in the SADC 

region, that is, Botswana in the 

west, Zimbabwe in the north 

and Mozambique in the east. To 

optimise this opportunity, the 

province became innovative by 

introducing two transfrontier 

parks, namely, Greater 

Mapungubwe Transfrontier Park 

involving Limpopo, Botswana and 

Zimbabwe and Great Limpopo 

Transfrontier Park involving 

Limpopo, Zimbabwe and 

Mozambique. 

Tourism in Limpopo is progressing well despite having been under 

stress over the past three years due to Covid-19. It is heartwarming to 

see the tremendous progress that the sector displayed shortly after 

the difficult times of the pandemic. We are grateful for the resilience 

shown by the tourism industry and we wish to thank government for 

the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan that was developed for the tourism 

sector. The province is currently ranked within the top three in the 

country on a domestic tourism front. We are looking forward to the 

new statistics by Stats SA come the end of the festive season. 

The Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) has since taken a strong 

stance in collaborating with key stakeholders as that is central to 

tourism development and growth. It is against this background that 

we partner with major events as these not only drive people to our 

province but also because these events help to address the triple 

challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality which are the 

ills continuing to torment the people of our province. Some of the 

mega events in the province come with tangible deliverables to rid 

the people of the burden of poverty. 

With the Limpopo Provincial Investment Conference coming 

our way in October 2023, we are confident that most investors 

will choose Limpopo for tourism investment as there are many 

opportunities. We say this because tourism has multiplier effects with 

a myriad of opportunities and trade beneficiation. 

Limpopo is ready for the increase in visitors through air access, 

given the good relations with Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit that can 

get four airlines per day and Polokwane International Airport which is 

also on a growth trajectory with three airlines per day. We can’t wait 

to see the speed train between Gauteng and Limpopo, which is the 

brainchild of our Premier, Mr Chupu Stanley Mathabatha, and the 

Premier of Gauteng, Mr Panyaza Lesufi. This will bring some relief to 

our roads which are congested during long weekends and holidays. 

Upcoming events include the Summer Campaign that will be 

launched in and around this October. This will come with packages 

for the citizens in the province and beyond to enjoy. Some of the 

activities include but are not limited to the annual Sapa Yopa Rally, 

Women in Sports Awards, National Celebration of Reconciliation Day 

and Mapungubwe Arts Festival. 

Limpopo awaits you with more to enjoy. 

#GoLimpopo 

#MoreToEnjoypartnership 


FOCUS 

A leader in tourism 

The Limpopo Tourism Agency is working hard to position the province’s natural 

and cultural marvels to attract increasing numbers of tourists. 

Limpopo Province continues to be one of 

the major recipients of tourism arrivals from 

South Africa’s core international markets 

given its broad tourism product offerings 

and appeal. 

Before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic 

in 2020, Limpopo Province was the leading 

destination in terms of arrivals and spend in the 

domestic tourism space. 

The most recent statistical release by Statistics 

South Africa shows that in 2020 the Eastern 

Cape received 18.2% and became the mostvisited 

destination for overnight trips followed by 

Limpopo with 18.0%. 

In 2021, the most-visited province was 

Limpopo with 20.3% followed by Gauteng at 

15.1%. The report also states that Limpopo 

continued to be the leading province in the first 

10 months of the year in which the report was 

compiled, 2022. 

This speedy recovery can be attributed to the 

partnership efforts that the Limpopo Tourism Agency 

(LTA) embarked on with the private sector. This 

initiative continues to provide visitors to destination 

Limpopo with the memorable experiences that they 

will treasure for a long time. 

This was perfectly in line with the Agency’s 

vision of becoming a leading tourism destination in 

Southern Africa. 

Tourism mandate 

The LTA’s mandate is to carry out destination 

marketing with an emphasis on domestic tourism 

and inbound tourism marketing until things have 

completely returned to normality. 

The LTA falls under the Limpopo Department of 

Economic Development, Environment and Tourism 

(LEDET) and aims to position Limpopo as a leading 

tourism destination in Southern Africa. The Agency’s 

strategic outcomes are: 

• effective and efficient administrative support 

in the organisation 


48 

PHOTO: Fyre Mael on Flickr

• to provide efficient and effective human 

resources support services 

• to provide efficient and effective finance and 

support services 

• to initiate product development, tourism 

investment, strategic partnerships and provide 

quality hospitality services 

• to position Limpopo as a leading tourism 

destination in Southern Africa 

The Limpopo Marula Festival has proved a 

great success over the years, not only drawing 

international audiences but promoting local 

culture and small businesses. 

Clusters 

Planning that has been done within the LTA is 

aligned to the National Tourism Sector Strategy 

(NTSS), the Limpopo Tourism Growth Strategy 

(LTGS) and the Limpopo Development Plan. 

For the purposes of achieving its vision of 

making Limpopo a leading tourism destination in 

Southern Africa, LTA reviewed its clusters, bearing 

in mind the unique wildlife offerings in the megaconservation 

areas of the province. The tourism 

clusters are as follows: 

• Culture and Heritage Cluster 

• Family and Recreation Cluster 

• Sport and Wildlife Cluster 

• Safari and Hunting Cluster 

• Business and Events Cluster 

• Special Interest Cluster 

LTA has identified events in the province 

as key to driving people from one place 

to another. 

Key flagship events in the province include 

the following: 

• Limpopo Golf Championship in April 

2023. Linked to this was the Youth Golf 

Championship that took place on 29 June 

2023 at Koro Creek, Modimolle. 

• Partnerships with all existing events in the 

province such as Limpopo Marula Festival 

that took place in April 2023 in Phalaborwa. 

• The Agency participated in trade shows such 

as World Travel Market (WTM) Africa in April 

2023, Cape Town, followed by Africa’s Travel 

Indaba in May 2023 in Durban. 

