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4 February 2008

The MEC for Local Government and Housing in Limpopo, Mme Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and the ambassador of the European Union in South Africa, invite all media to join them on a visit to various Limpopo Local Economic Development (LED) projects in the Mopani District on 7 February 2008.

Limpopo LED is a R300 million programme aimed at supporting pro-poor economic growth in the province. Most of the funds available under Limpopo LED are being channelled through three grant funds; i.e. Marginalised Community Fund (MCF), Local Competitiveness Fund (LCF) and the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).

The first stop of the MEC and the ambassador will be at Tzaneen Plastics Recycling Factory, a LED project specialising in recycling plastic and making products for importation to markets in the United States.

The second stop will be at Letsitele Citrus Co-operative in Letsitele, where commercial and emergent farmers export citrus to the European Union.

From there, the MEC and the EU ambassador will visit the Afrikania Pottery in Phalaborwa, also a LED project. Whilst still in Phalaborwa, the MEC and the ambassador will visit the Phalaborwa Mining Company and Phalaborwa Foundation

The visit will extend to the Bollonoto Tourism Centre for a briefing on tourism projects and Business Development and for a briefing on SMME training in the area. The Tzaneen Plastic Recycling Factory received R1 365 000 from the MCF. The Letsitele Citrus Co-operative and the Afrikania Pottery in Phalaborwa were granted R2, 1 million and R1 million respectively, courtesy of the MCF.

MEC Nkoana-Mashabane said: "The projects play an important role in creating jobs and growing local economies."

For more information, contact:
Clayson Monyela
Cell: 082 806 7405

Issued by: Department of Local Government and Housing, Limpopo Provincial Government
4 February 2008