Limpopo

This article is about the province in South Africa. For other uses, see Limpopo (disambiguation).

"Northern Transvaal" redirects here. For the rugby union team, see Blue Bulls.

Limpopo
Province of South Africa
Flag File:Limpopo arms.svg Coat of arms
Motto: Peace, Unity and Prosperity
Location of Limpopo in South Africa
Country	South Africa
Established	27 April 1994
Capital	Polokwane
Districts	List Mopani Vhembe Capricorn Waterberg Sekhukhune
Government
• Type	Parliamentary system
• Premier	Stanley Mathabatha (ANC)
Area
• Total	125,754 km2 (48,554 sq mi)
Area rank	5th in South Africa
Highest elevation	2,126 m (6,975 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	5,404,868
• Estimate (2015)	5,726,800
• Rank	5th in South Africa
• Density	43/km2 (110/sq mi)
• Density rank	5th in South Africa
Population groups
• Black African	96.7%
• White	2.6%
• Indian or Asian	0.3%
• Coloured	0.3%
Languages
• Northern Sotho	52.9%
• Tsonga	17.0%
• Venda	16.7%
• Afrikaans	2.6%
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)
ISO 3166 code	ZA-LP
Website	www.limpopo.gov.za

Limpopo /lɪmˈpɔpɔ/ is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River that flows on the western and northern borders of the province, the name "Limpopo" has its etymological origin from the Sepedi word diphororo tša meetse - meaning strong gushing waterfalls. (The Sepedi language or Northern Sotho language is spoken by a third of the people in the province.) The capital is Polokwane, formerly named Pietersburg.

The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994, and initially named Northern Transvaal. The following year, it was renamed Northern Province, which remained the name until 2003, when the name of the province was formally changed to the name of its most important river–on the border with Zimbabwe and Botswana–after deliberation by the provincial government and amendment of the Constitution. A notable consideration for the name was Mapungubwe, the area where the most ancient gold-using civilisation of the province was discovered a few years earlier.

Limpopo is the South African province with the highest level of poverty, with 78.9% of the population living below the national poverty line. In 2011, 74.4% of local dwellings were located in a tribal or traditional area, compared to a national average of 27.1%.

Law and government

Main article: Politics of Limpopo

The current premier of Limpopo province is Stanley Mathabatha, representing the African National Congress.

Geography

Limpopo Province shares international borders with districts and provinces of three countries: Botswana's Central and Kgatleng districts to the west and north-west respectively, Zimbabwe's Matabeleland South and Masvingo provinces to the north and northeast respectively, and Mozambique's Gaza Province to the east. The province is the link between South Africa and countries further afield in sub-Saharan Africa. On its southern flank from east to west, the province shares borders with Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and North West. Its border with Gauteng includes that province's Johannesburg-Pretoria axis, the most industrialised metropole on the continent. The province is at the centre of regional, national, and international developing markets.

The province contains much of the Waterberg Biosphere, a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve. The Waterberg Biosphere, a massif of approximately 15,000 km² (5,800 sq mi), is the first region in the northern part of South Africa to be named as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The massif was shaped by hundreds of millions of years of riverine erosion to yield diverse bluff and butte landforms. The Waterberg ecosystem can be characterised as a dry deciduous forest or Bushveld. Within the Waterberg, archaeological finds date to the Stone Age. Nearby are early evolutionary finds related to the origin of humans.

Municipalities

Limpopo Province is divided into five municipal districts, subdivided in 25 local municipalities:

Capricorn District Aganang Blouberg Lepele-Nkumpi Molemole Polokwane

Mopani District Ba-Phalaborwa Greater Giyani Greater Letaba Greater Tzaneen Maruleng

Sekhukhune District Elias Motsoaledi Fetakgomo Ephraim Mogale Greater Tubatse Makhuduthamaga

Vhembe District Makhado Musina Mutale Thulamela

Waterberg District Bela-Bela Lephalale Modimolle Mogalakwena Mookgopong Thabazimbi

Demographics

File:Limpopo population density map.svg

Population density in Limpopo

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File:Limpopo dominant language map.svg

Dominant home languages in Limpopo

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The population of Limpopo consists of several ethnic groups distinguished by culture, language and race. 97.3% of the population is Black, 2.4% is White, 0.2% is Coloured, and 0.1% is Indian/Asian. The province has the smallest percentage and second smallest by number of white South Africans in the country. It also has the highest Black percentage out of all the provinces.

