Limpopo Post EXCO meeting statement

Limpopo Provincial Government’s Executive Council (EXCO) held its meeting on the 09th June 2021. During the virtual meeting, Premier Chupu Stanley Mathabatha applauded all role players for the sterling work performed as attested to by the improved municipal audit outcomes. The Premier however is deeply saddened by incidents of Gender Based Violence and Femicide in the province and urged all to work hard towards eradicating these monstrous acts.
 
1.     Revitalization of Agriculture and Agro-processing Plan
 
The Executive Council received and subsequently approved the Limpopo Revitalization of Agriculture and Agro-processing Value-Chain (RAAVC) Plan from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The plan aims to maximize primary agricultural production and expand agro-processing in the province. Limpopo has a national competitive advantage regarding crucial agricultural sub-sectors including industrial crops like cotton, oilseeds, fruit and vegetables. Implementation of the plan will go a long way towards creation of much-needed jobs thus contributing significantly to the economy of the province.
 
2.     Limpopo Creative Industry Strategy
 
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture presented the Limpopo Creative Industry Strategy (LCIS) to the Executive Council for approval. The main objective of the strategy is to harness and promote creative arts as a sustainable business whilst encouraging social cohesion and nation building in the province.
 
Limpopo is one of the most culturally diverse provinces in the country with a rich heritage thus the implementation of the strategy will assist in unearthing of talent, nurturing and exposing it to the world. The Economic Cluster will champion the implementation of the strategy.
 
3.     Approved Frameworks for hosting Mining Indaba, Tourism Lekgotla and Limpopo Investment Conference
 
The Executive approved three frameworks for hosting economic- based-activities presented by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environment (LEDET). The first one is, Limpopo Mining Indaba scheduled to be held on the 22 July 2021. The Indaba intends to strengthen the role of mines in the provincial economy, the role of mining in host communities and social cohesion thereof.
 
Limpopo Tourism Lekgotla will be hosted on the 12 August 2021. Tourism is one of the hardest hit sectors by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lekgotla will afford the sector a platform to discuss recovery plans in the sector thus laying a solid foundation for the oncoming Provincial Investment Conference.
 
The third event will be a virtual Provincial Investment Conference to be held for two days, the 1st and 2nd of September 2021. This is in line with the SA Investment Conference hosted by the President of the republic, Cyril Ramaphosa, November 2020. The rationale behind the hosting of an investment conference is to mobilize investments to expedite industrialization in the province, reposition Limpopo favorably in the new norm as well as to take advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to change the economic landscape of the province.
 
4.     COVID-19 Report
The Executive noted an update on COVID-19 in the province. The report displays a disturbing trend of an increase in COVID-19 cases with Waterberg District remaining a hotspot. The provincial weekly active cases incidence has moved to Alert Stage with the positivity rate overall increased to 10%.
 
Considering the above and the looming Third Wave, EXCO directed that both the Provincial and District Command Councils be vigilant in managing responses to the imminent wave and overseeing the vaccination programme which is underway.
 
5.     Gender Based Violence/Femicide
The Department of Social Development presented a comprehensive progress report on Gender Based Violence (GBV) for noting by the Executive. The report details initiatives and interventions put in place by the Provincial Technical Task Team. The team was established to facilitate the implementation and integration of inter-sectoral programmes and services for prevention of GBV. The Task Team regularly reports to the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster.
 
Media Enquiries:
Willy Mosoma – Spokesperson for the Premier
082 416 1347 or 072 102 4920 (all whatsAPP friendly)