Limpopo

This article is about the province in South Africa. For the river, seeLimpopo River.For other uses, seeLimpopo (disambiguation).

"Northern Transvaal" redirects here. For the rugby union team, seeBlue Bulls.For the cricket team previously called Northern Transvaal, seeNortherns (cricket team).

Limpopo
Province
Coat of arms
Motto(s): Peace, Unity and Prosperity
Location of Limpopo in South Africa
Coordinates:24°S29°E
Country	South Africa
Established	27 April 1994
Capital	Polokwane Lebowakgomo(legislative)
Districts	List Mopani Vhembe Capricorn Waterberg Sekhukhune
Government
• Type	Parliamentary system
•Premier	Phophi Ramathuba(ANC)
• Legislature	Limpopo Provincial Legislature
Area
• Total	125,754 km2(48,554 sq mi)
• Rank	5th in South Africa
Highest elevation	2,126 m (6,975 ft)
Population (2022)
• Total	5,404,868
• Rank	5th in South Africa
• Density	43/km2(110/sq mi)
• Rank	5th in South Africa
Population groups 2022 Census
•Black	96%
•White	3.1%
•IndianorAsian	0.5%
•Coloured	0.3%
• Other	0.1%
Languages
•Pedi	52.9%
•Tsonga	24.0%
•Venda	16.7%
•Afrikaans	2.6%
•Tswana	2.0%
•Southern Ndebele	2.0%
Time zone	UTC+2(SAST)
ISO 3166 code	ZA-LP
HDI(2019)	0.710 high·3rd of 9
GDP	US$31.3 billion
Website	limpopo.gov.za

Limpopo

Zulu	iLimpopo
Xhosa	iLimpopo
Afrikaans	Limpopo
Sepedi	Limpopo
Setswana	Limpopo
Xitsonga	Limpopo
Venda	Limpopo

Limpopo(/lɪmˈpoʊpoʊ/) is the northernmostprovinceofSouth Africa.It is named after theLimpopo River,which forms the province's western and northern borders.The capital and largest city in the province isPolokwane,while the provincial legislature is situated inLebowakgomo.

The province is made up of three former homelands ofLebowa,GazankuluandVendaand part of the formerTransvaalprovince. The Limpopo province was established as one of nine provinces after the1994 South African general election.The province's name was first "Northern Transvaal", later changed to "Northern Province" on 28 June 1995, with two other provinces. The name was later changed again in 2002 to the Limpopo Province. Limpopo is made up of three main ethnic groups: thePedi,theTsongaand theVenda.

Traditional leaders and chiefs still form a strong backbone of the province's political landscape. Established in terms of the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders Act, Act 5 of 2005, the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders' main function is to advise the government and the legislature on matters related to custom, tradition, and culture, including developmental initiatives that affect rural communities. On 18 August 2017, Kgosi Malesela Dikgale was re-elected as the Chairperson of the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders.

History

Archaeological excavations inMapungubwe

The world heritage site of the Mapungubwe National Park boasts archaeological finds from the period of a powerful local kingdom that ruled here between CE.800 and 1290. existed. The remains of asettlementfrom the period between the CE.15th and 17th century can be seen in Thulamela in the northern part of the Kruger National Park.

Until CE.1994 it was the northern part of the former Transvaal Province. For a short period since CE.1994 it was called the Province of NorthernTransvaaland thereafter, through the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Amendment Act No. 20 of CE.1995from July CE.1995 initiallyNorthern Province.The province was named after theLimpopo Riverby decision of the provincial assembly in CE.2002, and at the same time most of the cities on its territory were renamed.However, the renaming of the province required an amendment to the South African constitution, which was passed with an amending law was made in CE.2003.

In CE.2013, Stan Mathabatha replaced his predecessor Cassel Mathale (both ANC) as Prime Minister.

Geography

Sundown over one of the mountain ranges found in Limpopo.

