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Limpopo Business 2021-22

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The 2021/22 edition of Limpopo Business is the 13th 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. Limpopo has been attracting significant investments in the mining sector in recent years and with commodity prices of certain minerals rising in response to demand in the renewable energy and automotive sector, mining houses are well-positioned to expand production even further. This journal carries messages of welcome to investors from the province’s Premier and the MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism. In addition to the regular articles providing insight into each of the key economic sectors of the province, there is special feature on plans to catalyse investment and growth in the province through measures such as industrial parks and the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone in the province’s far north, which is attracting billions of dollars in investment. News related to mining, agriculture, tourism, construction and property, water, education and development finance is carried in overviews of the main economic sectors.

OVERVIEW Water Funding

OVERVIEW Water Funding for the next phase of the giant Olifants River project is needed. SECTOR INSIGHT Pipes to 68 villages in the Vhembe and Mopani districts are under construction. 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 (pictured), which was due to restart in the middle of 2021, has stalled again, this time over an environmental objection. 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. Fifty-five villages in Giyani and 13 villages in Malamulele will benefit from a 49km bulkwater pipeline currently under construction in the eastern part of the province. An extension conveyance system from Valdesia to Mowkop will improve water supply to 38 villages in the Sinthumule Kutama area. Bulk pipelines, pump stations and reservoirs to supply water to 40 villages in the Nebo plateau are currently also under construction. The National Department of Science and Technology is piloting a Point-of-Use (POU) project in Malatane village in the Capricorn District. The project is part of the department’s Innovation Partnership for Rural Development Programme ONLINE RESOURCES Credit: Aurecon Innovation Hub: www.theinnovationhub.com National Department of Water and Sanitation: www.dws.gov.za National Research Foundation: www.nrf.ac.za Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority: www.tcta.co.za (IPRDP), which is supported by the European Union. Limpopo has markedly different rainfall patterns in its three main geographical regions: the escarpment (subhumid 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 waterpurification plants and three sewage-purification plants. 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 watertesting laboratory on the campus of the University of Limpopo. ■ LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2021/22 44

Construction and property Thousands of title deeds are due to be handed over. OVERVIEW SECTOR INSIGHT Provincial housing initiatives will create 3 000 jobs. 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. The Risima Housing and Finance Corporation, a division of LEDA, is helping citizens of the province to become homeowners by creating affordable housing opportunities in the gap market. Two areas of focus will see more than 2 000 homes come on to the market: • Polokwane Extension 72 and 79, 1 000 units • Ba-Phalaborwa Extension 7 and 9, 1 200 units. A total of 5 000 houses will be built across the province in the 2021/22 financial year, with some rental units also being developed. This activity is expected to create at least 3 000 jobs. In the same time period, more than 3 000 housing beneficiaries will be presented with title deeds. Risima has introduced the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme, for those earning between R3 501 and R15 000 per month. Risima and the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) distribute grants 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 ONLINE RESOURCES Credit: Risima HFC 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 exploring cooperation with mining houses such as Exxaro, Amplats and Northam at Thabazimbi. Thavhani Mall is operating in Thohoyandou in a bigger development called Thavhani City. The 27ha site will 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. A budget of R3.9-billion has been assigned by National Treasury for the Limpopo Academic Hospital. Clinics are also being built, providing more work opportunities in the construction sector. A start has been made on a provincial theatre, with R15-million allocated to planning. 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. ■ 45 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2021/22

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