An example of the underdevelopment that the Greater Giyani Natural Resource Development Programme aims to eradicate.

After many months of preparation, the Greater Giyani Natural Resource Development Programme is ready to roll-out. The Programme is being funded by a R11.6 million grant from the DBSA Development Fund, with funding also committed by the Greater Giyani Local Municipality and the Mopani District Municipality.

The project is spearheaded by the Office of the Premier in Limpopo and supported by a myriad of Provincial Government Departments. SERA will coordinate the activities for the Programme. The intention is to establish a Development Department (linked to the LED Department) within the Greater Giyani Local Municipality. This Department will be responsible for coordinating a number of ecologically linked projects and act as the central office for all private and public developmental initiatives within the Giyani district.

Currently the SERA Coordinator is drawing up the implementation plans for the Programme, while the official launch of the Programme in Giyani is expected towards the end of April. The need for an integrated approach has been widely supported by the parties involved in the initiative. Senior Provincial Officials have lauded the Programme for its efforts towards linking a number of departments and have committed themselves to the Programme.

The support for the Programme from all levels of Government in the Limpopo Province and partnerships with a variety of institutions (such as the NDA, IDT, University of Venda and the University of Limpopo), as well as buy-in from traditional authorities and the communities, bodes well for the Programmes to have a significant impact on the lives of the citizens of Giyani and its environment.

For more information about the Greater Giyani Natural Resource Development Programme, contact Canny Geyer at serattrd@up.ac.za