Limpopo Province shares international borders with districts and provinces of three countries:Botswana'sCentralandKgatlengdistricts to the west and northwest respectively,Zimbabwe'sMatabeleland SouthandMasvingoprovinces to the north and northeast respectively, andMozambique'sGaza Provinceto the east.Limpopo is the link between South Africa and countries further afield insub-Saharan Africa.On its southern edge, from east to west, it shares borders with the South African provinces ofMpumalanga,Gauteng,andNorth West.Its border with Gauteng includes that province'sJohannesburg-Pretoriaaxis, the most industrialised metropolis on the continent. The province is central to regional, national, and international developing markets.

Limpopo contains much of theWaterberg Biosphere,amassifof approximately 15,000 km²(5,800 sq mi) which is the first region in the northern part of South Africa to be named a UNESCOBiosphere Reserve.

Law and government

Main article:Politics of Limpopo

The current Premier of Limpopo Province isStanley Mathabatha,representing theAfrican National Congress.

Municipalities

Main article:List of municipalities in Limpopo

Limpopo districts and local municipalities

Limpopo Province is divided into fivedistrict municipalities.The district municipalities are in turn divided into 25local municipalities:

District municipalities

• Capricorn District
  • Blouberg
  • Lepele-Nkumpi
  • Molemole
  • Polokwane
• Mopani District
  • Ba-Phalaborwa
  • Greater Giyani
  • Greater Letaba
  • Greater Tzaneen
  • Maruleng
• Sekhukhune District
  • Elias Motsoaledi
  • Ephraim Mogale
  • Fetakgomo Tubatse
  • Makhuduthamaga
• Vhembe District
  • Makhado
  • Musina
  • Collins Chabane
  • Thulamela
• Waterberg District
  • Bela-Bela
  • Lephalale
  • Modimolle–Mookgophong
  • Mogalakwena
  • Thabazimbi

Economy

Man and his donkeys collecting wood in a rural area

Limpopo has a total population of 6.015 million with 1.641 million Households.The province has a high Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.710, which is the third highest in South Africa.

Agriculture

The bushveld isbeef cattlecountry, where extensive ranching operations are often supplemented by controlled hunting. About 80% of South Africa'sgame huntingindustry is in Limpopo.

Sunflowers,cotton,maizeandpeanutsare cultivated in theBela-BelaandModimolleareas. Modimolle is also known for its tablegrapes.An embryoticwine industryis growing in Limpopo.Tropical fruit, such asbananas,litchis,pineapples,mangoesandpawpaws,as well as a variety ofnuts,are grown in theTzaneenandLouis Trichardtareas. Tzaneen is also at the centre of extensivecitrus,tea,andcoffeeplantations and a majorforestryindustry. Most of the farmers and households lack a water supply. Therefore, they drill their boreholes on their premises.

Housing

Most Limpopo residents live in rural areas; this has led to a new phenomenon of rural development, where the residents have invested in building lavish homes on their tribal land. Limpopo rural houses have been profiled by TV channels, lifestyle vloggers, social media influencers, and Africa's biggest facts brand, Africa Facts Zone. According to96.2% of Limpopo live in formal housing, above the national average of 84.0%. This makes Limpopo the province with the highest percentage of people living in formal housing in South Africa.

Mining

Ajoiteinquartz,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-gradecoking coal,diamonds,antimony,phosphate,and copper, as well as mineral reserves like gold, emeralds,scheelite,magnetite,vermiculite,silicon,andmica.Commodities such asblack granite,corundum,andfeldsparare also found. Mining contributes to over a fifth of the provincial economy.

Limpopo has the largestplatinumdeposit in South Africa.TheWaterberg Coalfield,the eastern extension ofBotswana'sMmamabulacoalfields, is estimated to contain 40% of South Africa's coal reserves.

Tourism

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

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

NearModjadjiskloof,atSunland Baobabfarms, there is a large Baobab tree which has been fashioned into a relatively spacious pub.