• LTA hosted Limpopo Tourism Youth Summit 

in Burgersfort on 22-23 June 2023. 

• LTA participated in the national launch of 

Tourism Month on 1 August 2023 in North 

West Province. The provincial launch of World 

Tourism Day took place on 16 August 2023 in 

the Waterberg District. 

• Phalaphala FM Royal Heritage Festival in 

Vhembe District. 

• Mapungubwe Cultural Festival in to be held in 

Polokwane in December 2023. 

• Summer Campaign launch and concomitant 

activations. 

• Holiday Fair on 24-26 August 2023. 

• Other events in various districts of the province. 

Events key to tourism 

CONTACT DETAILS 

Southern Gateway Ext 4, N1 Main Road, Polokwane 0700 

Tel: +27 15 293 3600 

Email: info@golimpopo.com 

Website: www.golimpopo.com 

PHOTO: Shaun Roy/Sunshine Tour 49 


OVERVIEW 

Transport and logistics 

A new interchange will ease congestion for Easter pilgrims. 


A Limpopo Road Safety Plan 

has been launched. 

Vast numbers of people travel to the village of Moria in 

central Limpopo every year. A roads upgrade will make their 

travels easier. 

The R71 is a major east-west provincial route that 

connects the provincial capital of Polokwane with the 

Kruger National Park and passes through the towns of 

Tzaneen and Phalaborwa. 

It is also the road that carries tens of thousands of members of the 

St Engenas Zion Christian Church (ZCC) who visit the village of Moria 

in the Easter period and again for a festival in September. 

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) 

and Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL) have signed a Memorandum 

of Agreement (MoA) to cooperate on the construction of a new 

interchange on the R71 national road where it meets the D4020, the 

road that leads to Moria. The R71 falls under SANRAL while the D4020, 

the minor road which will also be made a dual carriageway as part of 

this project, is maintained by RAL. 

Speaking during the signing of the MoA, the Chairperson of the 

SANRAL Board, Themba Mhambi, said, “RAL is one of the best provincial 

agencies in South Africa. SANRAL has had the good fortune of working 

with RAL over the years, and together we have overseen a few projects 

of major importance to the economy of South Africa. It is a pleasure for 

us to work with RAL once again as our sister agency in the service of this 

province and the country through the R71 national interchange.” 

Both SANRAL and RAL have busy programmes of work in 

the province. Some of the focus has been on ensuring that road 

infrastructure is up to speed in support of the applications for the 

province’s two Special Economic Zones, but other major works 

such as the new ring road round around Polokwane have also 

been noteworthy. 

Mining companies regularly 

contribute to new roads and 

bridges, not only so that 

product can be taken out but 

also in places where villages are 

somewhat cut off. 

Logistics is a vital feature 

of the Limpopo economy for 

two reasons – the province 

has huge volumes of minerals 

and horticultural products 

to be transported to markets 

elsewhere and the province is 

strategically positioned. 

In addition to the N1 highway, 

the N11 is a primary road corridor 

and there are nine provincial 

road corridors. Freight volumes 

on the N11 (to Botswana and 

Mpumalanga) have increased 

enormously in recent years, 

whereas the R33 carries less traffic. 

Another contribution to 

road safety was launched in May 

2023. At the “Get There Safely” 

conference in Polokwane the 

Limpopo Road Safety Plan was 

introduced to the public by the 

Impact Catalyst on behalf of the 

Limpopo Provincial Government. 

The initiative covers 13 

projects and is funded by the 

Anglo American Foundation and 

Anglo American business units. 

The focus will be on schools, postcrash 

responses and building 

skills in road-safety management. 


50 

PHOTO: South African Presidency/Flickr

OVERVIEW 

Chairperson of the SANRAL Board, Themba Mhambi. 

The bus rapid transport system, Leeto La Polokwane, is 

increasingly becoming a part of the daily routine of residents of the 

provincial capital. 

Logistics 

The Musina Intermodal Terminal near the Beitbridge Border Post is 

further confirmation of Limpopo’s status as a leader in transport and 

logistics. Located in the town of Musina on the N1 highway leading 

to Zimbabwe, the terminal is used to move cargo from road to rail. 

Warehousing facilities make for loading efficiencies in the main 

cargoes such as chrome, fertiliser, coal, fuel and citrus. Bulk and 

containerised cargo are handled, with an annual capacity of threemillion 

tons per annum. 

Outside of Polokwane, the towns of Tzaneen, Lephalale, 

Burgersfort and Musina (a border post with Zimbabwe) are all 

important in the field of logistics. 

Great North Transport falls under the Limpopo Economic 

Development Agency. The company has more than 500 buses, covers 

about 36-million kilometres every year on 279 routes, employs more 

than 1 200 people and transports 37.6-million passengers. 

South Africa’s major logistics companies have facilities in 

Polokwane, and some have warehouses and forwarding facilities in 

other parts of the province. RTT has offices in Makhado. Limpopo’s 

biggest exports (minerals and fruit and vegetables) require 

dramatically different levels of handling. Minerals are poured in 

great volumes into the freight trucks of Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) 


Gateway Airports Authority Limited: www.gaal.co.za 

Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure: 

www.dpw.limpopo.gov.za 

Limpopo Department of Transport: www.ldot.gov.za 

Roads Agency Limpopo: www.ral.co.za 

and taken onward to Richards 

Bay Coal Terminal. 

Companies such as 

Freezerlines, Fast ‘n Fresh and 

Cold Chain have developed 

specialist techniques in getting 

delicate fruits to market and 

to port undamaged. Grindrod 

has a Perishable Cargo 

division which specialises in 

transporting cargo by air. 

The large national logistics 

company, Value Group, has 

only four major regional depots 

outside of Gauteng: in Cape 

Town, Durban, Nelspruit – 

and Polokwane. IMPERIAL 

Logistics Southern Africa has 70 

companies in its group structure, 

including Kobus Minnaar 

Transport, a firm that began 

in Tzaneen transporting fruit 

and vegetables. Other active 

companies in Limpopo include 

Dawn Wing Logistics, Kargo, F&R 

Logistics and Aramex SA. 

