POLOKWANE – Local informal traders and small business owners in the city are seeking opportunities from the R138.4 billion investment pledges announced at last Thursday’s Limpopo Investment Conference (LIC), while the DA has questioned whether the commitments will translate into tangible economic growth.

The sixth LIC, held at The Ranch Resort, exceeded the provincial government’s target of R120 billion, which was announced ahead of the conference.

Building networks for local traders

Mampapatla Madikoto, secretary of the Limpopo Small Business and Informal Business Association (Lisa), attended the conference to establish networks that could help local traders access opportunities arising from the investment commitments.

Madikoto said he had initiated discussions with network connectivity companies, Limpopo Tourism Agency chairperson Freddy Greaver, who led the programme on the day, and the Chinese ambassador.

The aim is to bring development initiatives and business opportunities to Polokwane’s informal economy.

“Most of our members are informal traders, followed by tuck shop owners,” Madikoto said.

He emphasised that local small businesses should also benefit from the proposed investments.

DA questions the pledges

However, DA Limpopo leader Jacques Smalle questioned the value of the conference, arguing that investment pledges mean little if municipalities cannot provide reliable basic services.

Smalle said that of the R452.38 billion in investment commitments announced between 2021 and 2025, only R71.058 billion had materialised on the ground, representing 15.7%.

He argued that the province could not attract and retain investors while municipalities struggled with service delivery.

Businesses could not expand without reliable water and electricity supplies and properly maintained roads, including in and around Polokwane, he said.

Smalle added that municipal failures contributed to poverty and forced local residents to seek employment in Gauteng.

Government optimistic

At the conference, Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba and Deputy President Paul Mashatile struck a more optimistic tone, saying the province was moving from investment promises towards implementation.

Ramathuba said Limpopo was among the leading provinces in job creation and that the provincial government wanted to reduce unemployment to below 20%.

Mashatile said government was creating opportunities in mining and agriculture and using the InvestSA One Stop Shop to simplify processes for investors.

The bottom line

With local government elections scheduled for November 4, the DA maintains that the success of investment initiatives should be measured by projects delivered and jobs created, alongside improvements in municipal services that allow local businesses to grow.