POLOKWANE PUTS LIMPOPO ON THE MAP AS MAYOR MPE LEADS CITY TO GLOBAL GIS GLORY

Mpho Dube
2 days ago
3 min read

Rewriting history in San Diego as municipality wins prestigious SAG Award 2026

Executive Mayor Cllr Makoro John Mpe speaks with conviction at the podium. Under his leadership, Polokwane has embraced cutting-edge technology and global recognition, proving that a city in Limpopo can compete with the best in the world.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief

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POLOKWANE– Recently, the world stood up and took notice of a city in Limpopo. In San Diego, California, USA, Polokwane Municipality was honoured with the 2026 Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award, one of the most prestigious global awards celebrating excellence and innovation in Geographic Information Systems.

Among leading governments and institutions from across the world, Polokwane’s name was called. With that moment, Limpopo was firmly placed on the global map.

This historic achievement comes under the decisive leadership of Cllr Makoro John Mpe, Executive Mayor of the City of Polokwane. On behalf of the municipality and the community, Mayor Mpe extended sincere appreciation and heartfelt congratulations to the GIS Unit under the Planning and Economic Development Directorate for putting Polokwane on the world stage. “We are immensely proud of this achievement in the 2026 Special Achievement in GIS Awards taking place in San Diego, USA,” Mayor Mpe said. “Your dedication, innovation and commitment to excellence have earned our City recognition on the global stage. Well done, team! You continue to make us proud and inspire greatness.”

For the Executive Mayor, this is proof that visionary leadership, investment in people and belief in technology can deliver world-class results from right here in Limpopo.

Accepting the award on behalf of the city was Ms Lungi Nkosi, Manager: GIS. Photographs from the ceremony captured her holding the Esri SAG plaque high, with Polokwane Municipality, Limpopo South Africa proudly displayed. It was a moment of pride not just for the municipality, but for the entire province.

The municipality announced the win with emotion: “SAN DIEGO, USA... AND GUESS WHO MADE THE GLOBAL ROLL OF HONOUR? The name Polokwane Municipality is flying South African flag with pride. The world is taking notice.”

This remarkable achievement is a direct demonstration of the municipality’s commitment to harnessing cutting-edge technology to improve planning, infrastructure development, service delivery and the quality of life of residents.

Under Mayor Mpe’s leadership, the GIS team has been instrumental in driving smarter service delivery by tracking water leaks, potholes and waste collection in real time. They have fast-tracked infrastructure planning for housing, roads and electricity across all 45 wards. They have strengthened disaster response with accurate mapping data and ensured that every municipal rand is spent where it is needed most. As the saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Recently, the world tasted the excellence of Polokwane Municipality.

Polokwane now shares the Esri global roll of honour with institutions like Police Scotland, National Broadband Ireland and Sharjah Digital Department. It is the first time a Limpopo municipality has achieved this recognition. “Greatness knows no geographical boundaries — it is earned through dedication, innovation and excellence,” Mayor Mpe said.

The Executive Mayor has committed to leveraging this global recognition to attract new partnerships, skills development and funding for more smart city

projects that will benefit every community.

From Polokwane to San Diego, the message is clear. Under strong leadership and with a dedicated team, a Limpopo city can compete with the world and win. Polokwane didn’t just win an award. Limpopo won respect. History has been rewritten.