The Northern Sotho (of which the Bapedi are part of) make up the largest percentage of the Black population, being 52% of the province. The Tsonga people comprise about 17.0% of the province, the Tsonga also comprise about 11.5% of Mpumalanga province since the southern part of their homeland, Gazankulu, was cut off from Limpopo and allocated to Mpumalanga, while the Venda make up about 16.7%. Afrikaners makes up the majority of whites in Limpopo, about 95 000. English-speaking whites are just over 20 000. Vhembe district has the smallest share of white people in Limpopo, about 5 000 whites reside in the Vhembe district, while the Waterberg district has the largest share of whites, more than 60 000 whites reside there. Coloureds and Asians/Indians make up a very small number.

HIV / Aids

At 18.5% (2007), Limpopo has a fairly high rate of HIV compared to other South African provinces. Cases rose from 14.5% to 21.5% between 2001 and 2005, with a slight fall in cases between 2005 and 2007.

Economy

The province is a typical developing area, exporting primary products and importing manufactured goods and services. It is also one of the poorest regions of South Africa with a big gap between poor and rich residence, especially in rural areas. However, the Limpopo has shown great improvements in the economy and standard of living. A recent border shift with the Limpopo's wealthier neighbour, Mpumalanga, was effected to try and bring some wealth into the province.

Agriculture

The bushveld is beef cattle country, where extensive ranching operations are often supplemented by controlled hunting. About 80% of South Africa's game hunting industry is found in Limpopo.

Sunflowers, cotton, maize and peanuts are cultivated in the Bela-Bela and Modimolle areas. 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. Tzaneen is also at the centre of extensive citrus, tea and coffee plantations, as well as forestry.

Mining

Ajoite in quartz, from the Messina mine, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Scale at bottom is one inch, with a rule at one cm.

Limpopo's rich mineral deposits include the platinum group metals, iron ore, chromium high- and middle-grade coking coal, diamonds, antimony, phosphate, and copper—as well as mineral reserves like gold, emeralds, scheelite, magnetite, vermiculite, silicon, and mica. Commodities such as black granite, corundum, and feldspar are also found. Mining contributes to over a fifth of the provincial economy, Limpopo have the largest platinum deposit in South Africa. The Waterberg Coalfield, the eastern extension of Botswana's Mmamabula coalfields, is estimated to contain 40% of South Africa's coal reserves.

Tourism

Tourism is one of the three pillars of the Limpopo economy along with mining and agribusiness,. In 2008, the Province accounted for 5% of all foreign tourist bed nights in South Africa, numbers which are showing strong annual growth. The R 93 million Provincial tourism budget for 2010/11 represents 11% of Limpopo's total budget.

Near Modjadjiskloof, at Sunland Baobab farms, there is a large Baobab tree which has been fashioned into a rather spacious pub.

Tourism Development

The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism has targeted the province as a preferred eco-tourism destination. Its Environment and Tourism Programme encompasses tourism, protected areas and community environment development to achieve sustainable economic growth

Whilst Limpopo is one of South Africa's poorest provinces, it is rich in wildlife which gives it an edge in attracting tourism. Both the private and public sectors are investing in tourism development.

Infrastructure and communications

The province has excellent road, rail, and air links. The N1 route from Johannesburg, which extends the length of the province, is the busiest overland route in Africa in terms of cross-border trade in raw materials and beneficiated goods. The port of Durban, Africa’s busiest, is served directly by the province, as are the ports of Richards Bay and Maputo. The Polokwane International Airport is situated just north of Polokwane.

Education

The Department of Education is charged with the responsibility of effecting quality education and training for all. The Department has to co-ordinate all professional development and support. Policies, systems, and procedures had to be developed.

Educational institutions

• Universities
  • University of Limpopo (Polokwane, Ga-Rankuwa)
  • Comprehensive University of Venda (Thohoyandou)

Sports

• Soccer. Polokwane was one of South Africa's host cities for the 2010 FIFA World Cup with matches being played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
• Rugby union: Limpopo has no provincial rugby team of its own; it is represented in the domestic Currie Cup by the Pretoria-based Blue Bulls. The Blue Bulls also operate a Super Rugby franchise, known simply as the Bulls. Limpopo nonetheless produces its share of top players. Most notably, the two most-capped forwards in the history of the country's national team, John Smit and Victor Matfield, are both natives of Polokwane.

See also

• List of cities and towns in Limpopo
• Limpopo River
• Xibelani dance
• Zoutpansberg division

External links

• Limpopo Provincial Government
• Limpopo Tourism Agency