Limpopo Business 2023-24

The 2023/24 edition of Limpopo Business is the 15th 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. In inviting investors to consider Limpopo, the Premier of Limpopo and the MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism outline concrete steps that have been taken to add and improve infrastructure within the province and to tackle socioeconomic challenges. The delicate balance between the need to utilise the bounty of the earth’s minerals for economic progress and the imperative to do so in a way that both boosts the local economy and does not degrade the environment is the subject of a special feature in the front section of the journal. Several mining companies have mitigation projects, employ local people and support local small businesses but Exxaro’s appointment of an all-female team of mounted game rangers stands out as a rather special initiative. News related to mining, agriculture, tourism, construction and property, water, education and development finance is carried in overviews of the main economic sectors. 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 Limpopo is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at www.gan.co.za, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces, our flagship South African Business title and the newest addition to our list of publications, African Business, which was launched in 2020.

OVERVIEW ICT 5G is being

OVERVIEW ICT 5G is being deployed at a Limpopo mine. SECTOR INSIGHT Donations are creating opportunities for school pupils. MTN and Huawei are working together with Minetec Smart Mining to create a 5G-enabled smart mine at Garatau in the Fetakgomo Tubase Local Municipality. Nkwe Platinum and Zijin Platinum intend the pilot project to improve monitoring and performance in all spheres. Ebenezer High School in Mahwelereng, Mokopane, now has its own computer laboratory, pictured, courtesy of Netcare Foundation through non-profit social enterprise One on One Community Based Programmes. Mamaolo Primary School in Chuenespoort, Polokwane, received a similar donation of second-hand computers which are helping to expose pupils to a wider range of subject choices and skills that will help them when they enter the job market. The Provincial Government of Limpopo has previously provided teachers with laptops and scholars with tablets at selected schools in the 1-3 quintiles. Digital Hubs are to be created at Seshego in Polokwane and Nkowankowa in the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality of the Mopani District Municipality. The hubs will offer training, provide access to ICT facilities and enable incubation for young entrepreneurs in the ICT sector. Limpopo Connexion has been appointed as the operator of the Seshego hub and the provincial government has budgeted R23-million for the project. Good progress has been made in rolling out digital infrastructure in the province, with a Data Centre, a Network Operating Control Centre and a Contact Centre complete. A total of 52 sites have been connected to the network, using both fibre and satellite technologies. Phase One of the Broadband project is complete, ONLINE RESOURCES State Information Technology Agency: www.sita.co.za Support Programme for Industrial Innovation: www.spii.co.za Technology Innovation Agency: www.tia.org.za including the development of investment models and strategies for sustainability. Serial property developer Mike Nkuna has announced that his Masingita Group will develop a R5.4-billion project in the Collins Chabane Local Municipality in the far northeast of the province. To be called Nkuna Smart City, Construction Review reports that 119 hectares at Nkuzana hamlet, near the town of Elim, has been allocated for the project. The National Department of Communications is responsible for the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), the regulator of communications, broadcasting and postal services, the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and three other agencies. The Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP) is a programme of the National Research Foundation and supports an average of 235 projects per year. THRIP supports initiatives that use science to bring benefits to wider society. This can relate to boosting distant rural computer literacy or for scientists working at the University of Venda who have received THRIP funding for soil research. ■ LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2023/24 44

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