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BANDIT – EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Polokwane has good hotel and conferencing facili- Thohoyandou is the administrative centre of First-world technology and quality combined with African simplicity. The main woodchipper unit is manufactured by Bandit Industries, Inc. with 35-plus years’ experience in innovation and international research. These units are shipped to ties. Park Inn by Radisson Polokwane is the newest hotel to open in the city. Nearby Moria attracts up to a million people every year, when the Zion Christian Church celebrates Easter. Sekhukhune District SABS-approved roadworthy trailers built at Africa Biomass Company in Worcester, South Africa. Engine-powered woodchippers are fitted with Tier 3, South African standard, diesel or petrol engines, depending on the woodchippers’ specification or clients’ preference. Electric and PTO options are also available in various Bandit models. Thulamela Local Municipality, Vhembe District Municipality and the University of Venda. The Ivory Route passes through the district. Other attractions include an ancient baobab tree, the Dzata Ruins, the Museum of the Drum, the mystical Lake Fundudzi and Nwanedi Provincial Park. South Africa where they are Government is the largest employer in this southern district, followed by agriculture and hunting. The vast The add-ons are specifically handpicked to give you the best set-up and will provide you with a Waterberg District fitted onto majority of households are rural (94%) and Groblersdal well-balanced woodchipper that will outperform The mining sector is the largest contributor to regionis the district capital. The region’s fertile lands produce most other chippers in Africa. al GDP, while agriculture is also signifi cant. Several maize, tobacco, peanuts, vegetables, sunfl ower seeds www.abc.co.za towns in the district are in the mineral-rich Bushveld and cotton on a large scale. Agriculture makes up 25% Igneous Complex. of the economy. Burgersfort is an important town The district also features the riches of the Geography Limpopo covers about 10% of South Africa’s land mass and is home to about 10% of the country’s popbecause of platinum mining. Mopani District Giyani is the administrative capital of the district and is The province is home to two universities, the University of Venda and the University of Limpopo, and seven Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. The Turfloop Graduate Waterberg Coal Fields, iron ore (at Thabazimbi) and tin and platinum at Mookgophong. The town of Lephalale is at the heart of the region’s coal-mining and power-generation sectors and is the site of ulation. The 2011 census recorded 5.4-million key to the local economy. The public sector is one of School of Business is in Polokwane. Eskom’s huge new Medupi power plant which is residents. The main languages of the people of the largest employers and the key sectors are agricul- The centrally situated city of Polokwane is under construction. Limpopo are Sesotho, Xitsonga and Tshivenda ture and mining. Mopani has an established food man- the capital of Limpopo Province. Located on The area around Mokopane is one of the richbut English is widely used in business and governufacturing industry, in canned, preserved and dried- the Great North Road and almost equidistant est agricultural zones in South Africa, producing ment. The Limpopo Province’s 125 754km² fruit production and vegetable juices. Phalaborwa from the high-density population of greater wheat, tobacco, cotton, beef, maize and peanuts. covers a remarkably diverse geographical and is the gateway to the Kruger National Park. It has a Johannesburg and the neighbouring countries of The bubbling hot springs of Warmbaths (Bela-Bela) cultural landscape that is also rich in minerals and good airport and is a tourism hub. Palaborwa Mining Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, is a popular tourism destination, and the district has agricultural products. Company (PMC) is the major economic driving force Polokwane’s upgraded international airport plays many luxury golf estates. The Legend Golf & Safari The N1 highway is a key reason for the provin the area. State-owned phosphate and phosphoric an increasingly important regional role. Resort has the distinction of having had each of its ince’s important role in the nation’s logistics sector. acid producer Foskor is another major employer. The Polokwane is the province’s main centre for ind18 holes designed by a diff erent famous golfer, and It passes through Limpopo from the south to the Marula Festival is held in Phalaborwa every year. ustry, commerce, education and medical services. an extra hole which is very long (360m) but also very border town of Musina and on to Zimbabwe and A subtropical climate and fertile soils combine to The city is close to big concentrations of mineral high: it requires a helicopter ride to get to the tee-off its neighbours in the Southern African Developmake greater Tzaneen very productive in terms of deposits and to fertile agricultural lands. Its point 400m up the mountainside. ment Community (SADC). The busy N11 highway fruit and vegetables. Limpopo’s second most pop- industries reflect this diversity. ■ links the province to Botswana to the west and ulous city has a population of 80 000. The Letaba Mpumalanga Province to the east. Valley produces a large proportion of South Africa’s Most of South Africa’s logistics operators have a presence in the provincial capital city of Polokwane and logistics hubs have been established in that city and in Musina. The province has a mangoes, avocadoes and tomatoes. Forty sawmills operate in the area, drawing on the heavily forested hills around the city. sophisticated rail network which Transnet Freight Vhembe District Rail aims to further expand, primarily to haul the province’s vast reserves of coal away to the coast The Vhembe District borders Zimbabwe and at Richards Bay. Botswana. The district’s administrative capital is Two of the largest engineering projects in Thohoyandou. Vhembe’s vast bushveld supports the history of South Africa have recently been commercial and game farming and the district has undertaken in Limpopo: the Medupi power station considerable cultural and historical assets. Game farm(at Lephalale in the far west) and the De Hoop ing is a growing subsector, as is eco-tourism. De Beers’ Dam (in the south-east). Venetia Mine, situated just west of Musina, is South Africa’s largest diamond producer.
Transport is entering a new era
Polokwane is rolling out a new public transportation system.
Image: Leeto la Polokwane
With the City of Polokwane in the final stages of preparation for the introduction of the Leeto la Polokwane public transport system and the Special Economic Zone at MusinaMakhado designed to become a logistics hub, the Limpopo Province is set to take full advantage of its strategic location.
Logistics is a vital feature of the Limpopo economy for another reason – the province has huge volumes of minerals and agricultural products to be transported to markets. In addition to the N1 highway, the N11 is a primary road corridor and there are nine provincial road corridors.
The building of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) will further boost Limpopo’s importance as a transport and logistics hub. The official opening of the Musina Intermodal Terminal near the Beit Bridge Border Post is confirmation of Limpopo’s status as a leader in logistics. Located in the town of Musina on the N1 highway leading to Zimbabwe, the terminal is used to move cargo from road to rail.
