51-514: Limpopo ( / l ɪ m ˈ p oʊ p oʊ / ) is the northernmost province of South Africa . It is named after the Limpopo River , which forms the province's western and northern borders. The term Limpopo is derived from Rivombo (Livombo/Lebombo), a group of Tsonga settlers led by Hosi Rivombo who settled in the mountainous vicinity and named the area after their leader. The Lebombo mountains are also named after them. The river has been called
102-561: A Commission on the Demarcation/Delimitation of Regions created by CODESA , and were broadly based on planning regions demarcated by the Development Bank of Southern Africa in the 1980s, and amalgamated from existing magisterial districts , with some concessions to political parties that wished to consolidate their power bases, by transferring districts between the proposed provinces. The definitions of
153-734: A "revered comrade", and with Frans Mohlala. He was also a member of the Motetema Youth Congress; of the Northern Transvaal Youth Congress; and of an ANC-aligned youth group known as the Young Lions of the North, which also included Cassel Mathale and others. When the apartheid government unbanned the ANC and other political parties in 1990, Mathabatha helped establish the party's structures in
204-619: A fifth of the provincial economy. Limpopo has 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. 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. While Limpopo
255-431: A leadership position in the national ANC. Mathabatha has been accused of regionalism and tribalism . Most prominently, this accusation was made in 2018 by Penny Penny , a Tsonga entertainer and local councillor who at the time was mounting an unsuccessful bid to oust Mathabatha from the ANC provincial chair. Penny Penny claimed, among other things, that none of Mathabatha's MECs were Shangaan -speaking. In 2020,
306-533: A major forestry industry. Most of the farmers and households lack a water supply which makes them drill boreholes on their premises. 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 to 96.2% of Limpopo live in formal housing, above
357-505: A major reshuffle in his Executive Council : he fired eight of Mathale's ten Members of the Executive Council (MECs). Mathabatha was re-elected Premier after the 2014 and 2019 general elections. His second full term as Premier, the last he is constitutionally permitted to serve , will end in 2024 when the next general election is called. In February 2014, several months after his appointment as Premier, Mathabatha
408-576: A national, provincial and local level. Nationally, there is the National Council of Provinces, one of the houses of Parliament. Then there is the provincial government and, below that, the administration of district and metropolitan municipalities. South Africa has two houses of parliament: the National Assembly, and the National Council of Provinces. The second exists to ensure that the interests of each province are protected in
459-463: 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. Provinces of South Africa South Africa is divided into nine provinces. On the eve of the 1994 general election , South Africa's former homelands, known as Bantustans , were reintegrated into the country, and
510-468: A system of party-list proportional representation ; by convention, they are all elected on the same day, at the same time as the National Assembly election. The provincial legislature elects, from amongst its members, a Premier , who is the head of the executive. The Premier chooses an Executive Council consisting of between five and ten members of the legislature, which is the cabinet of
561-442: A total population of 6.015 million with 1.641 million households. The province has a relatively high Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.710, which is the third highest in South Africa. 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 in Limpopo. Sunflowers , cotton , maize and peanuts are cultivated in
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#1732765256663612-697: Is now the Limpopo province of South Africa; at the time of Mathabatha's birth, during apartheid , it was part of the Transvaal province . He has a Bachelor's degree from the University of the Western Cape and a Master's degree in development from the University of Limpopo . He also attended an Executive Management Development Programme at Harvard University in 2003. In his youth, Mathabatha became involved in anti-apartheid activism in
663-435: 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. Near Modjadjiskloof , at Sunland Baobab farms, there is a large Baobab tree which has been fashioned into a relatively spacious pub. The province has excellent road, rail, and air links. The N1 route from Johannesburg , which extends
714-544: 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. 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: The population of Limpopo consists of several ethnic groups distinguished by culture, language, and race. 97.3% of