The Polokwane International 

Airport (PIA) is wholly owned 

by the provincial government 

and run by the Gateway Airports 

Authority Ltd (GAAL), an agency 

of the Department of Transport. 

It has the potential to be an 

important regional cargo airport. 

Many game reserves have 

airstrips and regional airports in 

the eastern part of the province 

which provide easy access 

to the Kruger National Park. 

Eastgate Airport at Hoedspruit 

is close to the Orpen Gate. 

Phalaborwa’s airport is notable 

for its African-themed terminal 

which includes a zebrapatterned 

floor. Musina, near 

the border with Zimbabwe in 

the north, hosts the province’s 

other regional airport. ■ 

PHOTO: SANRAL 

51 


INTERVIEW 

A catalyst for future investment 

Mokgadi Matli, GAAL Acting CEO, reports on plans to turn Polokwane International 

Airport into a logistics and cargo hub for Limpopo and SADC. 

How have your previous tasks prepared you for this role? 

The various roles I occupied in manufacturing prepared me for the quick 

turnaround that is required for service delivery, the general principle of 

Total Quality Management (TQM) and the need for standard operating 

procedures (SOPs) to ensure high standards and compliance. I grew 

within the ranks from being an Officer to Executive HR Manager and this 

management experience prepared me to serve as an interim CEO for GAAL. 

What is your number-one priority as CEO? 

The number-one priority is to establish new revenue streams in order to 

ensure that GAAL is financially sustainable and to increase efficiencies within 

the entity. 

Mokgadi Matli, GAAL 

Acting CEO 

BIOGRAPHY 

I grew up in the village of Rosenkrantz, 

Ga-Matlala. I am a self-driven HR 

professional and have worked in the 

Human Resources management field 

for more than 20 years, of which 14 have 

been at managerial level. I have served 

my years in both private and public 

sector, with most of my experience 

acquired in the manufacturing and 

gaming industries. I have a BCom 

Honours in HR Management obtained 

from MANCOSA and National Diploma 

in Operations Management. 

Are all key management positions filled? 

We still have a couple of management positions that are vacant, particularly 

in the Business Development and Marketing division. 

Does PIA/GAAL have the full confidence of the regulatory authorities 

such as SACAA? 

Yes, absolutely. In a recent conversation that I had with officials from the 

SACAA I told them that we view them as friends of the airport in that the 

relationship that we have built over the years has shifted from us viewing 

them as the policeman that is out to catch us for non-compliance to them 

being a key stakeholder. They are ensuring that they develop us from 

“compliance only” to the concept of safety and security as a lifestyle. 

How far along the path of infrastructure upgrades are you? 

PIA has successfully completed the big project of lighting up the runways. 

All Airfield Ground Lighting (runway, approach, end and edge lights) are 

100% fixed. We are now working on the water reticulation project and it is 

currently on 70%. 

How will you drive additional traffic to the airport? 

In our evaluation of current and future traffic for the airport, we have realised 

that PIA will not survive on passenger movement alone due to the short 

distance between Polokwane and Johannesburg, which gives travellers 

an option to drive. However, there is huge potential for cargo movement 

from PIA to domestic, regional and international airports. PIA is strategically 

placed as a logistics hub at the helm of both the N1 and a railway, which 

makes it the best-suited airport for an integrated transportation system. ■ 


52

An air hub for cargo from 

the SADC region 

Gateway Airports Authority Limited has ambitious plans for 

Limpopo’s biggest airport. 

FOCUS 

Polokwane International Airport is equipped 

with two runways sufficient to accommodate 

large aircraft of the size of Boeing 747 and 

Airbus A346. 

A major goal of Gateway Airports Authority Limited 

(GAAL), which manages all non-private airports 

and runways in Limpopo, is to develop Polokwane 

International Airport (PIA) as the hub of the SADC 

region and the international market. In pursuit of that 

aim, cargo operations are to be introduced in the course 

of 2023. New senior management are in place and have 

filled critical key positions to enable maintenance of 

infrastructure and improving compliance with SACAA 

and ICAO requirements at PIA. The airport is now on its 

way to becoming a true destination of choice for both 

passenger and cargo traffic. 

Short-term interventions which are in progress 

include: 

• promoting the airport as a diversion airport for 

major domestic and international operators 

• promoting the air service between Polokwane 

International and OR Tambo International Airports 

to improve passenger numbers 

• introducing an additional route between 

Polokwane and Cape Town 

Infrastructure upgrades 

In the medium term, GAAL is planning to refurbish 

both runways 05/23 and 01/19 to improve friction 

and strength. Runway 01/19 will also be extended 

by 1km to complete and join it with the taxiway and 

threshold that has already been built in anticipation 

of this extension. This will allow the airport to handle 

heavy cargo operations, which is the ultimate 

business objective set for 2024-2029. 

The airport has an apron facility of 74 000 square 

metres of parking space and is able to accommodate 

nine B747-type aircraft and 13 B737/A321-type 

aircraft. Furthermore, the airport has 16 hangers of 

540m² and one 6 450m² hangar, with the immediate 

potential of setting up multi-functional cargo facility. 

Runway 05/23 is equipped with a runway-lighting 

system and it will soon be converted from halogen 

to LED lights, thereby reducing maintenance costs 

and improving reliability and availability. 

Availability of aviation fuel is critical for airport 

operations. The provision of JETA1 and AVGAS fuel 

has been outsourced and GAAL is in the process of 

refurbishing the one-million-litre JetA1 Fuel Farm, 

with an associated 30 000-litre AVGAS facility at 

the airport. 

