The 2019/20 edition of Limpopo Business is the 11th 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.
Limpopo has several investment and business opportunities. In addition to the regular articles providing insight into each of the key economic sectors of the province, there are special features on various Special Economic Zones (SEZs) which aim to drive industrialization in the province and the initiatives which are further enhancing the tourism offering in Limpopo.
News related to mining, agriculture, transport and logistics, education and development finance is carried in overviews of the main economic sectors in the province.
To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online at www.globalafricanetwork.com Updated information on the Limpopo is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to at https://www.globalafricanetwork.com/subscribe/, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces as well as our flagship South African Business.
FOCUS Local business
FOCUS Local business benefits from spirit of Chinese investments and technology exchanges PMC is supporting progress and development through community initiatives. BRICS describes the group of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa working together to promote development. The Palabora Mining Company success story shows that amid cultural differences and global economic uncertainties, cooperation by companies from BRICS can create a favourable environment for growth, technology exchanges and the buiding of international cooperation in the spirit of BRICS. Before commissioning and construction of the new floatation plant at PMC, the executive managers and senior managers travelled to China for fact-finding and comparative analysis missions on floatation plants to be built at the site in Limpopo. As part of resource sharing, skills and technology transfer, the main Chinese contractor has subcontracted work to various South African companies. Skills transfer Palabora Mining Company’s smelter refurbishment project and construction of the floatation plant are being implemented in partnership with China’s Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. In addition to technology transfer, BGRIMM has contractually committed to employ 90% of unskilled labour and 80% of the semi-skilled labour from the Phalaborwa area and transfer new skills to PC employees who work at the smelter. The aim is to empower employees to operate and maintain the refurbished smelter once it is completed. Community development initiatives Collaboration between Palabora Copper, the Chinese Consortium and BGRIMM does not only extend to tangibles, considerable investments and technology transfer opportunities, but is also benefitting the communities of Phalaborwa. Since 2013, the Chinese Consortium – through PC – has spent more than R186.5-million in socio-economic development initiatives in Phalaborwa. These include: Enterprise and Supplier Development Palabora Copper has implemented enterprise and supplier development programmes to empower Phalaborwa’s Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to so that they are able to grow and shine the economic candle of Phalaborwa beyond the life of PC. LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2019/20 80
FOCUS Renovation of schools Palabora Copper has renovated Block C of Matome Malatjie High in Maseke Village and painted Lepato High School in Makhushane to ensure that pupils study in a conducive environment. Bus shelters Palabora Copper has constructed 19 bus shelters around the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipal area to ensure that bus users wait for busses in the shade, considering the heat in Phalaborwa. Instilling the love of sport Palabora Copper understands the positive effect of sports on youth. As a result, Palabora Copper supports township sporting events and has hosted several soccer tournaments to instil the love of sports in the youth. Construction and rehabilitation of roads Palabora Copper believes that rehabilitation and construction of roads signifies the company’s seriousness about socio-economic development. Roads are an essential part of human endeavour, a symbol of progress and development. In collaboration with the Ba- Phalaborwa Municipality and other strategic stakeholders, PC established a road rehabilitation project which involves tarring of roads and streets in Namakgale, the biggest township in Phalaborwa. To date, Palabora Copper has collaborated with various strategic stakeholders to rehabilitate the Ackson Malatji, Zakes Ngwasheng and Maphutha Malatji roads. The amount spent on the rehabilitation of these roads is over R44-million. 81 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2019/20