Warehousing facilities on-site make for loading efficiencies in the main cargoes such as chrome, fertiliser, coal, fuel and citrus. Bulk and containerised cargo are handled, with an annual capacity of three-million tons per annum.
Major investments in transport infrastructure are being made in Polokwane. SANRAL is building a R640-million ring road and a bus rapid transport system is being introduced. The scheme is called Leeto la Polokwane. Within the province more broadly, 22.6% of households in Limpopo use bus transport and 45.8% use taxis (2013 Household Travel Survey).
Apart from Polokwane and Musina, the towns of Tzaneen, Lephalale and Burgersfort are important in logistics. Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL), of which the provincial government is the sole shareholder, accounts for about a third of the budget of the Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure.
The South African National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL) is involved in two major road projects in support of the Musina-Makhado SEZ. The N1 is to be re-routed and a new single carriageway created in the Musina CBD. A bypass into ZCC Moria has been completed.
The Polokwane International Airport (PIA) is wholly owned by the provincial government and run by the Gateway Airports Authority Ltd (GAAL), an agency of the Limpopo Department Transport and Community Safety.
SA Airlink caters mainly to the business market and offers 21 flights to Johannesburg six days a week. The airline also provides links between Phalaborwa and Johannesburg, and between Hoedspruit and Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Great North Transport falls under the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA). The company has more than 500 buses, covers about 36-million kilometres every year on 279 routes and transports 37.6-million passengers.
An amount of R814-million was budgeted in 2020/21 to support the public transport industry, including subsidies. ■
Leeto la Polokwane opens new opportunities for local businesses
Affordable transport set to transform the provincial capital.
Citizens of Polokwane and surrounding areas are anticipating business growth, employment opportunities and affordable transportation as the city prepares to launch an Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS), Leeto la Polokwane.
Leeto la Polokwane is the city’s road-based public transport that will ease the movement of people to all parts of the city quicker, ensuring they have easy access to educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and employment centres. The system is set to provide a high-quality transport service that is in line with the National Transport Act, integrating the different forms of public transport across the municipality.
This transportation system has an important role in the development of a city and spurring economic growth. Public transport is the backbone of the economy as it allows workers to travel to their workplaces daily.
LEETO LA POLOKWANE AIMS TO • Reduce congestion on public roads • Improve the road networks • Create business opportunities • Employment with focus on the affected operators
It is becoming increasingly clear that Leeto la Polokwane is crucial to socio-economic development as it provides a viable transport solution for commuters, something sorely lacking in the past.
As milestones are achieved along the road to rolling out the system, so economic growth will follow. ■
Tel: + 27 15 290 2324 Email: leetolapolokwane@polokwane.gov.za Website: www.leetolapolokwane.co.za
Exciting public transport system to be launched in 2020
Phased approach to be adopted for maximum safety.
The National Department of Transport visited the City of Polokwane to monitor the progress of the system.
Leeto la Polokwane’s initial Phase 1A is expected to go operational in 2020. Before the actual operations, the system will undergo trial operations to test the effectiveness of the system while at the same time training the drivers to efficiently run the buses.
The system trial period will be guided by the
Covid-19 regulations as tabled by the government.
Precautionary measures have been put in place to ensure compliance with the Covid-19 Bus
Transport Operators Guidelines.
Phase 1A consists of two trunk extension routes and two complementary routes which will serve the Seshego, Flora Park and Westenburg areas. The complete system will be characterised by the dedicated bus lanes, smartcard payment systems, bus stops, a control centre, one median station, a layover facility, trunk extension routes and complementary routes.
Construction of dedicated bus lanes along Nelson Mandela Drive from Zebediela Street to Seshego Circle has been completed. The dedicated lanes will fast-track the arrival times for passengers by separating the Leeto buses from the normal traffic.
A median station and a bus depot are under construction. The station will be situated in the Central Business District (CBD) along General Joubert Street between Thabo Mbeki and Grobler Street. The bus depot which is situated in Zone 8 on New Era Drive Street in Seshego will house 36 Leeto la Polokwane buses for Phase 1A operations. Both the Bus Depot and the Bus Station will not be ready for Go-Live 2020.
In the meantime, operations will be on the kerbside (the side of a road or pavement that is nearer to the stop) and the buses will be operated from the layover facility. The buses will not be
picking up passengers during the trial period; the aim of this period is to ensure drivers are being trained appropriately.
The following elements will be functional during Phase 1A Implementation: • Trunk Extension TE4 which runs through Zone 1 and back into Nelson Mandela Street. • Trunk Extension TE5b which runs from Nelson Mandela Street onto Ditlou Street, Seshego B section and back into Nelson Mandela Street. • Complementary F1 which runs on Grobler,
Webster, Marshall and Thabo Mbeki Streets. • Complementary F4b which runs on Grobler and
Nikkel Streets and circulates through Nirvana and back into the CBD via Thabo Mbeki Street. • The Control Centre, New Peter Mokaba Stadium. • The layover facility located near Itsoseng Centre, on the corner of Fluorspar and Silicon Streets.
Universal accessibility Leeto la Polokwane was built in line with Universal Access principles, to provide easy access to all people with a variety of needs, giving equal opportunity to have access to a safe, reliable and quality transport service.
Features include the use of deployable boarding bridges to allow passengers in wheelchairs and mothers with baby strollers to enter and exit the buses safely. The other features are raised tactile (textured) paving, beeping alarms, and voice announcements that guide people who have reduced vision and who cannot read.
Another important aspect is infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. About 18km of Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) facilities have been built which includes the walkways that are dedicated to human-powered means of getting around such as bicycles, skateboards, wheelchairs and handcarts.
Cashless ticketing system For commuters to get in the Leeto la Polokwane buses, they will need to buy a Leeto Travel Card that will be loaded with cash, allowing commuters to plan and budget for trips. There will be no cash handling between the drivers and the passengers. The card will be available at local outlets, vendors and spaza shops. Commuters will not be charged for the first issue of the travel card. However, should the card be lost or damaged, a replacement fee will be charged. Commuters will register their cards with their ID numbers so that it can be blocked if it is lost, stolen or damaged. The card has no expiry date and can be used multiple times.