Transportation and communications

The province has excellent road, rail, and air links. The N1 route fromJohannesburg,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 ofDurban,South Africa's busiest, is served directlyby the province, as are the ports ofRichards BayandMaputo.Polokwane International Airportis situated just north ofPolokwane.Limpopo province contains approximately 56 airports and airstrips.

Education

The Department of Education is responsible for effecting quality education and training for all. The Department has to coordinate all professional development and support. Policies, systems, and procedures had to be developed.

Educational institutions

As of December 2020, 12.9% of the Limpopo population had attained some post-school qualifications.The following higher education institutions are found in Limpopo:

• University of Limpopo(Polokwane,Mankweng)
• University of Venda(Thohoyandou)
• Tshwane University of Technology(Polokwane Campus)
• Capricorn College for TVET (Polokwane)
• Lephalale TVET College (Lephalale)
• Letaba TVET College (Tzaneen)
• Mopani South East TVET College (Phalaborwa)
• Sekhukhune TVET College (Motetema)
• Vhembe TVET College (Venda)
• Waterberg TVET College (Mokopane)

Sports

• Association football:Polokwanewas one of South Africa's host cities for the2010 FIFA World Cup,with matches being played at thePeter Mokaba Stadium.Football clubs in the province include Real Rovers, Silver Stars,Black Leopards,Polokwane City,Magesi,Baroka,Ria Starsand Dynamos.
• Rugby union:Limpopo has no provincial rugby team of its own; it is represented in the domesticCurrie Cupby thePretoria-basedBlue Bulls.The Blue Bulls also operate aSuper Rugbyfranchise, theBulls.Limpopo nonetheless produces its share of top players. Most notably, the most-cappedforward in the history ofthe country's national team,Victor Matfield,is a native of Polokwane.
• Basketball:The province is home toLimpopo Pride,a professional team that plays in South Africa's top basketball division, theBasketball National League.

Demographics

Population density in Limpopo

• < 1 /km²
• 1–3 /km²
• 3–10 /km²
• 10–30 /km²
• 30–100 /km²
• 100–300 /km²
• 300–1000 /km²
• 1000–3000 /km²
• > 3000 /km²

Dominant home languages in Limpopo

• Afrikaans
• English
• Pedi
• Swati
• Tsonga
• Tswana
• Venda
• No language dominant

The population of Limpopo consists of several ethnic groups distinguished by culture, language, and race. 97.3% of the population isBlack,2.4% isWhite,0.2% isColoured,and 0.1% isIndian/Asian.The province has the smallest percentage and second smallest total number ofWhite South Africansin the country. However, there are several localities with a White majority, notablyHoedspruitandModimolle.It also has the highest Black percentage out of all the provinces.

TheNorthern Sotho peoplecomprise the largest percentage of the population, 52% of the province. TheTsonga peoplecomprise about 24.0% of the province; the Tsonga also comprise about 11.5% ofMpumalangaprovince since the southern part of their homeland,Gazankulu,was cut off from Limpopo and allocated to Mpumalanga. TheVendamake up about 16.7%.Afrikanersmake up the majority of Limpopo's White population, about 95,000 people;English-speaking Whites number just over 20,000.Vhembedistrict has the smallest share of White people in Limpopo, about 5,000 total. In contrast, theWaterbergdistrict has the largest share of Whites, with more than 60,000 Whites residing there.ColouredsandAsians/Indiansmake up a tiny percentage of the province's total population.

HIV / AIDS

At 18.5% (2007), Limpopo has a relatively high incidence ofHIVcompared to other South African provinces. Cases rose from 14.5% to 21.5% between 2001 and 2005, with a slight fall between 2005 and 2007.However, as at 2019, the Limpopo province HIV stats sat at (13.2%) which is one of the lowest in comparison with other provinces in South Africa.

See also

• List of cities and towns in Limpopo
• Limpopo River
• Xibelani dance
• Zoutpansbergdivision

External links

• Limpopo Provincial Government
• Limpopo Tourism Agency