Limpopo Province, South Africa

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

NameCodeSeatArea (km²)
Capricorn District MunicipalityDC35Polokwane21,705
Mopani District MunicipalityDC33Giyani20,011
Sekhukhune District MunicipalityDC47Groblersdal13,528
Vhembe District MunicipalityDC34Thohoyandou25,596
Waterberg District MunicipalityDC36Modimolle44,913

Local municipalities

NameCodeDistrictSeatArea (km²)
Blouberg Local MunicipalityLIM351CapricornSenwabarwana9,540
Lepelle-Nkumpi Local MunicipalityLIM355CapricornChuniespoort3,484
Molemole Local MunicipalityLIM353CapricornMogwadi3,628
Polokwane Local MunicipalityLIM354CapricornPolokwane5,054
Ba-Phalaborwa Local MunicipalityLIM334MopaniPhalaborwa7,489
Greater Giyani Local MunicipalityLIM331MopaniGiyani4,172
Greater Letaba Local MunicipalityLIM332MopaniModjadjiskloof1,891
Greater Tzaneen Local MunicipalityLIM333MopaniTzaneen2,897
Maruleng Local MunicipalityLIM335MopaniHoedspruit3,563
Elias Motsoaledi Local MunicipalityLIM472SekhukhuneGroblersdal3,713
Ephraim Mogale Local MunicipalityLIM471SekhukhuneMarble Hall2,011
Fetakgomo Tubatse Local MunicipalityLIM476SekhukhuneApel5,693
Makhuduthamaga Local MunicipalityLIM473SekhukhuneJane Furse2,110
Collins Chabane Local MunicipalityLIM345VhembeMalamulele5,003
Makhado Local MunicipalityLIM344VhembeLouis Trichardt7,605
Musina Local MunicipalityLIM341VhembeMusina10,347
Thulamela Local MunicipalityLIM343VhembeThohoyandou2,642
Bela-Bela Local MunicipalityLIM366WaterbergBela-Bela3,406
Lephalale Local MunicipalityLIM362WaterbergLephalale13,794
Modimolle-Mookgophong Local MunicipalityLIM368WaterbergModimolle10,367
Mogalakwena Local MunicipalityLIM367WaterbergMokopane6,156
Thabazimbi Local MunicipalityLIM361WaterbergThabazimbi11,190

List of South African Municipalities under Administration