Polokwane International Airport has: 

• two runways big enough for Boeing 747 and 

Airbus A346 

• 17 hangars 

• Category 7 licence 

• 400 parking bays 

• Conference facilities 

• Clinic and emergency centre 

• Shops 

GAAL mission 

GAAL has oversight responsibilities for all of the 

airports and airstrips in Limpopo. Among GAAL’s 

objectives are to create and develop hub-andspoke 

flight operations network in Limpopo to feed 

PIA and to collaborate with our key stakeholders to 

stimulate economic and social development for the 

people of Limpopo. ■ 

53 


OVERVIEW 

Development finance 

and SMME support 

Enterprise supplier development boosts local economies. 

Moeding Transport has been supplying services to 

Glencore Ferroalloys’ Lion Smelter for some time. Over 

the years, the company has been able to expand its 

services and in 2023 it received an additional boost 

with the donation by Glencore of two 65-seater busses as part of its 

Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) programme. 

The transport company, which is based in Ngwaabe Village in 

Steelpoort, has been running transport services for Lion Smelter 

employees for more than a decade. 

Large companies in Limpopo support new business ventures 

by allocating service functions to local businesses and through 

training and mentoring. All of the province’s big mining companies 

have significant budgets set aside for procurement from small 

businesses and work such as cleaning and transport is routinely 

allocated to SMMEs. 

In addition, incubation and training programmes are available. De 

Beers Venetia Mine and the Small Enterprise Development Agency run 

an Enterprise Coaching Programme, a 10-month line-up of coaching 

and mentorship. A recent course offered to 30 entrepreneurs resulted 

in an overall increase in turnover of R5.7-million for businesses in the 

programme and the creation of 100 new jobs. 

The Provincial Government of Limpopo supports SMMEs. In 

2022/23, a total of R4.4-million in loans were allocated to small 

enterprises and co-operatives. Government is working with a 

joint initiative of several mining houses, the Impact Catalyst, on a 

coordinated approach to enterprise development. 

Other provincial government partnerships designed to support small 

business include the location of a satellite office, with the support of 

Exxaro, in the Lephalale area where the mining company runs a large coal 

mine. In addition, SMME incubator Black Umbrellas is another collaborator. 

The Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP), a joint 

effort of the Provincial Government of Limpopo, the Small Enterprise 

Development Agency (Seda) and the National Department of Small 

Business Development (DSBD), assists small companies with compliance, 

business development services, access to markets and finance. 


Industrial Development Corporation: www.idc.co.za 

Shanduka Black Umbrellas: www.shandukablackumbrellas.org 

Small Enterprise Development Agency: www.seda.org.za 


Impact Catalyst is 

coordinating its work. 

Among the target markets 

for TREP are bakeries, autobody 

repairs and mechanics and 

fruit and vegetable shops. In 

partnership with Seda, the 

provincial government has 

established a construction 

incubation centre at Steelpoort 

in Sekhukhune to train emerging 

contractors. A jewellery 

incubation centre in Polokwane 

trains young jewellery makers. 

Seda also runs the Seda 

Technology Programme (STP) 

which helps businesses scale up 

to the point where their products 

pass muster in the commercial 

world. A jam manufacturer may 

need assistance in getting the 

necessary health certificates 

before being able to sell to a big 

retailer, for example. The National 

Youth Development Agency has 

allocated R10-million to support 

established and intended youth 

entrepreneurs in the province. ■ 


54


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OVERVIEW 

Education and training 

150 new classrooms are to be built. 

A 

four-day Career Exhibition for Grade 12 learners in the 

Sekhukhune East District generated a lot of excitement among 

school pupils. Jointly presented by a number of Eastern 

Limb mining houses and the Department of Education, the 

exhibition attracted more than 4 000 pupils. A popular stand offered 

the chance to virtually experience what it would be like to work 

underground via Eastern Chrome Mines’ Immersive Learning Solution. 

Another highlight was the Eastern Limb Training Centre stand, 

which displayed equipment and components that form part of the 

training programme that Glencore offers. They also showcased what 

goes into boilermaking, electrical, fitting and other skills that one can 

acquire while working on a mine. 

The construction of two primary schools was completed in the 

2021/22 financial year and 25 school-related projects will be tackled 

in 2022/23, with 10 scheduled for completion in 2024. One of the 

projects is to build 150 new classrooms as a matter of urgency. 

There are seven Technical and Vocational Education and Training 

(TVET) colleges in Limpopo: Capricorn College, Lephalale College, 

Mopani East College, Mopani South College, Sekhukhune College, 

Vhembe College and Waterberg College. 

Venetia Diamond Mine in the far north of Limpopo is training 

employees and contractors in the skills required for underground 

mining as the mine transitions from surface to underground mining. 

Six simulators have been installed at a new training centre for the 

mine, covering aspects such as drills and bolters while virtual reality will 

be deployed for a virtual blast wall. More than 300 training modules are 

available. De Beers Group has partnered with the International Youth 

Foundation (IYF) under its SA Skills for Life (S4L) programme which 

focuses on strengthening teaching and learning in the public TVET 

college system in the Capricorn and Vhembe Districts. Programmes 

included Entrepreneurship, Job Skills, Financial and Critical Thinking Skills. 

The University of Limpopo has a loan of R480-million loan from the 

Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) for the construction of a 

3 500-bed student residence. Other contributions will come from the 

National Department of Higher Education and Training and the National 

Treasury Budget Facility for Infrastructure. This is the first phase of a 

longer-term project to provide 15 000 beds over the next 15 years. 


Limpopo Department of Education: www.edu.limpopo.gov.za 

National Education Collaboration Trust: www.nect.org.za 

Turfloof Graduate School of Leadership: www.ul.ac.za 

University of Limpopo: www.ul.ac.za 


The University of Limpopo 

is building residences. 

Students had a chance to experience 

sophisticated machinery and join a 

shift of miners underground through VR 

technology when a Careers Exhibition 

was held in the Sekhukhune District. 