765-510: The Bela-Bela and Modimolle areas. Modimolle is also known for its table grapes . An embryotic wine industry is growing in Limpopo. 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 and
816-546: The Citizen printed, without attribution, the claim that Mathabatha had displayed a regionalist or nepotist bias in appointing five people from his home region, Sekhukhune, to senior management positions in his office. Mathabatha denied the accusation on both occasions. Mathabatha lives in the village of Tooseng in Ga-Mphahlele in Limpopo. His wife was the late Margaret Mathabatha, who had three children. She
867-968: The United Democratic Front , Mathabatha was elected the Provincial Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) in Limpopo in February 2014. He was elected to a third four-year term as ANC Provincial Chairperson in June 2022. He is also a member of the Central Committee of the South African Communist Party . Chupu Stanley Mathabatha was born on 21 January 1957. He is from the Sekhukhune region of what
918-542: The Waterberg Biosphere , a massif of approximately 15,000 km (5,800 sq mi) which is the first region in the northern part of South Africa to be named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve . The current Premier of Limpopo Province is Stanley Mathabatha , representing the African National Congress . Limpopo Province is divided into five district municipalities . The district municipalities are in turn divided into 25 local municipalities : Limpopo has
969-409: The black population started as early as 1913, with ownership of land by the black majority being restricted to certain areas totalling about 13% of the country. From the late 1950s, these areas were gradually consolidated into " homelands ", also called " bantustans ". Four of these homelands were established as quasi-independent nation states of the black population during the apartheid era. In 1976,
1020-604: The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Amendment Act No. 20 of 1995 from July 1995 initially Northern Province . The province was named after the Limpopo River by decision of the provincial assembly in 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
1071-622: The Deputy Minister for Land Reform and Rural Development since 3 July 2024. He was elected to the position of premier in July 2013 after the resignation of Cassel Mathale . He was previously a public servant in Limpopo province and from 2012 to 2013 completed a brief stint as a diplomat, serving as South African Ambassador to Ukraine under President Jacob Zuma . He was succeeded by the former Limpopo MEC of Health Phophi Ramathuba on 14 June 2024. A former member of Umkhonto we Sizwe and
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#17327652566631122-636: 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. The world heritage site of the Mapungubwe National Park boasts archaeological finds from
1173-601: The Northern Transvaal, becoming Treasurer of the Northern Transvaal region of the ANC in 1992. According to News24, he was also a member of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and helped the SACP establish its branches in the region. After South Africa's first democratic election in 1994, Limpopo province (initially called Northern province) was formed in a merger of the governments of three former bantustans – Lebowa, Venda , and Gazankulu – with part of
1224-601: The Northern Transvaal, particularly in Motetema, a township in the Lebowa bantustan on the outskirts of Grobersdal . In 1977, in the aftermath of the Soweto uprising , he joined Umkhonto weSizwe , the underground armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). In the 1980s, he was active in the United Democratic Front (UDF); according to News24 , he worked closely with Peter Mokaba , whom he later described as
1275-551: The Vhembe by local Venda communities of the area. The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane , while the provincial legislature is situated in Lebowakgomo . The province is made up of three former homelands of Lebowa , Gazankulu and Venda and part of the former Transvaal province. The Limpopo province was established as one of nine provinces after the 1994 South African general election . The province's name
1326-785: The borders of seven of the provinces. The Union of South Africa was established in 1910 by combining four British colonies: Cape Colony ; Natal Colony ; Transvaal Colony ; Orange River Colony . The last two were, before the Second Boer War , independent republics known as the South African Republic and the Orange Free State . These colonies became the four original provinces of the Union: Cape Province ; Transvaal Province ; Natal Province ; Orange Free State Province . Segregation of
1377-490: The code FIPS: Codes from FIPS PUB 10–4 , a U.S. government standard. CSS: Province codes used by the Central Statistical Service of South Africa. Footnotes: Stanley Mathabatha Chupu Stanley Mathabatha (born 21 January 1957) is a South African politician who served as the 4th Premier of Limpopo and is currently serving as a member of South Africa's 7th Parliament, as well as being
