Sebata Kgomo Mining, Limpopo and South Africa – Adding value through empowerment

Limpopo is the natural resource treasure chest of South Africa, if not of southern Africa. It boasts some of the greatest reserves of agriculture, mineral and tourism resources, many of which remain largely under-exploited. A network of road and rail corridors connecting to the major seaports will open up Limpopo and the surrounding regions for trade and investment. This is complemented by the presence of airports in major centres of the province including Ellisras, Makhado, Mussina, Phalaborwa, Mokopane, Thabazimbi, Tzaneen, Thohoyandou and Bela-Bela as well as the Gateway International airport in Polokwane.

Limpopo is endowed with an abundance of mineral resources. Mining is a critical sector of the economy in the Province, contributing 22% of the GGP. The platinum group includes platinum itself, chromium, nickel, cobalt, vanadium, tin, limestone and uranium clay. Other reserves include antinomy, phosphates, fluorspar, gold, diamonds, copper, emeralds, scheelites, magnetite, vermiculite, silicon, mica, black granite, corundum, feldspar and salt.

In terms of agriculture Limpopo can be described as the garden of South Africa given its rich fruit and vegetable production. The province produces 75% of the country’s mangoes, 65% of its papaya, 36% of its tea, 25% of its citrus, bananas, and litchis, 60% of its avocados, two thirds of its tomatoes, 285,000 tons of potatoes. Other products include coffee, nuts, guavas, sisal, cotton, tobacco and timber with more than 170 plantations. Besides all these, there is cotton, sunflower, maize, wheat cultivation as well as grape. Most of the highland areas are devoted to cattle and game ranching. The national government has provided financial incentives for investors in Limpopo. The wide range of incentives includes a tax holiday for up to six years.

As a result of Limpopo’s potential, the Provincial government has established TIL (Trade Investment Limpopo). It offers a wide range of services to entrepreneurs and investors interested in setting up business in Limpopo. It specialises in helping to attract investment companies to the best opportunities for acquisitions or green field investments in the Limpopo. This includes setting up joint ventures with local partners, cross holdings of equity between an overseas and local partner or collaborative agreements in the field such as research and development, transfer of technology or sales and distribution.

Sourced from www.limpopo.gov.za