Limpopo is South Africa’s northernmost province and was named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province’s northern and western borders.
Limpopo was created from three former homelands of Gazankulu, Lebowa, Venda and part of the former Transvaal Province, and was established as one of nine provinces after the 1994 South African general election.
Initially, the province’s name was “Northern Transvaal” but was changed to “Northern Province” in 1995. The name was further changed to “Limpopo Province” in 2002.
Limpopo is made up of three main ethnic groups: the Tsonga, the Pedi, and the Venda.
The country of Botswana borders the province on the west, provinces North West, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga on the south, the country of Mozambique on the east, and Zimbabwe on the north.
The largest city and provincial capital of Limpopo is Polokwane (previously Pietersburg), while the provincial legislature is situated in Lebowakgomo.
Other major cities and towns of Limpopo include Tzaneen, Louis Trichardt, Bela-Bela, Lephalale, Musina, and Thabazimbi.
Limpopo ranks fifth in South Africa in both surface area and population, covering an area of 125,755 square kilometres (48,554 square miles) and being home to 6,402,594 inhabitants (10.2% of the national population) according to the 2024 Mid-Year estimates by Statistics South Africa.
Limpopo is truly a region of contrasts, from Bushveld country to mountains, ancient Indigenous forests, unspoiled wilderness, and various farmland. The eastern part of Limpopo hosts the northern half of the spectacular Kruger National Park.
Mining is the main economic activity in Limpopo given that the province is rich in mineral deposits of platinum-group metals, iron ore, chromium, antimony, copper, diamonds, high and middle-grade coking coal, and phosphate.
The province also has mineral reserves of gold, emeralds, magnetite, mica, scheelite, silicon, and vermiculite.
Limpopo’s climatic conditions favour double harvesting seasons, which results in the province being the largest producer of a variety of crops in the agricultural market.
Cotton, maize, peanuts, and sunflowers are cultivated in the Modimolle and Bela-Bela areas. Table grapes are also grown in Modimolle.
Tropical fruits like mangoes, litchis, bananas, pawpaws, pineapples, and a variety of nuts, are grown in the Louis Trichardt and Tzaneen areas.
The Tzaneen area is also a major hub of extensive citrus, tea, and coffee plantations and a major forestry industry that creates many employment opportunities.
The Bushveld is beef cattle country, where extensive ranching is combined with controlled hunting. Approximately 80% of South Africa’s game-hunting industry is in Limpopo.
Limpopo has a total of 27 municipalities, it is divided into five district municipalities which are further subdivided into 22 local municipalities.
District municipalities
Name | Code | Seat | Area (km²) |
---|---|---|---|
Capricorn District Municipality | DC35 | Polokwane | 21,705 |
Mopani District Municipality | DC33 | Giyani | 20,011 |
Sekhukhune District Municipality | DC47 | Groblersdal | 13,528 |
Vhembe District Municipality | DC34 | Thohoyandou | 25,596 |
Waterberg District Municipality | DC36 | Modimolle | 44,913 |
Local municipalities
Name | Code | District | Seat | Area (km²) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blouberg Local Municipality | LIM351 | Capricorn | Senwabarwana | 9,540 |
Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality | LIM355 | Capricorn | Chuniespoort | 3,484 |
Molemole Local Municipality | LIM353 | Capricorn | Mogwadi | 3,628 |
Polokwane Local Municipality | LIM354 | Capricorn | Polokwane | 5,054 |
Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality | LIM334 | Mopani | Phalaborwa | 7,489 |
Greater Giyani Local Municipality | LIM331 | Mopani | Giyani | 4,172 |
Greater Letaba Local Municipality | LIM332 | Mopani | Modjadjiskloof | 1,891 |
Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality | LIM333 | Mopani | Tzaneen | 2,897 |
Maruleng Local Municipality | LIM335 | Mopani | Hoedspruit | 3,563 |
Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality | LIM472 | Sekhukhune | Groblersdal | 3,713 |
Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality | LIM471 | Sekhukhune | Marble Hall | 2,011 |
Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality | LIM476 | Sekhukhune | Apel | 5,693 |
Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality | LIM473 | Sekhukhune | Jane Furse | 2,110 |
Collins Chabane Local Municipality | LIM345 | Vhembe | Malamulele | 5,003 |
Makhado Local Municipality | LIM344 | Vhembe | Louis Trichardt | 7,605 |
Musina Local Municipality | LIM341 | Vhembe | Musina | 10,347 |
Thulamela Local Municipality | LIM343 | Vhembe | Thohoyandou | 2,642 |
Bela-Bela Local Municipality | LIM366 | Waterberg | Bela-Bela | 3,406 |
Lephalale Local Municipality | LIM362 | Waterberg | Lephalale | 13,794 |
Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality | LIM368 | Waterberg | Modimolle | 10,367 |
Mogalakwena Local Municipality | LIM367 | Waterberg | Mokopane | 6,156 |
Thabazimbi Local Municipality | LIM361 | Waterberg | Thabazimbi | 11,190 |