The Sefako Makgatho Health 

Sciences University (formerly part of 

Limpopo University) is an independent 

university in Gauteng Province. 

University of South Africa (Unisa) has a 

regional support centre in Polokwane 

and agencies at Makhado and Giyani. 

The private company that the University 

of Venda runs to create extra revenue 

streams is confident of earning significant 

amounts from its WiFi projects. Univen 

Innovative Growth Company (UIGC) 

expects to bring in nearly R700-million from 

its subsidiary, UIGC Connect, in the first five 

years of providing connectivity to students 

and the broader community. The offices 

of UIGC Connect in Thohoyandou will 

make it possible for the Local Municipality 

of Thulamela to become a smart city. 

The programme began by supplying 

accredited university accommodation sites, 

which includes buildings that are not official 

residences, with connectivity and spread 

out from there. ■ 


PHOTO: Glencore

A University of Limpopo journey: 

from the site of struggle to a 

respected seat of higher learning 

The Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Limpopo, 

Professor Mahlo Mokgalong, reflects on a long and fruitful 

relationship with the institution which nurtured him and which he, 

in turn, has taken to new heights as its leader. 

INTERVIEW 

Professor Mahlo Mokgalong 

Yours has been a long journey with the University of Limpopo. 

What stands out in your memory from your years at the institution? 

There are several highlights, but my very first year at the University 

stands out. That was 1972, the year in which the late Onkgopotse 

Abram Tiro made the iconic speech at the graduation ceremony, what 

became known as the Turfloop Testimony. This was the speech that 

got him expelled and which led to him going into exile in Botswana 

where he was killed by a parcel bomb in 1974. The 1970s in general 

were memorable because of the resurgence of black consciousness, 

following the lull in political activity as a result of the banning of antiapartheid 

organisations and the sentencing of people like Nelson 

Mandela to life imprisonment in 1964. 

As the place where the South African Students’ Organisation 

(SASO) held its inaugural conference in 1969 – when I was still 

working towards my matric at Hwiti High School – the University of 

the North (Turfloop) was the hive of activism. It captured the mood 

and temperature of the country and the world. I recall when students 

held a Viva Frelimo Rally on 25 September 1974. This rally had been 

banned by the Justice Minister at the time, Jimmy Kruger, but the 

Black Consciousness Movement had done the spadework to ensure 

that the event went ahead anyway, with Turfloop attracting one of 

the largest crowds. There was a lot at stake. Pandelani Nefolovhodwe, 

who is the current Chairperson of the University Council, was one of 

the leaders who were subsequently charged under the Terrorism Act 

for their role in organising the rally. Of course, 1976 was not only the 

year of the 16 June uprising nationally but was also the occasion of 

my graduation. 

Obtaining my BSc, majoring in Zoology and Botany, was certainly 

a major milestone. It set me on a path of scholarship which resulted 

in my PhD in 1996, then my ascent to management and leadership 

roles that got me to the present position. Watching the growth and 

evolution of the University and the country, first as a young observer, 


INTERVIEW 

student, junior academic, up to the position of 

Vice-Chancellor, allowed me to witness various 

watershed moments and to participate in processes 

that shaped the future of the institution under 

trying circumstances, from teaching on a campus 

occupied by the South African Defence Force to 

being put under administration, the merger and 

demerger with Medunsa, through the #FeesMustFall 

phase and now the NSFAS era. 

What were the most challenging aspects of the 

task you faced? 

Allowing the University’s programme to run smoothly, 

motivating a large contingent of academic and nonacademic 

staff to perform consistently, attracting 

the right mix of talent and expertise to an institution 

in a rural province, juggling the interests of many 

stakeholders, addressing the pressing financial needs 

of the students and the University, while growing the 

institution’s offering. 

What will be the biggest challenge for the 

University in the near future? 

Our University caters for learners who come from 

quintile 1, 2 and 3 schools. This places funding at the 

core of the challenges facing higher education. It is 

disturbing to watch the goings-on at the National 

Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), because over 

15 000 of our 23 000 students depend on its grants. So, 

although there are other challenges such as keeping 

our academic qualifications relevant and responsive 

to the needs of society, generating research that 

addresses Africa’s bread-and-butter issues in the 21st 

century and beyond, unless funding for students is 

adequately dealt with, our University and others like 

it will struggle to keep up with the high demand for 

higher education. 

What are you most proud of during your tenure? 

Guiding the University from the financial doldrums 

to where it ranks today among the country’s 

10-richest higher-education institutions, while 

growing the student population from around 8 000 

to 23 000 is one. Coming out of the merger with 

Medunsa to establish the first MBChB programme 

at a South African university in the post-1994 

dispensation was another proud moment for me, 

as was ensuring that our Accountancy training 


58 

PHOTO: SAMRC

INTERVIEW 

Physics Professor and currently Director of our 

Materials Modelling Centre, should count among 

the very best. A native of Limpopo, even after 

studying at the University and achieving global 

acclaim, he still returned to his alma mater to 

make unparalleled contributions to make STEM 

accessible to learners from disadvantaged 

backgrounds. 

UL’s well-regarded Materials Modelling 

Centre uses a wide variety of computational 

modelling techniques to study metal alloys, 

energy storage materials and minerals. In 

dealing with matters relevant to the mining 

industry, the Centre lives up to Professor 

Mokgalong’s injunction to keep academic 

qualifications relevant and for research that 

addresses Africa’s bread-and-butter issues. 

gained accreditation with the South African 

Institute of Chartered Accountants and seeing 

our pass rate exceed the national average. 

UL has had some remarkable alumni. Please 

reflect on your cohort – who among that group 

has gone on to become well-known or make a 

significant contribution to society? 

There are too many to count, but among the 

most remarkable are people like the former Vice- 

Chancellor of the University of the North West, Prof 

Recias Melato Malope, who graduated in 1972. 

