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Limpopo Business 2022-23

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The 2022/23 edition of Limpopo Business is the 14th 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. Both of the province’s two Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have taken several pages in this journal in order to share their goals with potential investors. The business case for the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) in the province’s far north has been accepted and the SEZ has received its official designation. Several investors have signed on and infrastructure development is underway. The Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZ in the east is building up its infrastructure in terms of roads, railway sidings and water provision and both SEZs are taking an interest in renewable energy, and green hydrogen in particular. A special feature on green hydrogen appears in the front section of this journal. News related to mining, agriculture, tourism, construction and property, water, education and more.

OVERVIEW Education and

OVERVIEW Education and training University entity is earning its keep digitally. Participants who attended the “Creating a Sustainable Economy in the Limpopo Province” workshop at the Fusion Boutique Hotel in Polokwane, which was part of the collaboration between De Beers and International Youth Foundation. Credit: De Beers 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. Training programmes will be offered for artisans and technicians as UIGC Connect grows. UIGC Connect now has a headstart in the Vhembe District Municipality area, which should allow it to become the service provider of choice for businesses and private households. Wayleaves have been granted by the Thulamela and Collins Chabane local municipalities, SECTOR INSIGHT Sanitation projects at schools are on course. granting permission to UIGC Connect to build infrastructure. UIGC Connect is one of four units run by the university offering professional services to the outside world. Other areas covered include statistics and design and editing. This not only creates another revenue stream for the University of Venda but links the academic institution to the commercial world. LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2022/23 68

OVERVIEW The University of Venda is also implementing its strategic plan for the five years to 2025. The key thrusts of the plan cover student centredness and engaged scholarship, entrepreneurship, governance, partnerships and internationalisation. Four new faculties have been created from eight former schools of study and a new executive portfolio for research and postgraduate studies has been created, with the university’s new Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Professor Nosisi Nellie Feza, responsible. The university is making strides in the field of waste-to-energy. The Green Technologies Promotion Drive is a multi-disciplinary effort with support from the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Water Research Commission (WRC). One of its goals is to develop the biogas market. 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. Early in 2020, the University of Limpopo received a gift in the form of a 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. Training Venetia Diamond Mine in the far north of Limpopo is in the process of transitioning from surface to underground mining and that requires a new set of skills from employees and contractors. Six simulators are being 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 will be 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. 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. A commitment was made in 2021 by provincial government that 40 schools will have their water infrastructure upgraded within the next two years and that a further 100 schools will receive proper sanitation facilities. There are plans to build 17 more schools and add 295 classrooms across the province for all grades, including 45 for Grade R. Seven new libraries are under construction and a further four are planned. Sanitation infrastructure at 135 schools was completed in the 2021/22 financial year, with work underway at a further 27 schools. For 2022/23, 47 new projects will take place. The budget for this work is R455- million. A further 203 schools are receiving sanitation facilities through the Mvula Trust at a cost of R162-million. ■ ONLINE RESOURCES 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 69 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2022/23

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