Limpopo Business 2020/21 edition

INTERVIEW
exploring various innovative engineering options,
including cross-border water-transfer schemes.
Will construction of the SEZ infrastructure be
done by local companies?
Local empowerment is at the centre of the MMSEZ
business model. We are already at an advanced
stage of completing a comprehensive Enterprise
Development Strategy and the development of
an SMME Incubation Centre. Local enterprises
will undoubtedly enjoy preference in a variety of
opportunities throughout the project development
phases, including infrastructure roll-out.
Furnace. Credit: Anglo Platinum
to creating a minimum of 50 000 job opportunities
in the next 10 years through this initiative and to
turn around the economic fortunes of the Limpopo
Province. All these investment opportunities will lay
a solid foundation for the envisioned futuristic Smart
City and smart economy. When the High-Speed
Train between Johannesburg and Musina comes to
fruition, that will add impetus to the MMSEZ.
How is pollution being mitigated?
The MMSEZ SOC is committed to environmental
and biodiversity protection. We fully appreciate
and respect the Paris Agreement and our
country’s commitment to ecological sustainable
development and are already taking all reasonable
measures to mitigate environmental concerns
such as global warming, pollution, biodiversity loss,
water scarcity and possible threats to food security.
Substantial research is being conducted to mitigate
such risks which will include the deployment of the
best carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology
to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions.
Specialist studies on climate change and
pollution have been conducted to mitigate
potential negative impacts. With regard to water
scarcity, efforts are being made to avoid tapping
into the already stressed water resources by
With whom is the Limpopo Provincial Government
partnering in the creation of the SEZ?
Each SEZ project is regarded as a national asset
located in a particular province. Such national assets
are expected to attract foreign direct investment
and technology transfer. This model warrants public
and private partnerships at all levels. The Limpopo
Provincial Government has partnered with the
national government through the Department
of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), an
international operator from China, Vhembe District
and local municipalities, particularly Musina
and Makhado municipalities, and the business
fraternity to implement the MMSEZ.
Where does the SEZ fit in regional strategies?
The location of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic
Zone makes it an ideal regional integration
initiative. The SADC Industrialisation Strategy
(2015-2063) emphasises the pursuit of targeted
and selected industrial policies to create conditions
for higher rates of investment by the public and
private sectors to enable crucial sectors to
prosper, especially value-adding manufacturing.
The recently signed Africa Continental Free Trade
Agreement (AfCFTA), promises to
redefine trade relations among
African states and beyond. The
Musina-Makhado SEZ is well
positioned to play a regional
integration role in SADC and
to take up opportunities
that are presented by the
AfCFTA.
23 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2020/21