Limpopo’s first female Premier Phophi Ramathuba says she plans to develop the province’s mining sector to create more jobs. She says the province has a lot of potential for development in its tourism and agriculture sectors, which she also plans to improve.
Ramathuba says the state needs to create a conducive environment by providing investors with the necessary support.
“If an investor wants to start mining and they’ve got a challenge of power supply, we must make sure we address that issue; if the problem is water, we should do that; if the problem is roads infrastructure or network infrastructure, we should be able to do that so that they can start mining. Because by starting to mine, production on its own creates jobs. Then move to the second layer by getting a certain percentage of the minerals not to be exported, but to remain for processing and move up to beneficiation. The same can be done in terms of agriculture,” says Ramathuba.
Limpopo gets first female premier:
Childhood friends including former classmates of Dr. Ramathuba in Ha-Mashamba village in Limpopo say they are thrilled that she has been elected as the new premier.
Ramathuba was sworn in at the legislature in Lebowakgomo on Friday.D
Former classmate Martha Mulaudzi attended school with Ramathuba at Tshitangule Primary School.
Mulaudzi says Ramathuba was always an exceptional pupil.
“I knew Doctor Ramathuba since we were still young. I met her in Sub A which is today Grade R, I am not sure. We grew up together. She was very bright. She liked the work. The thing I remember the most is when we were still young. There was a garden at school. She was staying far from school, but she had to make sure that she waters her line. We grew up together until we reached Standard 5, which is Grade 7,” says Mulaudzi.