Control centre The control centre, where all the operations for Leeto la Polokwane will be monitored and coordinated, is based at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium. It is connected to the buses and the station through the Intelligent Transport System (ITS), which updates passengers with information through audios and visual displays. All the buses and stations will be monitored through CCTV cameras.
Urban traffic control (UTC) As part of the preparations to launch the Phase 1A of the project, Leeto la Polokwane will install
and test new traffic signals. Known as the Urban Traffic Control (UTC) system, it is a specialised form of traffic management that coordinates traffic light signals in a centralised location.
The following intersections along Nelson Mandela Drive received new traffic signals in November 2019: • Madiba Park Street intersection. • Maropeng intersection. • Zebediela Street intersection.
Leeto la Polokwane aims for safe public transport rollout
Safety measures for Covid-19.
In response to the current Covid-19 pandemic that has had an impact on every element of society in South Africa, the Leeto la Polokwane team has drafted measures to protect both its personnel and commuters to ensure a safe journey for everyone.
One of the critical measures is the reduction of contact. It is challenging to reduce contact in a transport environment, but all precautions should be taken. The following measures as guided by Covid-19
Bus Transport Operators Guidelines May 2020 have been adopted by Leeto la Polokwane and include: • Meetings should be replaced with Zoom (or similar) to limit contact between staff. If meetings must take place, a meeting room for 10 people should not have more than three people in the room with a distance between each person no less than 2m. The meeting room should be disinfected after each meeting. • Administration staff who can work from home should do so between Levels 2-5. • Customer service staff should be available to passengers from behind perspex or glass screens. • Security staff should be provided with full-screen face masks and sanitiser spray. • Drivers should have perspex or glass cabins installed to protect them. If this is not possible, rear boarding can be considered to
protect drivers. • Automatic fare collection systems must be operational to ensure a contactless system. • Ticket booths should be cashless as far as possible. • Types of masks to be used should be clarified to ensure people touch their faces as little as possible. Masks worn should adhere to the national specifications. ■
Leeto la Polokwane uses an automated fare collection systems to ensure a contactless payment system that is safe for everyone to use amid the Covid-19 epidemic and beyond.
Empowering the minibus taxi industry and providing efficient public transport
Polokwane Local Municipality’s Transportation Services Director Malose Lamola outlines the transition of the regional taxi industry to becoming a bus-operating company.
Three taxi associations have registered a company which has signed agreements with the City of Polokwane to provide bus services on behalf of the city. The Leeto la Polokwane project has been planned in line with the 2007 Public Transport
Strategy and Action Plan, under the guidance of the Department of Transport. One of the principles in implementing Integrated Rapid Public Transport
Networks (IRPTNs) is that the incumbent public transport operators should not compete with the system to be implemented and should be compensated for their loss of business. In the case of Phase 1A of the Leeto la Polokwane project, the Polokwane Municipality has been negotiating and engaging with the Flora Park Pietersburg Taxi Association (FPTA), the Seshego
Polokwane Taxi Association (SPTA) and the
Westenberg Taxi Association (WTA), all of which are directly affected by the system footprint. The process has been finalised between the two parties in order to make way for the implementation of
Leeto la Polokwane Phase 1A.
Empowerment and training One of the main aspects of this project is to empower the minibus taxi industry and to assist it to make the transition from providing informal public transport services (unscheduled operations) to the provision of scheduled services. As part of the empowerment directive, which includes a capacitation programme, the three affected taxi associations have registered a Vehicle Operating Company called Esilux (Pty) Ltd. This company now has a full Board of Directors. The City of Polokwane and Esilux have also concluded an interim Vehicle Operating Company Agreement (VOCA).
The municipality has started rolling out suitable training programmes to capacitate the Board of Directors to run the company sustainably. Other personnel that will be involved in the management of the company, as well as the operation of the Phase 1A of the Leeto la Polokwane system, will be recruited for the operationalisation of the system. Leeto la Polokwane is to be launched in the 2020/21 financial year. The following milestones have been reached since 2018: • Execution of supplementary market surveys for Phase 1A. • Sign off on the supplementary market surveys on Phase 1A. • Operating licence verifica-tion process for Phase 1A. • Signed process agreement on the Vehicle Operating
Company Agreement (VOCA). • Signed process agreement on the compensation for affected operators. • Delivery of universally compliant 12-Metre Buses. • Delivery of universally compliant 9-Metre Buses • Draft Vehicle Operating Company Agreement (three years). • Negotiations on VOCA, legal document. • Negotiations on VOCA, financial model (commercial contract) and approval by council. • Compensation negotiations for Phase 1A finalisation. • Signed vehicle removal agreement. • Signed restraint of trade and compensation agreement. ■ By Malose Lamola: Director, Transportation Services, Polokwane Local Municipality. Malose Lamola
Special Economic Zones can be transformative
Among the paucity of realistic intervention options, SEZs offer an opportunity to attract investment and build manufacturing capacity.
Since the beginning of 2020, humanity was thrown into a tinderbox of tension characterised by anxiety, fear, frustration, agony, pain, anger and hopelessness. Status and class are unable to provide a shield to protect the elite and privileged and the working class are as hard-pressed as ever.
The game of numbers and statistics, globally and nationally, has lost effect as daily shocks have become an integral feature of the new normal. The invisible enemy has struck again indiscriminately across the globe, affecting all nationalities, races, genders and classes. The fear of an imminent apocalypse as a consequence of climate change and natural disasters has been superseded by the catastrophe of a novel pandemic.
A need to reinterpret the world We have observed airplanes grounded at airports across the globe, boats and oil tankers stranded outside harbours, the finest hotels deserted, and yet hospitals are overflowing. Humanity has entered a new paradigm. Life as we know it has drastically changed. Economic engines across global metropolises have taken an involuntary break and social distance separates families and prevents general human contact. One of the most quoted phrases by Karl Marx from his seminal work Thesis Eleven is “philosophers have hitherto only interpreted the world in various ways, the point is to change it”. Perhaps the time has come for modern philosophers to reinterpret the world concomitant with the process of changing it.