Beyond my generation there have been others 

such as Risenga Maluleke (Statistician General of 

South Africa), Chupu Stanley Mathabatha (the 

current Premier of Limpopo), Dunstan Mlambo 

(Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the 

High Court of South Africa) and Matamela Cyril 

Ramaphosa, the current President of the Republic 

of South Africa. 

Please comment on some of the notable 

academic alumni of UL. Political leaders are 

often highlighted but you were not the only 

academic high achiever, not so? 

Professor Phuti Ngoepe, world-renowned Senior 

To what extent were you able to retain a link 

with teaching and research during your period 

as Vice-Chancellor? 

Fortunately, a Vice-Chancellor is the accounting 

officer of an academic institution. This essentially 

means that the core mandate of a Vice-Chancellor 

is to ensure that the institution fulfils its cardinal 

mandate of teaching and learning, research and 

community research. It is practically impossible 

for any Vice-Chancellor to lose touch with the 

core mandate of the institution they lead. Granted, 

my role is at executive level. However, my daily 

commitments involve chairing structures like 

Senate and the Executive Committee of Senate, 

both comprised of the academic leadership 

of the University across all four faculties. My 

leadership style includes a feet-on-the-ground 

approach. I take a lot of pride in walking the 

corridors of our University, interacting with 

students, academic and non-academic staff and 

visitors. This has made it easier for me to perform 

my executive duties while maintaining a link with 

the core business of the University. 

Where to next for UL? 

It is up to the future leadership of the University 

to determine that. However, given the foundation 

that has been laid by the institution in its first 65 

years of its existence and its ability to adapt, the 

motto “Finding solutions for Africa” should chart 

the course for the institution. 

Where to next for Professor Mokgalong? 

Retirement is long overdue; and just as I have 

allowed the universe to lead me here, I will follow 

the soundings of the spheres to know what to do. 

It has been an honour to serve. ■ 

PHOTO: ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash 


FOCUS 

Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership 

Serving the needs of government, business and civil society. 

Community (SADC) region and across the entire 

African continent. 

Our vision is firmly anchored in a core mission 

centred on building capacity to empower societies, 

the public sector and the business community 

through the dissemination of business education, 

development and public administration skills. 

The TGSL offers three distinct qualifications in 

the fields of management and administration: 

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) 

• Master of Public Administration and 

Management (MPAM) 

• Master of Development in Planning and 

Management (MDEV) 

Professor Sipho Mokoena, Director: Turfloop 

Graduate School of Leadership 

The Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership 

(TGSL) at the University of Limpopo (UL) 

is strategically situated at the Edupark 

Campus, conveniently positioned in 

close proximity to the N1 highway to the north, 

providing convenient access to the campus. 

The site of the facility provides wonderful 

vistas of the City of Polokwane, and the New Peter 

Mokaba Stadium are among the many amenities 

that can be viewed. 

Established in 1996, TGSL has consistently 

demonstrated its commitment to excellence in 

management and education. Our foundational 

vision is to emerge as a premier provider of 

postgraduate qualifications in the fields of 

business management, development planning, 

and public administration and management. To 

realise this objective, the School is dedicated to 

delivering high-quality programmes, conducting 

cutting-edge research and actively engaging 

with communities not only in South Africa but 

also within the Southern African Development 

The TGSL takes pride in offering three Master’s 

programmes that have received full accreditation 

from the Council on Higher Education. 

Additionally, we are honoured to be affiliated with 

esteemed organisations such as the South African 

Business Schools Association (SABSA) and the 

Association of African Business Schools (AABS). 

Our Master’s programmes are meticulously 

tailored to cater to middle and senior managers 

across various sectors, including the public 

service, civil society and corporate domains. 

These programmes are delivered using a hybrid 

methodology, combining face-to-face and online 

learning components. This blended approach 

promotes student accountability while affording 

them the flexibility to balance their academic 

pursuits with other commitments. 

Moreover, face-to-face interactions create a 

dynamic learning environment, enabling students 

to engage meaningfully with their peers and 

experienced lecturers. 

Staff excellence 

At TGSL, we take pride in our accomplished 

academic staff, who possess both academic 

expertise and hands-on experience gained 

from diverse business and public sector 


60

ackgrounds. This wealth of knowledge enriches 

our programmes and ensures that our students 

receive a well-rounded education. 

We are pleased to note that our graduates 

consistently excel as managers and leaders 

across various industry sectors, showcasing their 

exceptional skills and leadership capabilities in 

real-world professional settings. 

Furthermore, TGSL offers executive management 

programmes that are designed to address the 

specific needs of both corporate and public sector 

administration and management. These programmes 

serve as valuable resources for entrepreneurs and 

owner-managers of small, medium and micro 

enterprises (SMMEs), equipping them with the 

essential skills necessary for effectively overseeing the 

growth and development of their businesses. 

In addition to our comprehensive postgraduate 

degree programmes, TGSL also offers a range of 

short learning programmes (SLPs): 

• Management Development Programme 

• Senior Management Programme 

• Executive Management Programme 

When required to do so, the TGSL is able to 

develop customised training programmes to meet 

customers’ special and specific needs. 

TGSL remains committed to making a meaningful 

contribution to the local society in which it is situated. 

The school actively facilitates dialogues that foster 

engagement between students, academics and the 

broader community with prominent figures in both 

industry and public discourse. 

