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Capital: Polokwane
Principal Languages: Sesotho sa Leboa (52.1%), Xitsonga (22.4%),
Tshivenda (15.9%)
Population: 5,365,400 (Mid-year Populations Estimates, 2006)
Area (km2): 123,910
Limpopo, South
Africa’s northernmost province, lies within the great elbow of the
Limpopo River. It is a province of dramatic contrasts – from true
bushveld country to majestic mountains, primeval indigenous forests,
latter-day plantations, unspoilt wilderness areas and a patchwork of
farming land.
Limpopo has a strong
rural basis. Its growth strategy centers on addressing
infrastructure backlogs, the alleviation of poverty, and social
development. Limpopo is the gateway to the rest of Africa. It
is favorably situated for economic co-operation with other parts of
southern Africa as it shares borders with Botswana, Zimbabwe and
Mozambique.
The province is
linked to the Maputo Development Corridor through the Phalaborwa
SDI, which is a network of rail and road corridors connecting to the
major seaports, which will open up Limpopo for trade and investment.
This is complemented by the presence of smaller airports in centers
such as Phalaborwa and Musina, as well as the Gateway International
Airport in Polokwane. The airport carries about 38 000 passengers a
year. The Maputo Corridor will link the province directly with the
Port of Maputo, creating development and trade opportunities,
particularly in the south-eastern part of the province. The highest
average real-economic growth rate recorded in South Africa between
1995 and 2003 was that of Limpopo at 3,5% (GDPR). The provincial
economy more than doubled in size from R34 343 billion (at current
prices) in 1996 to R93 188 billion (at current prices) in 2004. In
1995, the provincial economy contributed 5,7% of national GDP. It
reached 6,7% in 2004. Investments totaling some R24 billion occurred
in the province between 1998 and 2003. Substantially, these
investments were in the mining sector, which was a dominant sector
at 26,1% of the GDPR (2002). Polokwane is the capital city and lies
strategically in the centre of the province. The Great North Road
running through the centre of the province strings together a series
of interesting towns. Bela-Bela, with its popular mineral spa, is
near the southern border of the province. Further north lie
Modimolle, with its table-grape industry and beautiful Waterberg
mountain range; Mokopane; Polokwane; Makhado at the foot of the
Soutpansberg mountain range; and Musina, with its thick-set baobab
trees. The crossing into Zimbabwe is at Beit Bridge, where the South
African section of this important route north into Africa ends.
Other important Limpopo towns include the major mining centers of
Phalaborwa and Thabazimbi; and Tzaneen, producer of tea, forestry
products and tropical fruits. This province is in the savanna biome,
an area of mixed grassland and trees, which is generally known as
bushveld. A trip through this summer rainfall area soon shows that
this is tree country. Rich in natural beauty, culture and wildlife,
Limpopo is an ideal break-away destination for tourists. The
province’s natural resources include more than 50 provincial
reserves, as well as several private game reserves. The largest
section of the Kruger National Park is situated along the eastern
boundary of Limpopo with Mozambique.
The
People
In Limpopo, more than
5,3 million people live on about 123 910 km2 of land (Mid-Year
Population Estimates, 2006). According to the Census 2001 results,
more than a third of those in Limpopo aged 20 years and older have
not received any form of education or schooling. The official
unemployment rate for Limpopo is 35,6%. (Labor Force Survey, March
2006). Several museums and national monuments bear testimony to
ancient peoples and fearless pioneers who braved the unknown. Living
museums include the Bakone Malapa Museum near Polokwane, where
Bapedi tribes people practice age-old skills for the benefit of
visitors, and the Tsonga Open-Air Museum near Tzaneen. Mapungubwe
(Place of The Jackal) Hill, some 75 km from Musina, used to be a
natural fortress for its inhabitants from about AD 950 to 1200. It
was declared a world heritage site in 2003. Valuable archaeological
artifacts, including many golden objects, have been discovered in
this area, as well as in the northern part of the Kruger National
Park.
Agriculture
The bushveld is
cattle country, where controlled hunting is often combined with
ranching. About 80% of South Africa’s hunting takes place in this
province. Sunflowers, cotton, maize and peanuts are cultivated in
the Bela-Bela-Modimolle area. Modimolle is also known for its
table-grape crops. Tropical fruit, such as bananas, litchis,
pineapples, mangoes and pawpaws, as well as a variety of nuts, are
grown in the Tzaneen and Makhado areas. Extensive tea and coffee
plantations create many employment opportunities in the
Tzaneen area. The province produces about 75% of the country’s
mangoes; 65% of its pawpaws; 36% of its tea; 25% of its citrus,
bananas, and litchis; 60%
of its avocados; 60% of its tomatoes; 285 000 t of potatoes, 70% of
its mangoes and 35% of its oranges (Provincial Economies, 2003).
More than 45% of the R2-billion annual turnover of the Johannesburg
Fresh Produce Market is from Limpopo. The largest tomato farm in
South Africa lies between Tzaneen and Makhado. Extensive forestry
plantations are also found here. Plantations of hard woods for
furniture manufacturing have also been established and many of the
rural people practice subsistence farming. The northern and eastern
parts of this summer rainfall region are subtropical with hot, humid
summers and mist in the mountainous parts. Winter throughout the
province is mild and mostly frost-free.
Industry
Mining is a
significant economic activity in the province. According to figures
released by the Minerals Bureau in 2002, the mining sector employs
about 49 000 people in Limpopo.
Limpopo is rich in mineral deposits, including platinum-group
metals, iron ore, chromium, highand middle-grading coking coal,
diamonds, antimony, phosphate and copper, as well as mineral
reserves like gold, emeralds, scheelite, magnetite, vermiculite,
silicon and mica. Base commodities such as black granite, corundum
and feldspar are also found in the province. Mining’s contribution
to GDPR at current prices increased from 14,2% in 1996 to 21,7% in
2004. The province is a typical developing area, exporting primary
products and importing manufactured goods and services. It has high
potential and capacity with appropriate economic development, and is
an attractive location for investors. Resources such as tourism,
rain-fed agriculture, minerals and an abundant labor force offer
excellent investment opportunities. The manufacturing sector’s
contribution to GDPR decreased slightly in 2004 to 3,5%, from 3,6%
in 2003.
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