Ramaphosa expresses confidence in the economic growth for Limpopo
President Cyril Ramaphosa led a meeting with the Limpopo Provincial Executive Council at Council Chambers of the Polokwane Municipality on Friday.
The President expressed confidence in the economic growth potential that lies within the province that can unlock more opportunities for the people of Limpopo.
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to reflect on the immediate actions that we can take together as national and provincial governments to bring significant changes to the province of Limpopo that will impact on the lives of ordinary citizens. Limpopo remains a fertile ground upon which we can sow South Africa’s growth,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa acknowledged the service delivery challenges faced by Limpopo.
He said there are areas of infrastructure development that will continue to be at the centre of the agenda of his cabinet, like water provision and roads, until significant progress has been registered and the lives of people of Limpopo are changed for the better.
“I was briefed about the many challenges that our people are facing here, particularly the issue of water.”
Ramaphosa highlighted Limpopo’s potential as a site for the proposed hydrogen valley, due to its wealth of critical energy transition minerals.
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He noted the province’s rich agricultural and mineral resources, particularly in the Sekhukhune region.
“Limpopo is perfectly positioned to lead the country in a number of key sectors, including agriculture, tourism, freight and logistics, and mineral resources. The province is set to play a major role in the green economy transition.”
Premier Phophi Ramathuba emphasised the provincial leadership’s focus on industrialization as a means to create jobs, aligning with the vision of the 7th administration.
She highlighted the approval of the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Industrial Park as a Special Economic Zone.
“Limpopo is rich in economic opportunities, particularly in key sectors that are vital to our growth and development.”
Ramathuba also shared that Limpopo created 200,000 jobs in 2023, making it one of the top provinces for job creation that year.
“The 2024 second quarter survey has also shown that we are among the top two provinces that have created more jobs,” she added.
However, she acknowledged the significant challenge posed by chronic water shortages in the province, attributing it to a range of factors from source to reticulation and local management.
“We have had unfortunate natural disasters, including severe droughts that have impacted our districts,” Ramathuba said.
The meeting agreed on the urgent support from National Departments, in the areas of Energy and Electricity, Land Reform, Water and Sanitation, Transport, COGTA and Public Works and Infrastructure to assist the province accelerate catalytically projects that will deliver sustainable growth.
The inter-governmental framework will prioritise projects that require immediate action whilst allowing those that require long-term planning to be mapped accordingly.