Limpopo Business 2022-23

OVERVIEW Transport and

OVERVIEW Transport and logistics Polokwane’s new bus rapid system is up and running. SECTOR INSIGHT Mining companies are building infrastructure. Implats has contributed to several road and bridge projects in its area of operations. Credit: Implats The bus rapid transport system, Leeto La Polokwane, is increasingly becoming a part of the daily routine of residents of the provincial capital. A 21-day trial period was completed in the course of 2021, during which the public were allowed to travel on the system at no cost. The trial operations were judged a success and so the project steamed ahead and the citizens of Polokwane are now getting used to using the new system. A Vehicle Operating Company (VOC), Esilux, has been appointed to operate the bus service on a three-year contract with the municipality. Some taxi drivers whose routes have been affected have been taken on as bus drivers. Both the national roads agency, SANRAL, and Roads Agency Limpopo (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. In several instances around the province, mining companies have contributed 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. Roads Agency Limpopo, of which the provincial government is the sole shareholder, accounts for about a third of the budget of the Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure. It has been successfully focussed on tackling a backlog of infrastructure maintenance, but it has also created partnerships with the national roads agency and private companies to deliver tarred roads where the majority of the province’s roads are gravel. An example of a publicprivate partnership between RAL and Implats is the successful completion of a 17km road to the Marula mine. 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 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2022/23 58

Local communities benefit from Venetia Mine programme Social and Labour Plan (SLP) projects cover a range of community facilities and infrastructure upgrades. costs are often very high for the municipality. But with partners like Venetia Mine, it become easier for us to access state-of-the-art infrastructure like the ones being handed over today.” Venetia Mine has officially handed over to the Musina Local Municipality three Social and Labour Plan (SLP) projects. The projects included the upgrade and rehabilitation of several roads, the revamp of the Lesley Manyathela Stadium and the renovation of the Vehicle Testing Station. All three projects are aimed at benefiting the community of Musina. Approximately 115 job opportunities were created through implementation of these SLP projects. The handover was commemorated in a small ceremony attended by Councillor Nkhanedzeni Godfrey Mawela, Mayor of Musina Local Municipality, Fistos Mafela, Chief Whip of the Musina Local Municipality, Nathi Tshiwanammbi, Municipal Manager, Benjamin Moremi, Venetia Mine’s Acting Senior Corporate Affairs Manager and David Lee, BMH Africa’s Safety Officer, among other stakeholders. In accepting the projects, Councillor Mawela said, “It brings joy to note that the work done on these projects was not done merely for compliance, but to showcase that De Beers Venetia Mine is committed to quality and professional work that leaves a long-lasting impact on the lives of the local community members. We know that in order to construct and maintain infrastructure, Roads projects This project entailed the reconstruction, upgrade and rehabilitation of approximately 18 roads in Musina. The total spend on the project amounted to R24-million. Lesley Manyathela Stadium The sports and recreational facility, named after a famous soccer player who was born in Musina and went on to play for the national team, has now been secured with a reinforced ring wall and a new boundary fence. A new paved access road has also been constructed at the entrance of the stadium. The total spend on the project amounted to R1.1-million. Musina Vehicle Testing Station project The facility is now equipped with sufficient electrical supply and air conditioning. In addition, repairs to other defective work have been completed. A new paved access road has been constructed to uplift the overall appearance of the station. A total of R5.3-million was spent on the project. Delivering sustainable benefits Through its Socio-Economic Development strategy, Venetia Mine is also implementing a number of projects in the Blouberg area, which will be handed over to the Blouberg Local Municipality during the course of the year. De Beers’ Social and Labour Plan is an important element of the company’s work and is based on a belief that partnerships with municipalities are key to delivering meaningful and sustainable benefits in education and infrastructure as well as creating economic opportunities through farming. 59 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2022/23