President Ramaphosa Concludes Productive Engagement with Limpopo Executive Council
By Thulane Madalane
Polokwane:On Friday President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a pivotal address at the meeting between the National Executive and the Limpopo Executive Council, held at the Polokwane Municipality Council Chamber. This significant engagement marks the beginning of a nationwide initiative in which the National Executive will reach out to each province to foster collaboration and alignment on developmental priorities.
In his opening remarks, President Ramaphosa expressed gratitude to Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba for the warm welcome and emphasized the importance of the meeting. “This meeting is significant in a number of respects,” he stated, noting that it represents the first high-level bilateral engagement between the National Executive and the provinces under the seventh administration.
The President highlighted the need for direct and regular communication between national and provincial leaders to effectively align developmental agendas. “This enables the National Executive to have better line of sight of provincial programmes while allowing provincial executive councils to align their developmental roadmap with national plans,” he explained, underscoring constitutional mandates that promote cooperation and coordination among different levels of government.
President Ramaphosa articulated the necessity of developing an intergovernmental relationship that is not only effective but also serves the best interests of the South African people. He reiterated the importance of the District Development Model introduced in 2019, which aims to achieve synergy between national, provincial, and local development efforts.
He also shared key priorities for his administration, which include driving inclusive growth, reducing poverty, and building a capable and ethical state. The focus now is on finalizing and implementing the Medium-Term Development Plan, emphasizing the critical role of provinces in achieving economic growth and improving service delivery.
The President called for a strategic use of provincial resources, highlighting specific opportunities within Limpopo’s agricultural sector and its potential in tourism and mineral beneficiation. “We need to harness the potential of our provinces to drive economic activity,” he said, adding that provinces should leverage their unique endowments for greater economic contributions.
President Ramaphosa stressed the importance of addressing logistical challenges that hinder economic growth, particularly in the agriculture and mining sectors. He shared ongoing efforts to reform electricity and water supply issues, as well as tackling crime which has broader implications on investment and development.
He encouraged provincial leaders to engage in difficult conversations to identify the primary obstacles to growth and to collaborate on viable solutions. “This visit is an opportunity to listen to counterparts at a local level… to identify the interventions needed on the part of national government,” he stated, emphasizing a collaborative approach to identify and address bottlenecks.
Looking ahead, the President expressed anticipation for the Limpopo Provincial Government’s presentation on key priority programs. He highlighted the significance of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and the need to unlock private sector investment to accelerate industrialization and job creation.
President Ramaphosa reiterated the importance of setting clear action plans to enhance economic development in Limpopo, calling for innovation and clarity in the resources needed to execute those plans. “We must emerge from this engagement with a clear plan of action,” he said, highlighting the collaborative spirit necessary to unlock the province’s potential.
The meeting represents a crucial step in fostering a united front for development across South Africa, with Limpopo poised to play a major role in the country’s economic future, especially in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and green energy.
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