LIMPOPO SOPA
LIMPOPO STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND JOB CREATION
T
he central theme of Limpopo Premier Chupu Mathabatha’s State of the Province was about economic recovery and the creation of much-needed jobs in the province. Mathabatha said to achieve the aspired economic growth levels and to support job creation initiatives, fight poverty and inequality his province Limpopo needs to promote growth– enhancing plans. “There is a need to position Limpopo Province as an investment destination of choice for both domestic and foreign investors,” said Mathabatha. High unemployment rate that will go a long way in helping to industrialize the province and thus creating the much-needed jobs for the people,” Mathabatha said.
Mine operations would be rolling underground mining infrastructure in Sekhukhune with an investment value of R1.2 billion.
At 49.9%, Limpopo has the third highest expanded unemployment rate after the provinces of the Eastern Cape (53%) and the Northern Cape (50.3%).
Amongst other investments projects that Mathabatha highlighted included the Masingita Group which has pledged R5.46 billion for the construction of the Nkuna Smart City in the Collins Chabane Local Municipality.
“The project is anticipated to create 350 construction jobs and 600 permanent jobs during full production,” he said.
To reverse the economic damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Mathabatha said the total investment and intervention by their economic recovery plan is projected at around R170 billion and will create 48 000 jobs in the next five to ten years.
Mathabatha announced that the construction of the Phase 1 of the Nkuna Smart City has already commenced and it is anticipated to create 585 construction jobs and 325 permanent jobs.
According to the Stats SA’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the period between 1 April 2021 and 30 June 2021, one out of every two people in the Limpopo labour force was unemployed.
“In addition, the implementation of the Limpopo Industrial Master Plan has also received R208 billion in investment pledges from the Limpopo Investment Conference and
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Municipal Focus
Mining sector job opportunities In reducing high unemployment levels and grow provincial economy, Mathabatha said the Sefateng Chrome
“I am also happy to report that Ivanhoe Mines is also living up to its investment commitments. To date, the company has already spent R7 billion of the R9 billion commitments on mining infrastructure in the Waterberg Region,” he said. Mathabatha said the remaining R2 billion will be spent in the current calendar year. “So far, the investment has created 778 jobs, and this figure is expected to rise to 1000 jobs by December 2022,” said Mathabatha.
