Themed "Advancing economic renewal through research: Growing Limpopo together", the Limpopo Provincial Government, in collaboration with Unisa’s North Eastern Region (Polokwane Campus) and other institutions of higher learning in the Limpopo Province, hosted a two-day Limpopo Research Forum on 15 and 16 February 2024. The forum provided a platform to share ideas, disseminate research outputs and discuss other research matters of the province.

Dr Malebajoa Maoela and Dr Gideon Mutanda

Delivering the opening remarks, acting Director-General in the Office of the Limpopo Premier, Dr Martin Sehlapelo, said that the forum aimed to go beyond sharing research among academic scholars, fraternities and the community. It also explored different platforms to ensure the research outputs reach the public. Sehlapelo announced: "Through this project, the office is developing a Provincial Research Hub to help enhance service delivery through research and provide qualitative credible data and scientific evidence that will advise and support the government on the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities that can respond to the needs and priorities of the province." Sehlapelo added that the research shared at the forum and produced at the hub will assist his office in making economic decisions that can help reduce unemployment, leading to a prosperous economy for Limpopo and the country as it celebrates 30 years of democracy. 

Keynote speaker Kgabo Moganedi, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Limpopo, presented on "The marula fruit wine: Harmony of tradition and innovation". The beverage is a brainchild of Moganedi, inspired by her doctoral research on indigenous knowledge of how rural communities produce traditional marula beer. Moganedi unpacked the scientific process of producing the beverage, leading to the formation of a microbiologically safe, stable and enjoyable marula fruit wine.

Prof Moganedi Kgabo, Prof Godwell Nhamo, Dr Master Maebane and Dr Martin Sehlapelo

"The loss of income faced by rural brewers, caused by low juice yield and limited shelf life, led to the production of this organic wine," explained Moganedi. Reiterating maintaining natural processes, Moganedi explained that the wine has consistent quality and a long shelf life. "The wine is unique as it is the first alcoholic beverage derived from the marula fruit without any preservatives and enzymes," said Moganedi. Additionally, she indicated that her institution plans to upscale wine production by using knowledge gained from previous studies and exploring other indigenous fruits.

Responding to the keynote address, Prof Kingsley Ayisi from the University of Limpopo said: "We need to look at supply chain and harvesting." He added: "If the marula beverages are in great demand, we must supply them and decide whether we source the fruit from plantations or forests." Further, Dr Mphoreng Mmako from the Tshwane University of Technology reiterated that the upscaling of the marula beverage production should contribute to human development, alleviate poverty and unemployment, and include indigenous knowledge from communities.

Dr Lazarus Chapungu, Unisa’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Exxaro Chair in Climate and Sustainability Transition: Institute for Corporate Citizenship, under the College of Economic and Management Sciences (CEMS), presented on "Covid-19 and the civil society organisations (CSOs) in the Limpopo Province, South Africa: A focus on the impacts and coping strategies". Chapungu said that the pandemic greatly affected and destabilised CSOs, leading to loss of funding and a decline in operational performance. Additionally, Prof Godwell Nhamo, Unisa’s Exxaro Chair in Climate and Sustainability Transitions at CEM’s Institute for Corporate Citizenship, focused on "Covid-19 impacts on school operations in Limpopo: A pushback on the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) in South Africa". According to Nhamo, the pandemic has revealed fractures in the existing education system beyond Limpopo Province, as well as in South Africa and globally.

Focusing on the Limpopo Province, Dr Master Maebane, Unisa’s Acting Regional Academic Coordinator from the Department of Student Administration and System Integration, delivered dual presentations on the "Impact of business robbery on the development of youth-owned businesses" and the "Performance of youth-owned businesses in the Capricorn District Municipality". Both research studies revealed the severe effects caused by crime and corruption on these businesses, leading to their poor performance. Maebane recommended that youth-owned businesses consider forming operations associations in their district municipalities to strengthen business relationships and networks. "The failure of youth-owned businesses is a disadvantage to the economy, given their potential to create employment and alleviate poverty," said Maebane.

On day two of the forum, other Unisa researchers who delivered insightful presentations were Dr Gideon Mutanda, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Exxaro Chair in Climate and Sustainability Transitions: Institute for Corporate Citizenship, and Dr Malebajoa Maoela, Senior Researcher in the Exxaro Chair in Climate and Sustainability Transitions. Mutanda focused on "SDGs localisation in South African municipalities: A systematic review", while Maoela concentrated on "The socio-economic impacts of Covid-19 on the mining industry in South Africa". 

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* By Dineo Khayemba, Journalist, Unisa Radio