MODIMOLLE-MOKGOPHONG: About 140 golfers from Limpopo and predominantly Gauteng based businesses gathered at Euphoria Golf Estate on Friday, raising hundreds of thousands of rands towards educational bursaries for provincial students pursuing studies in Hydrogeology and Water Resource Engineering.

The annual charity golf day, hosted by Lepelle Northern Water in partnership with the Limpopo Premier’s educational bursary initiative, aims to assist students whose families struggle to afford higher education fees.

Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba, who had a busy programme on Friday, made time to tee off at the event alongside Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism MEC Tshitereke Matibe and members of the Lepelle Northern Water board.

Ramathuba applauded the golfers and corporate stakeholders for contributing towards the education and future of young people in the province at the last leg of the event.

At the Gala Dinner, she was accompanied by the mayor of Modimolle Mokgophong, MEC’s and Vhembe District Executive Mayor.

She said the initiative demonstrated the importance of collaboration, particularly in addressing challenges around water provision and human development.

“Water is life and sanitation is dignity. We gather here today to show the importance of life and to go beyond bulk water and reticulation. It is about creating young minds and giving them access to opportunities that uplift them,” Ramathuba said.

She said the theme of the event, “The Power of Collaboration”, was particularly important because no institution or individual could successfully deliver services in isolation.

“Even with golf, you cannot play alone. There is no way you can succeed in whatever you do unless there is a collaborative effort,” she said.

The Premier reflected on the water challenges previously experienced in Polokwane, recalling a period when residents were forced to store water in buckets because of shortages.

Ramathuba said she had subsequently called on the Department of Water and Sanitation, Lepelle Northern Water and the Polokwane Municipality to work together to address the crisis.

“I realised that everyone was working in their own corner,” she said.

According to Ramathuba, the collaboration has since contributed to improvements in water security, with reservoirs in the province now reported to be at around 90% capacity.

She also apologised to the people of Polokwane for remarks she previously made during a media interview about the water situation, saying she had been “political” in how she presented the issue.

Ramathuba said her administration would continue prioritising communities that have historically struggled to access basic services, particularly townships and rural villages.

She said Limpopo could not afford to focus only on major areas while leaving poorer communities behind.

“In Limpopo, we don’t just fix Camps Bay in Cape Town and leave Khayelitsha out. Our focus starts from the townships and villages,” she said.

The Premier congratulated Lepelle Northern Water for its continued partnership with the Department of Water and Sanitation, saying the organisation’s efforts demonstrated the impact that could be achieved when institutions worked together.

Ramathuba revealed that she had declined to participate in the charity golf day in 2025 because she believed the province still had communities without reliable access to water.

“I declined to participate because people had no water. How can you organise a tournament while people don’t have water?” she said.

She said she did not want to associate herself with failure while communities were still waiting for basic services.

Ramathuba pointed to developments in Vhembe District as an example of progress, highlighting the Kutama-Sinthumule area, where communities had reportedly struggled with water shortages for years but were now receiving potable water.

The Premier said the success of the charity golf day should therefore not only be measured by the funds raised, but also by the opportunities created for young people and the broader contribution to Limpopo’s development.

Turning to the lighter side of the event, Ramathuba joked about her golfing performance, declaring:

“I must say, my tee-off was better than the Minister of Sports, Gayton McKenzie.”

The funds raised through the annual event will contribute to bursary support for students pursuing qualifications in critical water-related fields, helping to develop the next generation of professionals needed to address Limpopo’s water and infrastructure challenges.

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