Limpopo gets in business gear

PRIORITY: WAR AGAINST THEFT OF WATER DECLARED

Musina-Makhado special economic zone has great potential to deliver employment.

The protracted chronic water shortages in parts of Limpopo province have the potential to derail planned economic investment projects to the tune of R150 billion.

Yesterday, Premier Stanley Mathabatha told municipal managers, chief financial officers, speakers and chief whips from 25 local and district municipalities from the province’s five districts that it was time to declare war against illegal connections and theft of water infrastructure, in an effort to save water for the survival of the so-called special economic zones in Musina, Makhado and other municipalities.

Mathabatha was speaking during a Water Summit in Bela-Bela outside Polokwane.

“You will be aware that our Musina-Makhado special economic zone (SEZ) is expected to revitalise Limpopo’s industrial economy,” he said. “This will be done by utilising our local mineral resources, and integrating the industrial chains of both the upstream and downstream.”

Mathabatha said within the special economic zone, several plants, such as a coal washery, coal-fired power plant, coking plant, stainless steel plant and high-carbon ferrochrome plant were expected to be constructed.

He said supporting administrative services such as houses, hotels, shopping malls, healthcare facilities and schools were also expected to be constructed within the SEZ projects.