| Tourism to South Africa is booming as never
before and Polokwane is well positioned to become
the northern gateway into and from Southern Africa -
in terms of both passenger and cargo movement. The
airport further reinforces its position as the
tourism hub for the Province. It enjoys
international status, including immigration and
customs facilities.
The city has a healthy and growing tourist
industry thanks to its scenic setting and sunshine.
Tourist favourites include the Eersteling Monuments,
which commemorate the country's first gold crushing
site and gold power plant. Then there are the Bakone
open air Northern Sotho museum, the Hugh Exton
photographic museum with a glass collection of some
22 000 pieces and the eye catching green Irish
House, a prefabricated structure which was shipped
to Polokwane many years ago.
The Polokwane Art museum displays the magnificent
and growing 1000 piece art collection of the
Municipality. The collection is regarded as the most
extensive outside the major art galleries in the
country.
The Polokwane Game Reserve and Bird Sanctuary
both offer tourists exciting game and bird viewing
as well as beautiful hiking trails.
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| We also have: |
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The two largest citrus estates
in the world, Zebediela Letaba,
within easy reach of Polokwane. |
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The old English Fort of
Marabastad where in 1880 the
Boers forced the siege of 140
solders for 104 days. |
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The two Eersteling Monuments.
The first gold crushing site and
the first gold power plant in
South Africa. |
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Makapan’s Cave between Polokwane
and Mokopane famed for its yield
of fossils and the siege of
General Potgieter and the Black
tribesmen for 30 days. Potgieter
himself was killed as well as
1500 tribesmen. |
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A Nile crocodile ranch. |
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Bird and Reptile Park. |
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The Kruger National Park within
easy reach by car, plane or bus. |
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| For the past five years the city boasts an
average growth rate of 1-4% per annum. In some
sectors, like commerce, as high as 9%! This is
directly attributable to the widespread economic
base of the city. |
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| Why consider Polokwane as an investment
location? |
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The lowest crime rate of all the provinces
in South Africa. |
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Stable labour force. |
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Abundance of agricultural and mineral
resources. |
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Pro-active infrastructural planning well
into the 21st century. |
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Closest to the SADC market of about 140
million people. |
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International airport. |
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Excellent climate all year around. |
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Rich mix of nature and culture |
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The city is suitable for basically any
manufacturing industry, tourism or sports activity.
For any business that is considering penetrating the
140m strong SADC market, Polokwane is the city to
be. |
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Industry and Commerce |
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Few cities or towns in South Africa can
boast of a growth rate as consistent as Polokwane's 4% annual
growth rate over the last year. What's the reason?
Firstly, Polokwane is not reliant on any
particular industry. Its economic investment spreads
widely across mining, commerce, agriculture and
manufacturing. Polokwane currently has in excess of
600 industrial undertakings. One local factory,
Silicon Smelters, is the largest of its kind in the
western world. |
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SA
Breweries recently erected a brewery,
which is one of the largest and most
modern in the country. Polokwane also has approximately 2 539 business,
service and professional concerns. Almost every
large retailer is present in Polokwane. Because
commerce and industry is well balanced, Polokwane is
not subjected to seasonal or cyclical fluctuations.
This stability has enabled the local chamber of
commerce to become goal-oriented and committed to
increasing productivity though ongoing training and
through promoting a culture of service excellence.
Secondly, Polokwane's City Council has developed
a strategic plan to carry its infra-structural
development through to the year 2010. Since the
founding of Polokwane the municipality has
steadfastly orchestrated its economic growth and
acquired valuable experience which today continues
to benefit Polokwane. The city council intends
maintaining its impressive growth record through
continuing to play an important economic and service
role in the province.
Thirdly, Polokwane's business community is both
progressive and this makes it an automatic choice
for sensible investment.
Fourthly, Polokwane's location and modern
infrastructure makes it an automatic choice for
sensible investment.
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Incentive
Package |
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| The city offers an excellent package of financial
incentives to industrialists who wish to establish
in one of its industrial areas. These benefits make
considerable impact on bottom line profits. In fact,
the municipality follows a flexible open door policy
and benefits can be negotiated to suit individual
needs. Overall Polokwane can thus offer exceptional
incentives to discerning businessmen searching for
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investment
opportunities with enhanced lifestyles. |
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| Production Wheel |
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The beneficiation of raw material in the Limpopo
Province, whether of a mineral or perishable nature,
is central to Polokwane's gateway design.
Polokwane's economic activity is guaranteed. The
surrounding land is rich, which is why the city is
the center of some of the finest cattle ranches in
South Africa and below the surface are rich deposits
of vital minerals. In fact, the usually large
mineral deposits are key to our future. Economic
qualities of no fewer than fourteen of the world's
twenty-five strategic minerals exist in the region.
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| Labour and stability |
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The Limpopo Province is well-known for the
stability of its labour force. Race relations are
cordial and a great deal of goodwill exists amongst
the people of Polokwane. As such, Polokwane boasts a
stable labour force of workers keen and able to
work. The quality of the labour varies from
unskilled to highly trained technicians and
university graduates. Polokwane has a swelling band of professional
people who have discovered that improving |
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prosperity
within a region is an excellent stimulus
for their business. |
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| Vision and management approach |
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Polokwane's management team strives to develop
and promote the city's abundant investment
possibilities and natural resources in order to
strengthen its leading position in the Limpopo
Province and in South Africa as a whole. The
unlimited aim is to create a dynamic and progressive
environment for all stakeholders.
The
city's management team is committed to a
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responsible
and accountable management style. Its
open-minded professional and pro-active approach
towards governance ensures a healthy relationship
with authorities and individuals. |
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| It’s the place to be |
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Our residential areas are renowned for their
serene tranquillity, lush gardens and tree-lined
avenues create a feeling of harmony with nature.
Municipal parks are dotted throughout our suburbs.
Residents are consulted in the provision of services
and facilities in order to facilitate orderly
development. |
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| Linking world markets |
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Integral to development is the utilization of the
Pietersburg International Airport. It is also
envisaged to establish an export-processing zone at
the airport.
The N1 motorway and main rail link bisect the
province, running north and south between Zimbabwe
and the highly industrialized Gauteng Province. This
is not only an essential link for the Province and
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Polokwane, but is a crucial source for trade andinvestment.
The movement of raw materials, labour
and consumer goods between factories, harbors and
market stimulates growth along this corridor.A sophisticated and cost effective
telecommunication network supports the industrial
and commercial sectors. |