Global economic meltdown Some economic commentators have asserted that the impact of Covid-19 on the world economy may be worse than the 1929 Great Depression and the 2009 Global Financial Crisis. According to Golding and Muggah (2020), it is estimated that the Covid-19 crisis will lead to losses exceeding $9-trillion or 10% of global GDP. As for the African continent, UNECA estimates that the continent’s growth is expected to drop from 3.2% to 1.8%. It also estimates a 48% decline in employment. The time for planning for a repackaged
Artistic impression. Credit: MMSEZ
MMSEZ
A world of game-changing opportunities
SPECIAL FEATURE
What is Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ)? The Musina-Makhado SEZ is a flagship initiative of the Limpopo Provincial Government implemented through the Musina-Makhado SEZ SOC in partnership with a Chinese Operator, Shenzhen Hoi Mor Resources Holding Company Ltd. The MMSEZ as an economic development tool aims to promote national economic growth and exports by using support measures in order to attract targeted foreign and domestic investments, research and development (R&D) and technology transfer.
Where is the MMSEZ located? The Musina-Makhado SEZ is located in the vicinity of the Beit Bridge Border Post which is one of the busiest ports of entry in SA and an undisputable gateway to the South African Development Community (SADC) countries. The MMSEZ has the potential to become an inland intermodal terminal, facilitated by its anchor along the North-South Corridor, and directly connecting to the country’s major ports through both N1 road and the JohannesburgMusina railway line, for the trans-shipment of sea cargo and manufactured goods to inland destinations and the SADC markets.
MUSINA-MAKHADO SEZ CLUSTERS
• Metallurgy (Minerals Beneficiation) • Energy Generation • Manufacturing • Agro-Processing • Logistics
WHAT ARE THE INCENTIVES FOR INVESTING IN THE MMSEZ?
• Preferential corporate tax • Building allowance and tax relief • Employment tax incentive • Customs-controlled area tax relief • Rental space discounts • Readily available infrastructure • Sufficient land for greenfield projects • Access to agricultural & mineral resources • Easy access to the up-north (SADC) market • Accessible logistics support for the movement of goods
POTENTIAL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN AND OUTSIDE THE MMSEZ
ENERGY & METALLURGY
Power Plant Steel Plant Stainless Steel Plant Coking Plant Pig Iron Plant Ferromanganese Plant Ferrochrome Plant Chrome Plating Lime Plant
AGRO-PROCESSING
Food Processing Facility Fresh Produce Handling Canning Facility Cotton Beneficiation Timber Processing
LOGISTICS
Logistics Services Warehousing Distribution Container Yard Vehicle Distribution Cold Storage Bonded Warehouses
INFRASTRUCTURE
Construction Services Engineering Services Real Estate
Development Retail Property Hospitality Facilities Building Materials
Manufacturing and Supply
MANUFACTURING
Light Industries Basic Assembly Automotive Manufacturing Electromechanical Operations OE Manufacturing Component Manufacturing Fertilisers Agro-chemicals Petro-chemicals ICT Solutions Furniture Manufacturing Packaging Services
CONTACTS MUSINA-MAKHADO SEZ SOC
29 Market Street, Polokwane, Limpopo Province (RSA)
MS TSHAMAANO MAKUYA MR RICHARD ZITHA
Stakeholder Relations Manager Project Executive Tel: +27(0) 15 295 5120 Tel: +27(0) 15 295 5120 Cell: +27 (0)67 411 9192 Cell: +27 (0)71 391 8188 19 Tshamaano.Makuya@lieda.co.za Richard.Zitha@lieda.co.za
modern “Marshal Plan” for the new economic recovery plan is now. Post the 2009 global economic meltdown, the South African economy contracted by 1.8%. Countries need to recharge and embark on a new trajectory of normalising life and rebuilding their economies.
The pandemic disrupted many industries yet created a window of opportunity for innovation and alternative strategies. A country such as Saudi Arabia will undoubtedly begin to think about economic development beyond oil. Similarly, tourism-based economies will be forced to think outside the box. Countries endowed with natural resources such as South Africa should consider strongly accelerating the pace of industrialisation through the production of value-added products for export.
Industrial activity through fiscal and regulatory incentives Among a plethora of potential economic recovery strategies and a paucity of realistic interventions is the phenomenon of Special Economic Zones (SEZs). SEZs are geographically delimited areas wherein governments facilitate industrial activity through fiscal and regulatory incentives and infrastructure support. SEZs can make important contributions to growth and development by attracting investment, creating jobs and boosting exports. They can build forward and backward linkages and support global value chain participation, industrial upgrading and diversification (UNCTAD, 2019). Globally, there is a boom of SEZs with over 5 400 operational in 147 countries and over 500 in the pipeline.
According to Bernard Hoekman, Director International Trade Department World Bank, China’s astonishing economic growth can be attributed to the use of Special Economic Zones. One of the striking examples is the transformation of Shenzhen, a former small fishing village in the 1970s, into today’s city of over nine-million people, an illustration of the effectiveness of the SEZ model within the Chinese context.
Hoekman asserts that SEZs offer a potentially valuable tool to overcome some of the existing constraints to attracting investment and growing exports for many African countries.
Accelerating the pace of industrialisation The South African Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) recognises the SEZ programme as one of the critical tools for accelerating industrialisation. As a result, eight Special Economic Zones were designated in six provinces as follows: Saldanha Bay (Western Cape), Dube TradePort (KwaZulu-Natal), OR Tambo (Gauteng), Coega (Eastern Cape), East London (Eastern Cape), Richards Bay (KwaZulu-Natal), Musina-Makhado (Limpopo) and Maluti-a-Phofung (Free State). By 2019, the number of operational investors in designated SEZs in the country increased from 72 to 85, with a total investment value of over R9-billion. The number of direct jobs created currently stands at 13 561, but this is expected to increase substantially as the new investments come on-stream (dtic, 2019).
Growing industrial capacity has become a priority for the South African government to grow the economy. It is evident that the top four provinces (Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape) enjoy the highest rate of industrial activities while the others experience relatively low manufacturing capacity (Stats SA). This is in contrast with the other five provinces having a plentiful endowment of primary resources such as minerals and agricultural produce, which are supposed to be the bedrock upon which industrialisation rests.