In recent times, TGSL has provided valuable 

opportunities for the community to interact with 

distinguished industry leaders, including: 

• Dr Nthabi Leoka, an accomplished economist 

• Mr Risenga Maluleke, the Statistician-General 

• Ms Tsakani Maluleke, the Auditor-General of 

South Africa 

• Mr Lesetja Kganyago, the Governor of the South 

African Reserve Bank 

The TGSL Leadership Conversations play a 

pivotal role in shaping thought leadership and 

ensuring that our programmes remain aligned 

with current industry trends and insights. ■ 

CONTACT DETAILS 

Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership 

PO Box 756, Fauna Park 0787 

Tel: +27 15 268 3735/4180 | Email: TGSL@ul.ac.za 

Website: www.ul.ac.za 

PHOTO: Christina Morillo on Unsplash 61 


FOCUS 

LIMPOPO UNITED BUSINESS FORUM 

Events and activities 

Limpopo United 

Business Forum 

Limpopo United Business Forum (LUBF) is 

an overarching organisation comprising 10 

business and professional organisations in 

Limpopo. LUBF represents a united voice 

that advocates and lobbies for the interests and 

aspirations of businesspeople in Limpopo. 

Members 

NAFCOC, Black Management Forum (BMF), 

Businesswomen’s Association (BWA), Progressive 

Professionals Forum (PPF), South African Women in 

Construction (SAWIC), Seshego Business Quorum, 

Forum of Limpopo Entrepreneurs (FOLE), Small 

Business Empowerment Unity (SBEU), Limpopo ICT 

Forum and the African Farmers’ Association of SA. 

Objective 

To collaborate and partner with public and private 

organisations in promoting and advancing the 

interests of members. LUBF further forms part 

of the social compact comprising business, 

government and civil society in order to grow the 

economy of Limpopo, contribute to the creation of 

jobs, reduce inequality and eradicate poverty. 

Programme of action 

Address challenges that affect small businesses. 

These include access to information, access to 

finance, access to markets and access to skills 

development and training. Late payments by 

government departments are a threat to the 

survival of small businesses. LUBF is lobbying the 

Provincial Treasury and the Limpopo Economic 

Development, Environment and Tourism 

Department (LEDET) to deal decisively with 

departments that continuously disadvantage 

small businesses. LUBF is looking forward to the 

Public Procurement Bill which will create a better 

legislative framework for local empowerment. 

In responding to the challenges that are currently 

facing SMMEs, LUBF has in the past two 

The Limpopo United Business Forum 

(LUBF) has been very active in the 

2022/23 period. Several engagements 

were held with members of the executive 

committee of the Limpopo Provincial Government 

and other stakeholders at various levels. 

The Limpopo Economy Development Agency 

(LEDA) has undertaken to partner with LUBF 

with respect to businesses faced with funding 

challenges and the agency will host workshops to 

expose business owners to various development 

funding institutions (DFIs). The forum has 

encouraged members to be aware of, and submit 

proposals regarding, the Manufacturing Fund 

launched by LEDA. 

The LUBF also actively engages with the major 

companies. Anglo American has offered to run 

monthly markets where member organisations 

will have an opportunity to showcase and sell their 

products. The first such market is planned for the 

Capricorn District. 

Event: Strategic plan 

The LUBF Management Executive Committee held 

a strategic planning session which was open to all 

members of the Executive Committee. Old Mutual 

kindly provided a venue for the meeting where the 

main topic of discussion was the constitution and 

the possible updating thereof. 

Event: LEDA 100 days 

A breakfast session was held to coincide with 

The Forum provides local bodies with a single voice to talk to government. 

months engaged with the Minister of Small 

Business Development, Honorable Khumbudzo 

Ntshaveni, MEC for LEDET, Honorable Thabo 

Mokoni, CEO for Musina-Makhado SEZ, Lehlogonolo 

Masoga, and the MEC for Public Works, 

Honorable Dickson Masemola in his capacity as 

the Chairperson of the Economic Transformation 

Unit of the ANC in Limpopo. 

Survival and opportunity 

• Businesses are struggling due to the stagnant 

economy, a situation that has now been 

exacerbated by the unprecedented pandemic. 

Limpopo has lower than average household 

income and low ICT connectivity. Small 

businesses have to continue creating jobs to save 

the economy. 

• LUBF has intensified its programme of action 

and has recently engaged many relevant 

stakeholders. The objective is to assist SMMEs to 

gain access to Covid-19 relief programmes and 

access business opportunities. 

• Intervention is vital for the survival of businesses 

but it is also true that the new economy presents 

opportunities for small businesses to create new 

jobs and maintain current ones. 

the 100 days in office of the MEC responsible for 

• LUBF’s role is therefore to ensure access to 

LEDA, Rodgers available Monama. programmes He and is MEC assist entrepreneurs for Economic to 

Development, take Environment their space in the new and normal Tourism. of digitisation, The 

innovation and manufacturing. 

MEC reiterated 

• The 

his 

leadership 

commitment 

remain committed 

to support 

to uniting 

small 

the 

business and voice encouraged of business. ■ members to apply 

to LEDA where appropriate and to report if they 

experienced any challenges in the process. 

Contact details 

Old Mutual was on hand on this occasion to 

Address: 1st Flr, Terminal Bldg, Polokwane Airport, 

explain the workings Gateway Drive, of Polokwane its Masisizane Tel: +27 product. 

15 296 0654 

Administrator: Abram Luruli Cell: 084 451 9923 

Email: Lubfreception@gmail.com 

Event: Treasury Facebook: Limpopo United Business Forum-LUBF 

The MEC responsible for the Limpopo Treasury, 

Seaparo Sekoati, briefed LUBF members on 

25 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2020/21 

provincial procurement plans. He provided 

business owners with advice on how to do 

business with government and stressed the 

importance of compliance. 

Event: PostNet 

PostNet Group CEO Mboya Simango shared with 

LUBF members her business experience and noted 

the challenges and successes that had come her 

way in the course of her career. The event, which 

was heavily oversubscribed, was a great success. 

Further events 

During 2023 further engagements will be held 

with the MECs for Agriculture, Health, Transport 

and Community Safety, Cooperative Governance, 

Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs. 

Business Breakfasts are monthly and LUBF is 

open to partnerships with SOEs and corporates. ■


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Limpopo United 

Business Forum 

PROFILE 

The Forum provides local bodies with a single voice to talk to government. 

