Limpopo
Limpopo lies within the great elbow of the Limpopo River, and is a province of dramatic contrasts – from true Bushveld country to majestic mountains, primeval indigenous forests, latter-day plantations, unspoilt wilderness areas and a patchwork of farming land.
Limpopo is the gateway to the rest of Africa. It is favourably situated for economic co-operation with other parts of southern Africa as it shares borders with Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg) is the capital city and lies strategically in the centre of the province. The Gateway International Airport at Pietersburg was opened in March 1996 and is being developed as a major economic growth project to be a gateway to the rest of the continent.
The Great North Road through the centre of the province strings together a series of interesting towns.
Warmbaths, with its popular mineral spa, is near the southern border of the province. Then, going north, follow Nylstroom with its table grape industry and beautiful Waterberg range; Potgietersrus; Pietersburg; Louis Trichardt, at the foot of the Soutpansberg Mountain range, and Messina, with its thick-set baobab trees.
The crossing into Zimbabwe is at Beit Bridge, where the South African section of this important route north into Africa ends.
Other important Limpopo towns include the major mining centres of Phalaborwa and Thabazimbi, and Tzaneen, producer of tea, forestry products and tropical fruits.
A new major road route will be the Maputo Corridor which will link the province directly with the Mozambique port, creating development and trade opportunities, particularly in the south-eastern part of the province. The province’s link with Maputo has been declared a ‘main’ corridor.
This province is in the Savannah biome; an area of mixed grassland and trees, which is generally known as Bushveld. A trip through this summer-rainfall area soon convinces one that this is tree country. The biggest section of the Kruger National Park is situated along the eastern boundary of Limpopo with Mozambique.
The people
In Limpopo, some 4,9 million people live on about 123 910 km² of land. The main languages spoken are Sepedi, Xitsonga, Tshivenda and Afrikaans. Several museums and national monuments bear testimony to ancient peoples and fearless pioneers who braved the unknown in days of yore. Living museums include the Bakone Malapa Museum near Pietersburg, where Bapedi tribesmen practise age-old skills for the benefit of visitors, and the Tsonga open-air museum near Tzaneen. Mapungubwe Hill (place of the jackal) some 75 km from Messina, used to be a natural fortress for the people who inhabited it from about AD 950 to 1200.
Valuable archaeological discoveries, including many golden artefacts, have been made in this area, and also in the northern part of the Kruger National Park.
Agriculture
The Bushveld is cattle country. Controlled hunting is often combined with ranching.
Sunflowers, cotton, maize and peanuts are cultivated in the Warmbaths – Nylstroom area. Nylstroom is also known for its table grape crops. Tropical fruit, such as bananas, litchis, pineapples, mangoes and pawpaws, as well as a variety of nuts, are grown in the Tzaneen and Louis Trichardt areas.
Extensive tea and coffee plantations create many employment opportunities in the Tzaneen area. Zebediela, one of the largest citrus estates in the country, is situated south of Pietersburg.
The largest tomato farm in South Africa lies between Tzaneen and Louis Trichardt.
Limpopo has extensive forestry plantations in the Louis Trichardt and Tzaneen districts. Plantations of hard woods for furniture-manufacturing have also been established.
Many of the rural people practise subsistence agriculture.
The northern and eastern parts of this summer-rainfall region are subtropical with hot humid summers and mist in the mountainous parts. Winter throughout the province is mild and mostly frost-free.
Industry
Limpopo is rich in minerals, including copper, asbestos, coal, iron ore, platinum, chrome, diamonds and phosphates.
The province is a typical developing area, exporting primary products, and importing manufactured goods and services. It has a high potential and capacity with the right kind of economic development and is an attractive location for investors.
In September 1998, the Premier of Limpopo said that 41 per cent of the province’s economically active inhabitants were unemployed. The Government was the largest employer, contributing 25 per cent of economic output.
Resources such as tourism, rain-fed agriculture, minerals and the abundant labour force available in the province, are far from optimally utilised and thus offer excellent investment opportunities.
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Capital: Polokwane
Principal languages Sepedi 52,7%, Xitsonga 23%, Tshivenda 15,5%
Basic statistics
Population 4,929 million
% of total 12,1%
Area (km2) 123 910
% of total 10,2%
GGP* at current prices (1994) R14,158 million
% of total GDP** 3,70%
*GGP (gross geographical product) = GDP of a region
** GDP (gross domestic product)
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(Source: GCIS: South Africa Yearbook)