Limpopo is rising - Sopa

PREMIER: FROM NO 8 IT NOW RANKS NO 4 OUT OF THE NINE PROVINCES

- Alex Japho Matlala

RED CARPET. Limpopo premier Phophi Ramathuba, right, and speaker of the Limpopo provincial legislature Makoma Makhurupetje before the state of the province address yesterday.

(Alex Japho Matlala)

Limpopo used to be the second-poorest province in the country and it now ranks fourth in terms of both GDP and employment - and is pushing ahead to make the Limpopo-Gauteng high-speed rail project a reality, says premier Phophi Ramathuba.

In her state of the province (Sopa) address in Polokwane yesterday, Ramathuba said Statistics South Africa recorded that employment in Limpopo increased from 1 488 000 in the first quarter of 2025 to 1 552 000 million by the end of the year.

“The reality is that a great deal of work remains to create meaningful opportunities that lead to sustainable jobs, including for those who have become discouraged and lost hope in their quest to earn a living.”

Ramathuba then shifted her focus to the Musina/Makhado and Fetakgomo/Tubatse special economic zones.

The Musina/Makhado special economic zone (SEZ) has allegedly been used by political parties as a campaigning tool to garner support for elections.

The project was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in September 2018 following the Forum for Africa and China Cooperation.