The Forum provides local bodies with single voice to talk to government. 

Limpopo United Business Forum (LUBF) is months engaged with the Minister of Small 

Limpopo an overarching United organisation Business Forum comprising (LUBF) 10 an Business development Development, and training. Honorable Late payments Khumbudzo by 

business overarching and organisation professional comprising organisations several in Ntshaveni, government MEC departments for LEDET, are Honorable a threat Thabo to the 

Limpopo. business and LUBF professional represents organisations a united voice in Mokoni, survival of CEO small for businesses. Musina-Makhado LUBF is SEZ, lobbying Lehlogonolo 

the Provincial Masoga, Treasury and the MEC and for the Public Limpopo Works, 

that advocates Limpopo. and LUBF lobbies represents for the a interests united voice and 

aspirations that advocates of businesspeople and lobbies for in Limpopo. the interests and Honorable Economic Dickson Development, Masemola in Environment 

his capacity as 

aspirations of businesspeople in Limpopo. 

the and Chairperson Tourism Department of the Economic (LEDET) Transformation to deal 

Members 

Unit decisively of the with ANC in departments Limpopo. that continuously 

NAFCOC, Objective Black Management Forum (BMF), disadvantage small businesses. LUBF is looking 

Businesswomen’s To collaborate and Association partner with (BWA), public Progressive 

and private Survival forward and to the opportunity Public Procurement Bill which 

Professionals organisations Forum in promoting (PPF), South and African advancing Women the in • will Businesses create a are better struggling legislative due to framework the stagnant for 

Construction interests of members. (SAWIC), Seshego LUBF further Business forms Quorum, part local economy, empowerment. a situation In that responding has now to been the 

Forum of the of social Limpopo compact Entrepreneurs comprising (FOLE), business, Small challenges exacerbated that by the are unprecedented facing SMMEs, pandemic. LUBF has 

Business government Empowerment and civil society Unity (SBEU), in order Limpopo to grow the ICT engaged Limpopo with has lower the Minister than average of Small household Business 

Forum economy and of the Limpopo, African Farmers’ contribute Association to the creation of SA. Development, income and low Honorable ICT connectivity. Khumbudzo Small 

of jobs, reduce inequality and eradicate poverty. Ntshaveni, businesses have MEC to for continue LEDET, creating Honorable jobs to Thabo save 

Objective 

Mokoni, the economy. CEO for Musina-Makhado SEZ, 

To Programme collaborate of and action partner with public and private • Lehlogonolo LUBF has intensified Masoga, its and programme the MEC for of action Public 

organisations Address challenges in promoting that affect and small advancing businesses. the Works, and has Honorable recently Dickson engaged Masemola many relevant in his 

interests These include of members. access to LUBF information, further forms access part to capacity stakeholders. as the The Chairperson objective is to of assist the Economic SMMEs to 

of finance, the social access compact to markets comprising and access business, to skills Transformation gain access to Covid-19 Unit of the relief ANC programmes in Limpopo. and 

government and civil society in order to grow the access business opportunities. 

economy of Limpopo, contribute to the creation of • Intervention is vital for the survival of businesses 

jobs, reduce inequality and eradicate poverty. but it is also true that the new economy presents 

Members 

Executive opportunities committee for small businesses to create new 

Programme African Farmers’ of action Association of SA (AFASA) President: jobs and maintain Tshepo Mathabatha 

current ones. 

Address Black Lawyers challenges Association that affect (BLA) small businesses. (BWASA • LUBF’s Limpopo) role is therefore to ensure access to 

These Black Management include access Forum to information, (BMF) access to Deputy available President: programmes Timothy and assist Marobane entrepreneurs to 

finance, Businesswomen’s access to Association markets and (BWA) access to skills (NAFCOC take their Limpopo) space in the new normal of digitisation, 

development Forum of Limpopo and training. Entrepreneurs Late payments (FOLE) by Secretary innovation General: and manufacturing. 

Lesego Tshivhula (SAWIC) 

government Limpopo ICT departments Forum are a threat to the Deputy • The leadership Secretary remain General: committed Lerato to Sekgobela uniting the 

survival InvestCan of small Women businesses. Association LUBF (IWA) is lobbying the (LIMWIT) voice of business. ■ 

Provincial Limpopo Treasury Women In and Business the Limpopo (LIWIB) Economic Treasurer General: Joseph Mathebula (PPF) 

Development, National African Environment Federated Chamber and of Tourism 

Department Commerce (NAFCOC (LEDET) Limpopo) to deal decisively with Contact details 

departments Progressive Professionals that continuously Forum (PPF) disadvantage 

small Seshego businesses. Business LUBF Quorum is looking forward to the Address: 1st Flr, Terminal Bldg, Polokwane Airport, 

Public CONTACT DETAILS 

Small Procurement Business Enterprise Bill which Unity will (SBEU) create a better Gateway Drive, Polokwane Tel: +27 15 296 0654 

legislative South African framework Women for In local Construction empowerment. Administrator: Abram Luruli Cell: 084 451 9923 

& Built Address: 32 Juno Avenue, Sterkpark, Polokwane 0700 

Environment In responding (SAWIC to the & BE) challenges that are cur- Tel: Email: +27 Lubfreception@gmail.com 

15 296 0654 

rently Thohoyandou facing SMMEs, Business LUBF Forum has (TBF) in the past two Administrator: Facebook: Limpopo Abram United Luruli Business Forum-LUBF 

Limpopo Women in Tourism (LimWiT) 

Cell: 084 451 9923 

Email: Lubfreception@gmail.com 

Youth Business Forum (YBF) 

25 Facebook: Limpopo United LIMPOPO Business BUSINESS Forum-LUBF 2020/21

OFFICIAL MOBILE PROVIDER 


Email RT15cutomercare@mtn.com 

RSA GOVERNMENT

Limpopo Business 2023-24

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