Limpopo’s Musina-Makhado SEZ Limpopo province has a competitive advantage in mining, agriculture and tourism as the strategic pillars. Among its rich mineral deposits are platinum group metals (PGMs), iron ore, chrome, coal, diamonds, antimony, phosphate, copper, black granite, corundum, etc.
Artistic impression. Credit: MMSEZ
The bulk of these resources are extracted and exported to foreign markets as primary resources which deprives the province of an important opportunity to industrialise and develop. This is indeed a lost opportunity to build local industrial capacity, create much-needed employment opportunities and grow the SMME sector.
Another lost opportunity has been within the agricultural sector. Limpopo is well endowed with agricultural resources, making it one of the key regions to produce fruits, nuts, vegetables, cereals and tea. Statistics from the Agricultural Business Chamber South Africa indicate that Limpopo accounts for approximately 19% of South Africa’s potatoes, 75% of mangoes, 65% of papayas, 36% of tea, 25% of citrus, 60% of litchis, 60% of avocados and 60% of its tomato production per annum. This abundance of agricultural products provides a great opportunity for agro-processing and production of value-added products for export markets.
The designation of the Musina Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) in 2016 heralded a window of opportunity to turn the province’s fortunes around.
The SADC Industrialisation Strategy (20152063) emphasises the pursuit of targeted and selected industrial policies to create conditions for higher rates of investment, especially in valueadding manufacturing. The Strategy and Roadmap for implementation focuses on three potential growth paths for SADC economies namely, agroprocessing, minerals beneficiation and downstream processing; and enhanced and upgraded participation in regional and global value chains.
The recently signed Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), promises to redefine trade relations among African states and beyond. It is envisioned that it will create a single market for goods and services across 55 countries. 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.
A vision for a futuristic Smart City The MMSEZ as an economic development tool aims to promote national economic growth and exports by using support measures to attract targeted foreign and domestic investments, research and development and technology transfer. With an anchor of investment pledges of about R150-billion, the MusinaMakhado SEZ will result in the establishment of an energy and metallurgical complex, a logistics hub, agroprocessing centre, light-to-medium manufacturing industries, SMME Incubation Centre, retail centres, hotels, residential and community facilities.
All these investment opportunities will lay a solid foundation for the envisioned futuristic Smart City utilising the Internet of Things (IoT) anchored on a comprehensive ICT infrastructure for the realisation of a smart economy, smart governance, smart environment, smart mobility, smart living and smart people principles.
The location of this flagship programme has been carefully chosen to meet the basic requirements of a successful SEZ initiative.
Conclusion The envisaged job-creation opportunities, skills development, technology transfer, SMME empowerment and the socio-economic infrastructure development triggered by the MMSEZ will make a significant impact on the improvement of the quality of lives of many people and contribute to the provincial and national GDP.
In the midst of this unprecedented global lockdown, we must afford ourselves an opportunity to reimagine the future and wake up from the dream. In the fullness of time, the morning after the night before shall be upon us and we dare not be found wanting. The time to concurrently reinterpret the world and change it has come and such a task cannot be left to philosophers alone.
Article by Lehlogonolo Masoga, Chief Executive Officer of MusinaMakhado Special Economic Zone.
The Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone will host an energy and metallurgical complex
CEO Lehlogonolo Masoga explains how the MMSEZ is ideally placed to play a key role in regional integration.
Lehlogonolo Masoga
BIOGRAPHY
Lehlogonolo Masoga has more than 19 years of experience as an administrator and public servant, most recently as Deputy Speaker of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature and MEC for Roads and Transport. He served on the Limpopo Youth Commission. Lehlogonolo holds three master’s degrees: Governance and Public Leadership (Wits), Development Studies (Limpopo) and an MSc in Leadership and Change (Leeds Beckett University, UK). He has diplomas in human resources and humanitarian assistance and is currently a registered PhD candidate in Administration. What locational advantages does the MMSEZ enjoy? The Musina-Makhado SEZ is located in the vicinity of the Beit Bridge Border Post which is one of the busiest ports of entry to South Africa and a gateway to the South African Development Community (SADC) countries. The MMSEZ has the potential to become an inland intermodal terminal, facilitated by its anchoring position along the North-South Corridor, and directly connecting to the country’s major ports through both N1 road and the Johannesburg-Musina railway line, for the trans-shipment of sea cargo and manufactured goods. Musina and Makhado municipalities are located in the Vhembe District.
What industries will be established at the SEZ? An energy and metallurgical complex will include the following plants: Coal Power, Coke, Ferrochrome, Ferromanganese, Pig Iron, Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel, Lime, Silicon-Manganese, Metal Silicon and Calcium Carbide. This will be complemented by the logistics hub, agroprocessing centre, light-to-medium manufacturing industries, SMME Incubation Centre, retail centres, hotels and residential amenities.
What is planned for the early phases? The planning phase has been complex. A rigorous and diligent planning process was undertaken which involved pre-feasibility, feasibility, licence application, operator appointment, stakeholder engagement, environmental impact assessment, clusters analysis, internal and external infrastructure master planning, entity corporatisation, etc. Despite the lengthy environmental impact assessment process affecting the Energy and the Metallurgical Cluster (South Site), we are confident that the light-to-medium industrial park, to be located in the North Site of the SEZ, will be operational by the end of 2021. Our infrastructure rollout plans are unfolding smoothly.
What are the longer-term plans for the SEZ? The MMSEZ is an economic development tool which aims to promote national economic growth and exports by using support measures in order to attract targeted foreign and domestic investments, research and development and technology transfer. We are looking forward
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 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.
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.
Boosting manufacturing is a key priority for Limpopo
Special Economic Zones and industrial parks are being built to provide infrastructure.
Westfalia fruit warehouse. Credit: Westfalia
Getting more value for the minerals and agricultural crops that are extracted from the soil of Limpopo is a major goal of economic planners. A key component of the strategy to boost the value of the region’s products through manufacturing is to develop Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and industrial parks.
