Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba is a leader on a mission to improve the lives of her people. She is exudes confidence in her approach to work, and her commitment to bring foreign investment to the sprawling Limpopo province is palpable.
This week, Premier Ramathuba was part of President Ramaphosa’s official state visit to China, the world’s second biggest economy.
She also attended the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), a three-day global affair held in the Chinese capital Beijing and attended by an estimated 50 African heads of state.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also attended the FOCAC 2024 summit, which was ground-breaking for the material commitment to Africa that President Xi Jinping gave toward the continent.
In the midst of the massive geopolitical gathering characterized by wheeling and dealings, Premier Ramathuba showed her true character – that of a determined hardworking public office bearer. She is a woman of substance.
Whilst in Beijing, she followed up Chinese investors who had visited Limpopo back in 2018, and demanded to know why their commitment to invest in Limpopo was yet to materialise. She got many of the positive answers she had wanted. Many recommitted. And now, this time in her capacity as Premier, the lady-in-charge has vowed to let nothing slip this time round.
In October, she is planning to host a huge business conference that will help unlock the potential her administration possesses. Premier Ramathuba poured her out during an interview with the Global South Media Network in Beijing.
First and foremost, she thanked President Cyril Ramaphosa for identifying her as one of the only three premiers to be included in the state visit and FOCAC.
“We were honoured to receive the invitation to join His Excellency President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa during this particular summit and state visit to China,” she stated, before elaborating as follows:
“It’s important to understand the background and context: It’s mainly because of Musina-Makhado SEZ, and also the Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZ. Once more, many of you would remember how strategically Limpopo is when it comes to natural resources – be it in agriculture or tourism, among others.
“Therefore, for us as a province, we came here for two reasons at least: Firstly, we wanted to confirm some of the agreements that were signed in 2018 during the then visit together with a number of strategic partners here in China where our primary concern was that we had not seen any movement throughout the intervening period.”
Musina-Makhado is a Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ), situated in Limpopo’s Vhembe District. The MMSEZ is adjacent to the hive of activity that is the Beitbridge Border Gate, which is South Africa’s second biggest port of entry.
It is also regarded by Premier Ramathuba and the government as a “gateway to other SADC countries”. It comprises two sites – one focusing primarily on energy and metallurgy and the other three sectors, which are “general manufacturing, agro-processing and logistics”.
No wonder the Premier has resolved to leave no stone unturned in her world-wide search for investment in the province’s identified SEZ’s, where job creation is her top priority, especially among women and the youth.
She continued: “Secondly, we needed to source new investors to come and invest in our beautiful province. What we may also proudly indicate is that we have been able to meet with some of those (investors) who had made their undertaking in 2018. For example, we have met with Power China wherein we are particularly paying attention to the Musina-Makhado SEZ.”
She also revealed: “We will make important announcement during our investment conference - come the 23 and 24th of October. Some of the deals in the pipeline will be signed during the investment conference. I am elated to note that there have been a number of agreements that have been reached with some investors, especially around the solar farms that we are planning to develop.”
A medical doctor by profession who is also a former MEC for Health in Limpopo, Premier Ramathuba clearly knows what she wants for her province in order to bring-about a better life for all. Her list of priorities is at the tip of her tongue. “Renewable energy, being the future and the way to go,” she explained, “we will be making bold pronouncements during our October investment conference, based on the agreements that we have already made.”
In addition, the Premier said: “We are also focusing, equally important, on the battery storage especially when you look at the Peter Kgomo-Tubatsi SEZ. There have been agreements that have been reached in that regard. We discussed a number of inputs looking into renewable energy as I said, but of course not forgetting agricultural sector. Here, we were able to secure markets when it comes, for example, to avocadoes, tomatoes and fresh products such as both red and white meat that we are known for as a province.”
Showing how she had hit the ground running since she was appointed Premier in the country’s 7th administration, Premier Ramathuba carried on informatively: “There has been some encouraging progress that we have made. Like I indicated earlier, I don’t want to be ahead of myself. Important announcements will be made during our October conference. This year’s investment conference will be noticeably different, but equally important.”
Meanwhile, Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZ (FTESEZ) is situated in the Sekhukhune District. Premier Ramathuba is confident that, once up and running, it will enhance Limpopo’s manufacturing and export capabilities, and contribute significantly to SA’s GDP.
The FTESEZ is located within the Bushveld igneous complex (Eastern Limb), which hosts the well-known Merensky Reef in Limpopo, a province with too much untapped potential that the new premier wants to unlock, be it in China or anywhere else in the world.
This makes Ramathuba the Premier with a mission, and vision. Nothing, it seems, will stop her from turning Limpopo province into an international destination of choice. Her mantra could easily be: Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
* Abbey Makoe is Founder and Editor-in-Chief: Global South Media Network.