Deputy President Paul Mashatile has challenged Limpopo to turn its R452 billion in investment pledges into operating projects and jobs.
Speaking at the sixth Limpopo Investment Conference at The Ranch Hotel near Polokwane on Thursday, Mashatile said more than R71 billion in investments have been implemented, contributing to nearly 24,000 jobs.
However, he warned that the province must measure success by what gets delivered rather than what is pledged.
The figures highlight the challenge facing the province as it seeks to turn investment commitments into economic activity. Based on the figures presented, roughly 16% of the previously pledged investment value has been realised, leaving a substantial gap between commitments and implementation.
“The real measure of our success, however, will not be the value of investments announced today. It will be our ability to ensure that these investments become operational projects, thriving businesses and sustainable jobs,” he said.
Mashatile said growth will ultimately be driven by implementation.
“It is projects that create employment and delivery that transforms lives,” he said.
Limpopo’s economy is driven by mining, agriculture, tourism, trade and services. The province contributed 7.8% to South Africa’s gross domestic product in 2024 and recorded economic growth of 0.9%, the highest among the nine provinces, according to Statistics South Africa.
Mining remains a major industry, alongside agriculture and tourism, while the provincial government is looking to expand manufacturing, mineral processing and agro-processing.
The province’s official unemployment rate stood at 32% in the second quarter of this year, while the expanded rate, which includes discouraged work-seekers, was 46.7%, according to Statistics South Africa’s Labour Force Survey.
Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba told the conference that road infrastructure and reliable water supply are challenges affecting economic development. She said the province is aiming to bring down the unemployment rate to below 20% by the end of the current administration.
Infrastructure and delays threaten delivery
Mashatile identified reliable electricity, water security, transport systems, logistics networks and digital connectivity as essential to making Limpopo more competitive.
He also acknowledged that some investment opportunities were not ready to proceed because government had not prepared the necessary plans.
“Often, even if we attract investments, we find that we are not ready for implementation because we have not prepared proper plans,” he said.
This highlights a challenge beyond securing pledges. Projects need to be prepared, approved and supported by infrastructure before they can become operational. Delays can postpone business activity and the jobs expected from new developments.
Mashatile said investors also needed policy certainty, transparent governance and efficient regulation.
He welcomed the InvestSA One-Stop Shop in Limpopo, which is intended to provide investors with a central point of access to government services and help reduce administrative barriers.
The facility is expected to improve coordination between government departments and assist investors in navigating the processes required to establish or expand businesses. Its impact will depend on whether it helps resolve delays and moves projects closer to implementation.
“We must process more of our mineral resources locally here in South Africa, add value to our agricultural production, and manufacture more of the goods that we need for our economy,” Mashatile said.
Local processing could open opportunities for manufacturers, transport operators, agricultural businesses and other suppliers. However, smaller enterprises will need access to finance, skills and procurement opportunities to participate in these value chains.
Mashatile said investment must benefit township enterprises, small businesses, cooperatives, emerging industrialists and local suppliers, not only large corporations. He also called for more technical and vocational training, apprenticeships and workplace learning to prepare young people for jobs in new industries.