Described as “major catalytic projects”, the Musina-Makhado SEZ (approved and forging ahead), the Tubatse SEZ (proposed) and several industrial parks (either being revived or established) are central to the strategy to grow Limpopo’s manufacturing capacity. As of February 2020, Shaanxi CEI Investment Holdings had committed to a $5-billion investment in a vanadium and titanium smelter project at the MusinaMakhado SEZ (MMSEZ) and a further $1.1-billion had been pledged from other sources.
The focus of the first phase of the SEZ is on energy and metallurgical processes but agriprocessing, logistics and general manufacturing are expected to follow in short order. An investment conference targeting the northern side of the SEZ was held in November 2019 and a South African company has announced it will manufacture products in the electric vehicle field, new energy solar system products, energy storage systems and high-density polyethylene water pipes.
Most of the planning for both sections of the SEZ is complete and the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) are nearly finished. Projections for employment opportunities at the MMSEZ have been revised upwards to 26 000.
The plans for the proposed Tubatse SEZ have been amended and will be submitted to national government in the course of 2020. The SEZ in Tubatse will focus on the beneficiation of platinum group metals (PGM) and mining-related manufacturing. Phase one of the project would see a 280ha site developed to accommodate a mining suppliers park, light manufacturing, heavy manufacturing, logistics, a solar energy cluster and a PGM beneficiation cluster.
A good example of an attempt to derive greater benefit from an agricultural product is the plan to create a Marula Industrial Park. The Marula Industrial Hub envisaged for the Phalaborwa area will provide a platform to further
Limpopo United Business Forum
The Forum provides local bodies with a single voice to talk to government.
Limpopo United Business Forum (LUBF) is an overarching organisation comprising 10 business and professional organisations in Limpopo. LUBF represents a united voice that advocates and lobbies for the interests and aspirations of businesspeople in Limpopo.
Members NAFCOC, Black Management Forum (BMF), Businesswomen’s Association (BWA), Progressive Professionals Forum (PPF), South African Women in Construction (SAWIC), Seshego Business Quorum, Forum of Limpopo Entrepreneurs (FOLE), Small Business Empowerment Unity (SBEU), Limpopo ICT Forum and the African Farmers’ Association of SA.
Objective To collaborate and partner with public and private organisations in promoting and advancing the interests of members. LUBF further forms part of the social compact comprising business, government and civil society in order to grow the economy of Limpopo, contribute to the creation of jobs, reduce inequality and eradicate poverty.
Programme of action Address challenges that affect small businesses. These include access to information, access to finance, access to markets and access to skills development and training. Late payments by government departments are a threat to the survival of small businesses. LUBF is lobbying the Provincial Treasury and the Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Department (LEDET) to deal decisively with departments that continuously disadvantage small businesses. LUBF is looking forward to the Public Procurement Bill which will create a better legislative framework for local empowerment.
In responding to the challenges that are currently facing SMMEs, LUBF has in the past two months engaged with the Minister of Small Business Development, Honorable Khumbudzo Ntshaveni, MEC for LEDET, Honorable Thabo Mokoni, CEO for Musina-Makhado SEZ, Lehlogonolo Masoga, and the MEC for Public Works, Honorable Dickson Masemola in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Economic Transformation Unit of the ANC in Limpopo.
Survival and opportunity • Businesses are struggling due to the stagnant economy, a situation that has now been exacerbated by the unprecedented pandemic.
Limpopo has lower than average household income and low ICT connectivity. Small businesses have to continue creating jobs to save the economy. • LUBF has intensified its programme of action and has recently engaged many relevant stakeholders. The objective is to assist SMMEs to gain access to Covid-19 relief programmes and access business opportunities. • Intervention is vital for the survival of businesses but it is also true that the new economy presents opportunities for small businesses to create new jobs and maintain current ones. • LUBF’s role is therefore to ensure access to available programmes and assist entrepreneurs to take their space in the new normal of digitisation, innovation and manufacturing. • The leadership remain committed to uniting the voice of business. ■
Contact details
Address: 1st Flr, Terminal Bldg, Polokwane Airport, Gateway Drive, Polokwane Tel: +27 15 296 0654 Administrator: Abram Luruli Cell: 084 451 9923 Email: Lubfreception@gmail.com Facebook: Limpopo United Business Forum-LUBF
exploit the tasty marula fruit, which has a high vitamin C content and is already produced as a beer and a liqueur. The Limpopo Department of Economic Development and Tourism (LEDET) is encouraging research into the uses of marula and the development of commercial products such as cosmetics and jams. The University of Limpopo is making good progress with a marula wine.
Facilities at the hub will include a centre for research and processing facilities to create more value from the raw product. Advisors will be available to help small-scale farmers and SMMEs enter the formal economy.
The Marula initiative is consistent with the broader agricultural sector plans for Limpopo. The provincial government has identified five Agricultural Development Zones (ADZs) across the province, including the Mopani District within which the Marula Hub is located. Programmes to increase productivity have been presented to small-scale farmers. Small-scale producers are receiving support in the form of irrigation infrastructure, livestock infrastructure and other production inputs.
The University of Venda has its own commercial offshoot, the Univen Innovative Growth Company (UIGC) which is solely owned by the university. Services are offered to the public by a range of consultants and trainers via five programmes, including the Animal Production Programme, the Farm Equipment Programme, the Univen Commercial Unit and the Univen Consultancy Unit.
Targeted plans The SEZ and industrial parks being promoted in the province are conceptualised within a broader framework. The Limpopo Development Plan (LDP) targets three broad areas for improvement and development: socio-economic, infrastructural and institutional. Every department of the Limpopo Provincial Government has targets within the LDP which are translated into actionable programmes to be implemented within time-frames.
The plan is supported by strategies relating to a spatial investment framework in public and private sector infrastructure, an integrated public transport policy and policies on land development.
Key elements of the Limpopo Development Plan are: industrialisation (beneficiation of mining and agricultural products and produce); mining (local suppliers, improved training and access to sector for entrepreneurs); infrastructure development; agri-processing; SMME promotion and ICT and the knowledge economy (establish a WAN footprint).
The Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) is the key driver of the provincial government’s drive to boost the economy through investment. LEDA is an agency of LEDET. LEDA’s brief is to contribute to accelerated industrialisation in Limpopo by stimulating and diversifying the industrial base of the regional economy. The focus is on high-impact projects that will spark growth in a variety of sectors and create employment opportunities.
