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Limpopo Business 2016-17 edition

  • Text
  • Network
  • Africa
  • Idz
  • Sez
  • Tourism
  • Investment
  • Business
  • Development
  • Limpopo
  • Economic
  • Province
  • Polokwane
  • Provincial
  • Municipality
  • Pretoria
  • Mining
  • African
The 2016/17 edition of Limpopo Business is the eighth issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2007, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide to the Limpopo province. Limpopo is unique in terms of its abundant natural and human resources, and is also one of the key drivers behind the South African economy. This edition of Limpopo Business is officially endorsed by the Office of the Premier of Limpopo.

SPECIAL FEATURE The

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

SPECIAL FEATURE Agriculture makes up 25% of the local economy, with the value of the region’s gross production estimated at R250-million. Burgersfort is an important town because of platinum mining. Mopani District Giyani is the administrative capital of the district and is key to the local economy. The public sector is one of the largest employers in the district. The key sectors are agriculture and mining. Mopani has an established food manufacturing industry in canned, preserved and dried-fruit production and vegetable juices. Phalaborwa is the gateway to the Kruger National Park. It has a good airport and is a tourism hub. Palaborwa Mining Company (Palamin) is the major economic driving force in the area. State-owned phosphate and phosphoric acid producer Foskor is another major employer. Sasol Nitro Phalaborwa produces phosphoric acid and deflourinated acid. The Marula Festival is held in Phalaborwa in February every year. A subtropical climate and fertile soils combine to make greater Tzaneen very productive in terms of fruit and vegetables. Limpopo’s second-most populous city has a population of 80 000. The Letaba Valley produces a large proportion of South Africa’s mangos, avocados and tomatoes. Forty sawmills operate in the area, drawing on the heavily forested hills around the city. One of the major road links between Gauteng and the Kruger National Park also passes through the area, providing excellent links for tourism and business. Vhembe District The Vhembe District borders Zimbabwe and Botswana. The district’s administrative capital is Thohoyandou. Vhembe’s vast bushveld supports commercial and game farming and the district has considerable cultural and historical assets. The major economic sector is agriculture, both in terms of commercial and subsistence farming. Game farming is a growing subsector, as is eco-tourism. De Beers’ Venetia Mine, situated just west of Musina, is South Africa’s largest diamond producer. Situated in the north-east of the province, fairly close to the Punda Maria Gate of the Kruger National Park, Thohoyandou is the administrative centre of Thulamela Local Municipality, Vhembe District Municipality and the University of Venda. The Tshivhase tea estates are not far from the town and a new project is cultivating exotic trees and ornamental shrubs. The town is on the Ivory Route and hosts the Venda Cultural Museum. Other attractions include an ancient baobab tree, the Dzata Ruins, the Museum of the Drum, the mystical Lake Fundudzi and Nwanedi Provincial Park. Waterberg District The mining sector is the largest contributor to regional GDP, while agriculture is also significant. Several towns in the district are located in the mineral-rich Bushveld Igneous Complex. The district also features the riches of the Waterberg Coal Fields, iron ore (at Thabazimbi) and tin and platinum at Mookgophong. The town of Lephalale is at the heart of the region’s coal-mining and powergeneration sectors. The area around Mokopane is one of the richest agricultural zones in South Africa, producing wheat, tobacco, cotton, beef, maize and peanuts. The bubbling hot springs of Bela-Bela market it as a popular tourism destination, and the district offers many luxury golf estates. 19 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2016/17

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