dti allocates R21m to tackle poverty in Limpopo

The Department of Trade and Industry allocated over R21 million for upgrading the infrastructure at the Seshego Industrial Park in an effort to tackle poverty.

Limpopo - Efforts to tackle poverty in Limpopo received a boost from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which allocated more than R21 million for the upgrading of the infrastructure at the Seshego Industrial Park in Polokwane.

The development is significant because Limpopo is the province with the highest level of poverty, with 78.9 percent of the population living below the national poverty line.

DTI said the infrastructure upgrading at the Seshego Industrial Park was part of the department's revitalisation of industrial parks programme. The objective of the programme is to revitalise state-owned industrial parks across the country in order to promote industrialisation and increase their contribution to job creation and the country's economic growth.

“So far we have managed to create 1 550 jobs created by tenants in the large industries and we also have some small industries around the park, which creates about 240 jobs,” said Mourice Molepo director of land and property development.

His optimism was shared by Brand South Africa, which this week highlighted positive developments in Limpopo in line with its mandate to enhance the image of the country at home and abroad.

General manager communications at Brand South Africa Manusha Pillai said a growing and modernising economy was good news for the South African brand. “It illustrates a country at work, a country creating jobs, uplifting communities, and creating opportunities for South African brands and companies to expand beyond the borders of our country. It also illustrates a country working together as government and business,” said Pillai.

Chief Director of Regional Industrial Development Stieneke Samuel, said the revitalisation process has four phases focusing on various areas. So far the industrial park was on phase one, which includes upgrading and provision of security, electricity, road, water supply and sewage infrastructure. “We are looking at increasing support and improving investor attractiveness to the parks. These industrial parks actually provide jobs for a larger number of people and varying from park to park, the number of jobs that are provided are actually quite huge,” said Samuel.

Minister of the DTI Rob Davies, said the department identified a need to revitalise industrial parks located in various parts of the country, mainly the former homelands, as part of efforts to promote industrialisation, manufacturing and job creation. “These parks have the capacity to serve as catalysts for broader economic and industrial development in their host regions, mainly townships and rural areas,” Davies said in a statement.

“We would like to see them contributing to economic growth, diversification of economic activity, attracting investments to the areas they are located in, job creation and addressing the problem of inequality.”

The Seshego Industrial Park will be one of the first parks to be launched following the completion of the first phase of revitalisation.

African News Agency