Land, property and infrastructure develop-ment (including business parks and industrial parks) are vital components of the plan. As these targeted areas grow, the infrastructure and associated industries should act as a magnet for other businesses and industries in the same sector, and service industries.
Mining is currently the most important part of the provincial economy. Recent platinum mining developments on the eastern limb of the Bushveld Complex have increased this effect but global commodity prices have been uncertain in recent years. One of the goals of the LDP is to see more beneficiation from the mining sector, which will support the goal of further industrialising the province’s economy. Related to this is an emphasis on the goal of developing manufacturing capacity, and this is where the role of SEZs is so important. ■
Sawn timber. Image: Ludwig Sevenster/SA Forestry
Univen Innovative Growth Company
UIGC provides the University of Venda with an independent stream of income.
The Univen Innovative Growth Company (UIGC) Pty (Ltd) is a company solely owned by the University of Venda. The company has a robust database of professional consultants and trainers who, respectively, provide quality services at competitive rates and offer accredited short courses. • UIGC GarCle has been providing independent cleaning and maintenance services since 2017.
Vision To contribute to the field of skills development for South Africa and beyond and to be a sustainable third-stream income for the University of Venda.
Mission To offer critical client-based services through short skills programmes, consultancy and commercial ventures in a financially viable and sustainable manner in pursuance of university strategic objectives.
Mandate UIGC is tasked with the responsibility to generate third-stream income through the units. The UIGC units are: • Univen Commercial Unit. • Univen Consultancy Unit. • Editing and Proofreading Unit (EPU). • Statistics and Research Design Unit. • Univen Centre for Continuing Education (UCCE). In addition, the Univen Store sells university-related clothing such as golf shirts and caps, there are programmes covering animal production and farm equipment and five subsidiary companies operate under the UGIC banner. The companies are: • UIGC Securities, a security company registered with PSIRA. After the university terminated the contract with the private security company which was rendering security services, they partially insourced all security staff members to UIGC in 2016. • The UIGC Travel Agency started operating in 2017. It comprises two travel consultants and a general manager who provide services to Univen staff, government employees as well as the general public. • Tshakhuma Barotta UIGC Farm was launched in 2016 as a partnership between UIGC and the community with 49 fulltime employees. Due to the successful revitalisation of the farm, the Tshakhuma Community Trust has agreed to UIGC increasing its shareholding. • UIGC Mining: a partnership created the Duisend-UIGC
Mining Consortium (DUMC) which processes and crushes aggregates from the mining of waste rock at Sibanye
Stillwater’s Baobab Platinum
Mine in the Lebowakgomo area. ■
Contact details
Address: Univen Innovative Growth Company (UIGC), University Road, Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province, 0950 Email: info@uigc.co.za | Tel: +27 15 962 8761
Leadership and management training are key functions of the UIGC
The Univen Innovative Growth Company earns revenue while building local capacity.
One of the most important functions of the Univen Innovative Growth Company is to offer short courses and training. This not only passes on skills and helps local people who might not have had access to education in the past, it earns money for the institution which can then be deployed to help students in need.
The training function is currently among the best revenue earners in the UIGC stable, with popular courses being offered and taken up by adults keen to improve their qualifications. The training division has also attracted funding from the private and public sectors.
The local municipality has taken advantage of training courses in finance for non-finance managers, integrated development planning (IDP) and Local Economic Development (LED).
UIGC venues are used as training sites for students from both the University of Venda and Vhembe TVET College. Profits generated from UIGC enterprises are ploughed back to help fund students attending the university, with an emphasis on assisting those in the “missing middle”. A sum of R8-million was contributed by UIGC in 2016 towards this cause.
A large number of courses are offered by UGIC in a wide range of spheres, including local government and environmental management. Courses include: • Public Service and Administration
By way of example, this popular course includes units such as the Municipal Finance Management
Programme, Multi-Stakeholder Engagement
Processes, Local Government Citizen Participation, Local Government Legislative Framework,
Local Government Ethics, Values and Integrity,
Community Development, Local Economic
Development, Policy Management, Implementation and Analysis in the Public Sector and
Public Financial Management. • General Management and Responsible
Leadership. • Certificate for end-user computing. • Environmental Management. • Integrated Waste Management. • Envirotrac (Environmental Manager’s Certificate of Competency). • Catchment Management Strategy. • Safety Management courses. • Strategic Management. • Supervisory course. • Research Methodology. • Supply Chain and
Logistics. • Business Management and Entrepreneurship. • Education and Teacher
Development. ■
Contact details
Contact: Dr John Mudau, Chief Executive Officer Email: John.mudau@univen.ac.za Khathutshelo Ligege, Personal Assistant to CEO Tel: + 27 15 962 8754 / 61 Email: Khathutshelo.ligege@univen.ac.za
De Beers Venetia Mine unveils a testing laboratory
Response to the Covid-19 pandemic is part of “Building Forever” commitment.
De Beers Venetia Mine has unveiled a R10-million coronavirus (Covid-19) testing laboratory that will be utilised to test the mine’s employees and contractors.
The laboratory will play a vital role in the diagnostic testing process of Covid-19 for employees and contractors and is expected to analyse at least 80 tests per day with a 24-hour turnout time for results.
Operated by two technicians, the highthroughput laboratory is fully equipped with a
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine and other vital equipment including among others storage fridges, biosafety cabinet and centrifuges to increase testing capacity and analyse test samples to help speed up diagnoses and curb the spread of the virus.
If aligned to the Limpopo Department of Health’s testing strategy, the laboratory will also analyse test samples from the Musina Hospital, Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital and Helena Franz Hospital, which are the local health facilities identified for screening positive Covid-19 patients from Venetia and the communities surrounding the mine.
Venetia Mine has also appointed three clinical associates and provided vehicles to allow them to conduct home-based responses as part of the company’s “WeCare” programme. The programme encourages employees and contractors to protect themselves from exposure and transmission of Covid-19, as well as monitor and manage their health should they test positive.