1428-488: The east. Limpopo is the link between South Africa and countries further afield in sub-Saharan Africa . On its southern edge, from east to west, it shares borders with the South African provinces of Mpumalanga , Gauteng , and North West . Its border with Gauteng includes that province's Johannesburg - Pretoria axis, the most industrialised metropolis on the continent. The province is central to regional, national, and international developing markets. Limpopo contains much of
1479-418: The election, however, Mathabatha easily secured a third term as Provincial Chairperson, winning 781 votes to Masemola's 389. All the top leadership positions were won by candidates who had run on a Mathabatha-aligned slate – including Radzilani, who was re-elected his deputy. While Provincial Chairperson, Mathabatha was perceived as a strong supporter of Cyril Ramaphosa , who also grew up in Limpopo. He
1530-525: The four provinces were increased to nine. The borders of Natal and the Orange Free State were retained, while the Cape Province and Transvaal were divided into three provinces each, plus North West Province which straddles the border of and contains territory from both these two former provinces. The twelfth, thirteenth and sixteenth amendments to the Constitution of South Africa changed
1581-490: The government of the former Transvaal. Mathabatha entered the public administration sector, working in 1994 as the technical advisor to Limpopo's Member of the Executive Council for Finance and Economic Development. In subsequent years he remained in the Limpopo provincial Department of Finance and Economic Development, becoming General Manager of the Small, Medium and Micro-Enterprise Directorate by 2003. In March 2003, he
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1632-636: The homeland of Transkei was the first to accept independence from South Africa, and although this independence was never acknowledged by any other country, three other homelands – Bophuthatswana (1977), Venda (1979) and Ciskei (1981) – followed suit. On 27 April 1994, the date of the first non-racial elections and of the adoption of the Interim Constitution , all of these provinces and homelands were dissolved, and nine new provinces were established. The boundaries of these provinces were established in 1993 by
1683-537: The largest percentage of the population, 52% of the province. The Tsonga people comprise about 24.0% 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. The Venda make up about 16.7%. Afrikaners make up the majority of Limpopo's White population, about 95,000 people; English -speaking Whites number just over 20,000. Vhembe district has
1734-595: The laws passed by the National Assembly. Each one of South Africa's nine provinces sends 10 representatives to the National Council of Provinces. Six of these are permanent members of the council, and four are special delegates. Each province is governed by a unicameral legislature . The size of the legislature is proportional to population, ranging from 30 members in the Northern Cape to 80 in KwaZulu-Natal . The legislatures are elected every five years by
1785-494: 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 , South Africa's busiest, is served directly by the province, as are the ports of Richards Bay and Maputo . Polokwane International Airport is situated just north of Polokwane . Limpopo province contains approximately 56 airports and airstrips. The Department of Education
1836-536: The national average of 84.0%. This makes Limpopo the province with the highest percentage of people living in formal housing in South Africa. 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
1887-656: The new provinces in terms of magisterial districts were found in Schedule 1 of the Interim Constitution . On 11 July 2003, the 11th amendment to the fifth constitution renamed the Northern Province to Limpopo . On 1 March 2006, the 12th and 13th amendments altered the boundaries of 7 provinces. On 3 April 2009 the 16th amendment altered the boundaries of the North West and Gauteng provinces. South Africa's provinces are governed, in different ways, on
1938-554: The organisation [the ANC]". Mathabatha is also a member of the ANC's Tripartite Alliance partner, the South African Communist Party (SACP). In July 2022, he was elected to a second five-year term as a member of the SACP Central Committee . Also in the run-up to the 55th National Conference, Mathabatha emerged as a serious competitor to incumbent ANC National Chairperson, Gwede Mantashe , who sought re-election to
1989-604: The period of a powerful local kingdom that ruled here between 800 CE and 1290 existed. The remains of a settlement from the period between the 15th and 17th century can be seen in Thulamela in the northern part of the Kruger National Park. Until 1994 it was the northern part of the former Transvaal Province. For a short period since 1994 it was called the Province of Northern Transvaal and thereafter, through
