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Then, going north, follow Modimolle (formerly Nylstroom) with its table-grape industry and beautiful Waterberg range; Mokopane (formerly Potgietersrus); Polokwane; Louis Trichardt at the foot of the Soutpansberg mountain range; and Musina (formerly Messina), with its thick-set baobab trees. The crossing into Zimbabwe is at Beit Bridge, where the South African section of this important route north into Africa ends. Other important Limpopo towns include the major mining centres of Phalaborwa and Thabazimbi, and Tzaneen, producer of tea, forestry products and tropical fruits. The Maputo Corridor will link the province directly with Maputo Port, creating development and trade opportunities, particularly in the south-eastern part of the province. This province is in the savanna biome, an area of mixed grassland and trees, which is generally known as Bushveld. A trip through this summer-rainfall area soon convinces one that this is tree country. The biggest section of the Kruger National Park is situated along the eastern boundary of Limpopo with Mozambique.
The people In Limpopo some 5,5 million people live on about 123 910 km2 of land. The main languages spoken are Sepedi, Xitsonga, Tshivenda and Afrikaans.
Several museums and national monuments bear testimony to ancient peoples and fearless pioneers who braved the unknown in days of yore. Living museums include the Bakone Malapa Museum near Polokwane, where Bapedi tribesmen practise age-old skills for the benefit of visitors, and the Tsonga Open-air Museum near Tzaneen. Mapungubwe Hill (Place of the Jackal), some 75 km from Musina, used to be a natural fortress for the people who inhabited it from about AD 950 to 1200. Valuable archaeological discoveries, including many golden artefacts, have been made in this area, and also in the northern part of the Kruger National Park.
Agriculture The Bushveld is cattle country. Controlled hunting is often combined with ranching.
Sunflowers, cotton, maize and peanuts are cultivated in the Bela-Bela-Modimolle area. Modimolle is also known for its table-grape crops. Tropical fruit, such as bananas, litchis, pineapples, mangoes and pawpaws, as well as a variety of nuts, are grown in the Tzaneen and Louis Trichardt areas. Extensive tea and coffee plantations create many employment opportunities in the Tzaneen area. Zebediela, one of the largest citrus estates in the country, is situated south of Polokwane. The largest tomato farm in South Africa lies between Tzaneen and Louis Trichardt. Extensive forestry plantations are found in the Louis Trichardt and Tzaneen districts. Plantations of hard woods for furniture manufacturing have also been established. Many of the rural people practise subsistence farming. The northern and eastern parts of this summer-rainfall region are subtropical with hot humid summers and mist in the mountainous parts. Winter throughout the province is mild and mostly frost-free.
Industry Limpopo is rich in minerals, including copper, asbestos, coal, iron ore, platinum, chrome, diamonds, phosphates and gold.
The province is a typical developing area, exporting primary products and importing manufactured goods and services. It has a high potential and capacity with the right kind of economic development, and is an attractive location for investors. Resources such as tourism, rain-fed agriculture, minerals and the abundant labour force available in the province offer excellent investment opportunities. South Africa is home to a diverse multitude of people with unique cultures, traditions and languages. This uniqueness is supported by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, which provides for, among other things, the right to freedom of religion and the right to receive instruction in a person's language of choice, where this is reasonably practicable. s |
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