Limpopo beats its investment target with R138bn in pledges
The province aimed for R120bn at its sixth investment conference. Earlier pledges have already turned into R71bn of real investment and almost 24,000 jobs.
PANM — South Africa's Limpopo province secured more than R138 billion in investment pledges at its sixth investment conference, beating its target of R120 billion, the Mail & Guardian reports.
The conference's theme was moving "from pledges to progress", and the province has a track record to point to: of the R452 billion pledged between 2021 and 2025, R71 billion has already become real investment, creating 23,968 jobs.
Where the money is going
The pledges cover infrastructure (water, roads and public works), farming and food processing, mining and mineral processing, manufacturing and logistics, property, energy, tourism, and telecommunications.
What was said
- Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who gave the keynote address, said the real test is whether pledges become working projects and lasting jobs. He described Limpopo as a gateway to southern Africa and a beneficiary of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and opened an InvestSA One Stop Shop, where investors can register, apply for permits and deal with regulation in one place.
- Premier Phophi Ramathuba said Limpopo has been among the top three provinces for job creation for four years. Poverty in the province has fallen from about 60% a decade ago to about 40%, she said, and the aim is to bring unemployment, now 33%, below 20%.
- China's ambassador, Wu Peng, said Chinese companies would expand their investment through the Musina-Makhado and Fetakgomo-Tubatse special economic zones.
Source: Mail & Guardian, reporting by Brian Sokutu, 16 October 2026.