2040-414: 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 total number of White South Africans in the country. However, there are several localities with a White majority, notably Hoedspruit and Modimolle . It also has the highest Black percentage out of all the provinces. The Northern Sotho people comprise
2091-728: The post. When the national ANC released the list of nominations in November 2022, Mathabatha appeared to be the frontrunner for the National Chairperson position, having secured the support of a majority of local ANC branches in the provinces of Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal , and the North West . An anonymous source told the Business Day that Mathabatha had sought re-election to the Provincial Chairperson position partly in order to bolster his campaign to gain
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2142-472: The provincial government. The Members of the Executive Council (MECs) are the provincial equivalent of ministers . The powers of the provincial government are limited to specific topics listed in the national constitution . On some of these topics – for example, agriculture, education, health and public housing – the province's powers are shared with the national government, which can establish uniform standards and frameworks for
2193-410: The provincial governments to follow; on other topics the provincial government has exclusive power. The provinces do not have their own court systems, as the administration of justice is the responsibility of the national government. Footnotes: HASC: Hierarchical administrative subdivision codes ISO: Province codes from ISO 3166-2 . For full identification in a global context, prefix "ZA-" to
2244-504: The smallest share of White people in Limpopo, about 5,000 total. In contrast, the Waterberg district has the largest share of Whites, with more than 60,000 Whites residing there. Coloureds and Asians / Indians make up a tiny percentage of the province's total population. At 18.5% (2007), Limpopo has a relatively high incidence of HIV compared to other South African provinces. Cases rose from 14.5% to 21.5% between 2001 and 2005, with
2295-460: Was a key ally of Ramaphosa's successful campaign for election to the ANC presidency at the ANC's 54th National Conference in 2017, and was among the first ANC leaders publicly to pronounce support for Ramaphosa's re-election to a second term at the 55th National Conference in 2022: in January of that year, he praised Ramaphosa as a "son of the soil" and for having "brought the new dawn into
2346-502: Was appointed chief operations officer of the Limpopo Economic Development Enterprise (LimDev), a state-owned development agency whose primary mandate was to provide development finance to small businesses in Limpopo. He became the agency's managing director in 2005. Mathabatha left Limdev in 2010 to prepare to take up an ambassadorship . The Mail & Guardian reported in 2011 that he
2397-430: Was elected Provincial Chairperson of the ANC in Limpopo. Jerry Ndou was elected as his deputy. He was re-elected unopposed in June 2018; Florence Radzilani replaced Ndou as Deputy Provincial Chairperson. At the provincial party's next elective conference in June 2022, Dickson Masemola , who had formerly been Deputy Provincial Chairperson under Cassel Mathale, launched a challenge to Mathabatha's incumbency. In
2448-673: 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: the Pedi , the Tsonga and the Venda . 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,
2499-437: Was made in 2003. In 2013, Stan Mathabatha replaced his predecessor Cassel Mathale (both ANC) as Prime Minister. Limpopo Province shares international borders with districts and provinces of three countries: Botswana 's Central and Kgatleng districts to the west and northwest respectively, Zimbabwe 's Matabeleland South and Masvingo provinces to the north and northeast respectively, and Mozambique 's Gaza Province to
2550-609: Was sworn in as Premier on 18 July. In the Citizen 's account, Mathabatha returned to South Africa after being "head-hunted" by President Zuma as a successor to Mathale. The Business Day said that Mathabatha was seen as "neutral" in the factional battles in the Limpopo ANC, and the provincial branch of the Congress of South African Trade Unions welcomed his appointment. The day after he took office, Mathabatha announced
2601-556: Was undergoing diplomatic training and would be nominated to head South Africa's mission to Guinea-Conakry , but in 2012 President Jacob Zuma appointed him ambassador to Ukraine, in which capacity he was also non-resident ambassador to Armenia, Georgia, and Moldova. In July 2013, the ANC asked Cassel Mathale to resign as Premier of Limpopo , and the ANC-controlled Limpopo Provincial Legislature elected Mathabatha to replace him. He
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