By Staff Reporter
POLOKWANE – Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba officially opened the 5th Limpopo Investment Conference at The Ranch Resort on Thursday, 30 October 2025, calling on investors, business leaders, and government to join hands in transforming the province into “Africa’s new investment frontier.”
Addressing delegates including Minister of Electricity Dr Kgosientso Ramokgopa, Speaker of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature Dr Makoma Makhurupetje, ambassadors, mayors, and members of the business community, Ramathuba said Limpopo is entering a new era of economic revitalisation and growth.
“We gather here not only to celebrate our achievements and share our dreams but to sow the seeds of a brighter future for the province of Limpopo,” she said.
The Premier drew inspiration from South African author Bessie Head’s novel When Rain Clouds Gather, using the imagery of gathering rain clouds to describe Limpopo’s economic momentum and renewed hope.
She highlighted that Limpopo’s economy grew by 0.9% in 2024, making it the best-performing province in South Africa, and that its contribution to the national GDP rose from 7.2% to 7.8%.
However, Ramathuba acknowledged that unemployment, especially among young people, remains a pressing challenge, with the provincial rate currently at 35.1%.
“We are committed to inclusive growth and job creation through industrialisation, agriculture, mining, and tourism,” she added.
The Premier also praised young innovators like Keletso Monareng, a PhD student from the University of Limpopo who recently won the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award for her research on sodium-ion batteries.
Ramathuba emphasised Limpopo’s readiness to take advantage of new opportunities such as South Africa’s stone fruit trade agreement with China, noting that the province’s climate and fertile soil position it well for fruit production in regions like Waterberg and Vhembe.
Since the inception of the conference, Limpopo has secured R280 billion in investment pledges, creating over 20,000 jobs. Some of the projects that have already taken shape include the Nkuna City Development in Collins Chabane Municipality, ZZ2 Packhouse in Greater Letaba, Shekinah Game Reserve and SAMPADA Abattoir in Modimolle-Mookgophong, Steelport Bridge in Fetakgomo-Tubatse, Provincial Theatre and Academic Hospital in Polokwane, and the Exxaro Renewable Energy Plant in Lephalale.
The Premier unveiled the Limpopo Investment Prospectus 2025, which showcases over R32 billion in new investment opportunities across various sectors, and reaffirmed government’s commitment to streamlining business operations through the InvestSA One-Stop Shop.
“Limpopo, endowed with unmatched natural wealth, fertile land, and a youthful workforce, is shifting from potential to performance,” Ramathuba said.
She closed her address by urging investors to take decisive action, not just participate in discussions:
“Place your ear to the ground and you will hear the sounds of forthcoming rain — the promise of abundant opportunities and prosperity for all. Together, we can cultivate the future we envision for Limpopo.”
The two-day conference brings together government, investors, and development partners under the theme “Limpopo Rising: Africa’s New Investment Frontier.”