Mpumi Zikalala, Managing Director, De Beers Group Managed Operations, said, “As a business, our first and most important value is to Put Safety First. We value the health and safety of our people above all else and are equally committed to delivering support to our host communities throughout this difficult period. The PCR laboratory is one element in our range of proactive response measures to support the fight against this global pandemic and through which we hope to increase access to testing, not only for our employees, but also communities in partnership with the Department of Health.” Dr Phophi Ramathuba, Limpopo MEC of Health, said, “We welcome this development as the Department of Health as it will go a long way in assisting us as government to deal with the current testing backlog. We do appreciate every single collaboration, especially the likes of this laboratory, which not only will focus on testing employees at Venetia Mine, but community members as well.” ■
Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba and De Beers Group Managed Operations MD Mpumi Zikalala unveil the testing lab in Musina
Venetia Mine brings community relief amid Covid-19 lockdown
“WeCare” programme delivers vital medical equipment.
Venetia Mine and the Departments of Health and Social Development have rallied around efforts to provide support and relief to communities within the mine’s labour-sending areas of Musina and Blouberg.
The mine has donated necessities such as maize meal, rice, oatmeal, tea, milk, canned foods and hygiene products including sanitisers, to ensure that those who are in hardship will have access to sufficient food during the nationwide lockdown.
Medical equipment donated Through the Anglo-American Foundation, Venetia Mine is donating medical supplies to six clinics in the Blouberg area, namely: Alldays, Ga-Kibi, De Vrede, Kromhoek, Indermark and Taaibosch. These clinics will each receive the following supplies over a period of three months: N95 masks, surgical masks, disposable gowns, examination gloves, surgical gloves, paper towels, chlorhexidine solution, goggles and chlorhexidine scrub.
They will also each receive the following onceoff medical items: blood-gas machine and noncontact thermometer. Hospitals and clinics will be equipped with medical equipment and supplies to support their efforts to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus and for treatment.
More food parcels donated In a continued effort to help ease the burden for families during the Covid-19 pandemic, Venetia Mine, through the disaster relief organisation Gift of the Givers, has donated 1 000 food parcels to communities in Musina and Blouberg.
The donation is part of the mine’s response to Covid-19, through which a total of R1.2-million will be used to purchase and distribute food parcels to indigent households over a period of three months.
Mayor of Musina Local Municipality, Mihloti Muhlope, who accepted the food parcels on behalf of the Musina community ahead of the door-todoor deliveries, said the community was grateful for Venetia Mine’s efforts in helping fight food insecurity during the lockdown.
“Government alone cannot win this difficult war against hunger and starvation. We need stakeholders like De Beers Venetia Mine and Gift of the Givers Foundation to come on board. As Musina Municipality, we are very humbled by this donation,” she said.
Coordinating the deliveries of food parcels in Blouberg, Local Economic Development Manager at the Blouberg Local Municipality, Stanford Moremi, alongside Mayor, Solomon Pheedi, said, “We would like to extend our gratitude to Venetia Mine for this initiative. This food relief initiative has certainly touched the lives of many in our community considering the devastating Covid-19 impact on our communities.” ■
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MONEYEXPERTSBRING 21STCENTURYBANKING TOALLCOMMUNITIES
AttheheartofNedbank’sbusiness strategyisitsbeliefthatits sustainabilitydependsonitsability tointegrateintothecommunitiesinwhichit operates.
JulianaSelemela,RegionalManagerfor RetailBusinessBankinginLimpopo, explains:‘Nedbankhascontinuedtodeliver onitsbrandpromise,whichistouseour financialexpertisetodogoodfor individuals,families,businessesand communitiesinwhichweoperate.Our client-centredstrategyhasenabledusto reachouttoourclientsintimeofneed duringtheCovid-19nationallockdown.’
TheNedbankContactCentreandadvanced digitalinnovation,includingtheawardwinning NedbankMoneyapp,enabledthe banktocontinueservingclientsinthe comfortoftheirhomes.Itbrought conveniencetoclientsandhelpedthemto complywithlockdownregulations.
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Ourclient-centredstrategy hasenabledustoreachout toourclientsintimeofneed duringtheCovid-19national lockdown.’ ‘
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Nedbank’sSupportManagerforSmall BusinessandProfessionalsforthe LimpopoProvince,PetekeMojela, saysthatsmallbusinessesarethemainstay oftheeconomyandNedbankprovides small-businessownerswithsupportthat goesbeyondbanking.
‘Covid-19hasdealtentrepreneursamajor blowand,naturally,theyareoverwhelmed andanxiousaboutthefutureoftheir businesses.Nedbankisproudtobeinvolved invariouswaystohelpmitigatethe economicimpactofthecrisisonthisvital sector.Forexample, BackaBusinessisan
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SEEINGTHEBIGGER PICTURETHROUGHTHE COVID-19ENVIRONMENT
Weareallawareoftheindividuals andbusinessesthathavebeen adverselyaffectedasaresultof thechaoscausedbytheCovid-19pandemic. Interestratesareathistoricallowsand Nedbank’seconomicforecastforthenext 12to18monthspredictsasharpdownward trend.
Inthischallengingeconomicenvironment,it ismoreimportantthanevertomanageand investfundsoptimallyinrelationtocashflow needs. Cashflowis,withoutdoubt,oneofthe mostcriticalcomponentsofsuccess forany business.Infact,accordingtoaU.S.Bank study,82%ofbusinessfailurescanbe attributedtopoorcashflowmanagement. Thatbeingsaid,everygrowingbusiness needscapitaltoinvestinexpansion–orto pivottoremainrelevantintheextreme uncertaintywecurrentlyface.Every businesshasuniquecashrequirements,so howdoesabusinessownerensurethat surpluscashismanagedinamannerthat yieldsmaximumreturnsinharmonywiththe company'sliquidityrequirements?
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Theinvestmentsectorwillcontinuetobe impactedforsometimetocome,but Nedbankhasmadeavailablearaftofrelief measurestobenefitclientsacrossthebank. Wewillcontinuetopartnerwithourclients toprovideexpertadviceoninvestments duringwhatisamostchallengingperiod notjustforourcountry–buttheworld.
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NEDBANKBUSINESSBANKING AIMSTOSUPPORTALLLIMPOPO BUSINESSSECTORS
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