The premier outlined plans and achievements of Limpopo at the State of the Province address  Botes Hall in Polokwane on Thursday.

Dr. Ramathuba acknowledged that temporary jobs have risen in the first quarter of 2025, where about 64 000 jobs were created.

Even though the province remains fourth largest employer in South Africa.

Residents are demanding permanent jobs for security.

Limpopo employment is driven by EPWP contracts that afford residents a temporary work for a period of six months.

An anonymous resident expressed dissatisfaction regarding the Premier’s 28% unemployment in the province.

“Roads construction jobs and EPWP are the biggest jobs. Ward Councilors are given a mandate and authority to recruit locals through the paper number method. ANC members are the ones who afforded the opportunity, ” said a concerned resident.

Premier Ramathuba intends to reduce unemployment below 20%

“We will build on this momentum and work with renewed urgency to reduce unemployment further with a clear goal of bringing it below 20% and ensuring that growth in our Province is inclusive, sustainable, and job_rich” said the Provincial Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba

Limpopo Industrial Agenda theme ” Turning resources into factories and factories into jobs seems to be moving on a snail pace.

The prolonged Musina Makhando Special Economic Zone ( SEZ) that was launched in 2018 by the former Premier Stanley Mathabatha has not yet reduced unemployment as planned.

“We have also appointed a new CEO who is expected to drive the vision of the province in that area,” said the Provincial Premier Ramathuba

SEZ is a large industrial development project in the Vhembe District between the towns of Musina and Makhado near the Beitbridge border with Zimbabwe.

Its aim is to promote industrialization, investment, and job creation.

The project was expected to attract more than R40 billion in investment and create over 21 000 jobs.

It has two main development sites

First South Site ( Energy and Metallurgical)

• Heavy industry
• Steel and metal processing
•  Energy production
•  Mineral beneficiation
• Second North site ( Antonvilla)
•  Light and medium manufacturing
•  Agro_ processing
• Logistics and warehousing
• Trade services

Premier Ramathuba confirmed during her address that the court battle of land issue is resolved.

” We are delighted to report that indeed we have made great strides with the land now formally transferred to the SEZ, and bulk work has begun,” Premier Ramathuba explained

The project was approved by the former President Jacob Zuma’s administration in July 2016.

Operator license was issued by the Department of Trade and Industry 2017.

The project is now extended to explore new green and advanced opportunities with CSIR, FTIP, Valterra Platinum, and Mintek to pursue hydrogen energy derived from PGM’s framed as practical step forward local beneficiation

As the local government elections looms, the premier emphasized that municipalities affected by the recent floods will be granted R500 million to rebuild their infrastructures.

Where 27 lives were lost, others are still missing , including a 5 year old boy from Mbawula village in Giyani.

According to the provincial government, about 450 roads were damaged, and 3500 houses were destroyed.

” We are now directing the MEC of Finace, Mr. Kgabo Mahoai to make available funds to the provincial departments to cover the urgent recovery” outlined by the premier.

She alluded that every Rand would be accounted for by the official personnel given authority to manage the funds.

” There is no space for corruption for entrepreneurs who are busy salivating at the smell of these funds,” said Provincial Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba

Oppositional parties were not pleased with her address. EFF MPL’s tried to disrupt her speech.

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She described a province usually known for enduring drought and tough soil, now grappling with unprecedented flooding, the worst in the 25 years since the 2000 floods. “We stand here with one eye full of hope and intentions, while the other is wiping tears,” she said, capturing the mixed emotions of resilience and grief.

The troubles began around Christmas 2025 in areas like Modimolle-Mookgophong in Waterberg and Blouberg in Capricorn, where what seemed like a normal storm turned ferocious, destroying homes, claiming lives, flooding roads, and washing away freshly planted fields. Then, in early January 2026, heavy rains from the Mozambique Channel pounded the north-east, hitting hardest in places like Bennde Mutale, Thulamela, Giyani, Collins Chabane, and Ba-Phalaborwa.

Rivers such as the Mutale, Luvuvhu, Klein Letaba, Letaba, Selati, and Lepelle swelled dramatically, carrying trees and debris that blocked bridges and turned routes into barriers cutting people off from work, schools, and medical care.

The premier highlighted the tragedy in Mbaula village in Greater Giyani Municipality, which became a heartbreaking symbol of the floods’ power. Villages woke to find homes gone entirely. In one desperate moment, a woman climbed a tree to get phone signal and alert the Mopani Disaster Management Centre, leading to rescues through community bravery and help. But the losses were painful: a five-year-old boy was swept away from his mother as she clung to a tree branch for safety. Stories like a mother and teenage daughter stranded for days while fetching firewood, only to be saved on the third day, underscored both the terror and the miracles amid the chaos.

Premier Ramathuba emphasized Limpopo’s spirit of botho (humanity and community) that endures: “Even when the river rises, the calabash still floats. Even when the wind tears the roof, the home of botho remains.” She quoted a local saying: “Metsi a tlisa bophelo, eupša ge a feta moedi a tliša bohloko” (Water brings life, but when it overflows its banks, it brings pain).

The address acknowledged the widespread calls for help, the solidarity of rescuers, and the province’s determination to rebuild stronger, even as the premier noted this wasn’t the usual progress report but a moment to confront the disaster head-on.

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Speaking ahead of the 2026 State of the Nation Address, Ramathuba welcomed the national disaster declaration, saying it will allow funds to be redirected toward rebuilding affected districts.

She stressed that resolving the water crisis is critical to attracting investment and building an inclusive provincial economy.

Tonight, all eyes turn to Cyril Ramaphosa as he delivers State of the Nation Address in Cape Town.

Will SONA 2026 prioritise water security and infrastructure recovery?

#SONA2026 #LimpopoFloods #WaterCrisis #PeopleDrivenNews

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Meida Ramuhala was a beneficiary of the Provincial Rural Health Matters Outreach Programme, previously led by the then MEC for Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba.

She was suffering from a mandibular odontogenic tumour, known as ameloblastoma.

According to a preliminary police report, Ramuhala was discovered lying in her sister’s yard with visible bruises to her head and face.

Police have arrested a 59-year-old male suspect and confirmed that investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death are ongoing.

Meanwhile, Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba has expressed deep sadness and shock.

“We are deeply saddened by this brutal and heartless act committed against Ramuhala,” she said.

The Premier has conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the family, while the Collen Mashawana Foundation has also expressed shock and sadness. The foundation donated a furnished house to Ramuhala in 2022.

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The Premier conducted her third monitoring visit to the project on Monday. She was accompanied by the MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, Ernest Sebataola, and Greater Letaba Mayor, Dagma Mamanyoha.

“I am satisfied with the targets and time frames we agreed on,” said Premier Dr Ramathuba.

According to the Premier, the newly appointed contractor, Mathothoka Trading CC, still needs to complete 500 metres of the road and construct two bridges.

The R400 million construction project was initially commissioned in 2017 but was abandoned by the former contractor, who reportedly walked away with millions of rands.

In 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the stalled project to assess progress and instructed then-Premier Stanley Mathabatha to ensure its completion.

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