KwaZulu-Natal Business 2019-20 edition

SPECIAL FEATURE
investment is part of a R1.2-billion investment programme which Arçelik
Global, the Turkish company, has been following since it bought Defy
in 2011. The company has another plant in KwaZulu-Natal in Ezakheni
(near Ladysmith) and in East London in the Eastern Cape.
In 2018 the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality decided
to apply for a R1-billion load for capital projects. The city’s
integrated development plan will include expenditure on water
and sanitation infrastructure, roads and electrification projects.
Infrastructure throughout the province will attract more than
R200-billion to 2025 according to information supplied by the
KZN Construction Expo.
Major developments north of the city of Durban continue
to transform the economy and the landscape. The King Shaka
International Airport and the associated Dube TradePort has made
a big impact, as has the conversion by sugar giant Tongaat Hulett
of its land holdings into property developments.
Dube TradePort is a 3 000-hectare development that
encompasses the airport and is ideally situated for any logistics
business due to its proximity to Africa’s busiest cargo port (at
Durban) and 140km from the deepest natural harbour in the
southern hemisphere where the Port of Richards Bay and the
Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone are located.
Dube TradePort is a Special Economic Zone which has:
• Dube Cargo Terminal.
• Dube Tradezone: Suitable for warehousing, manufacturing,
assembling, cargo distribution, etc.
• Dube City: 12 hectares of office, retail and hospitality space.
• Dube Agrizone: intended to support growing, packaging and
distribution high-value perishables and horticultural products.
• Dube iConnect: the precinct’s dedicated IT and telecommunications
provider and the only locally-hosted cloud service in the province.
Industrial parks
The Provincial Government of KwaZulu-Natal intends establishing
one industrial park within each of the province’s 10 district
municipalities, focussing on existing strengths. These industryfocused
hubs will attract new investments and help existing
businesses through economies of scale and by improving access
to markets and supply chains.
There is one metropolitan municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.
Construction on the industrial park in the eThekwini Metropolitan
Municipality, an automobile supplier park, is expected to begin
in 2019.
In most of the other areas, land has been secured and feasibility
studies have been completed. The design of the parks and the
provision of infrastructure is
currently underway and some
tenants have been identified.
The Department of Economic
Development, Tourism and
Environmental Affairs is the
implementing agency on behalf
of the Provincial Government.
By way of example, the
iLembe District Municipality
will be the focus of investment
in renewable energy. The N2
is the main arterial running
through the district, giving
excellent access to both
Durban and Richards Bay. The
Dolphin Coast is a major node
for tourism. With the King Shaka
International Aiport (KSIA) and
the Dube TradePort lying just
south of the iLembe District in
the eThekwini Municipality, a
partnership has been created
between the two municipalities
and the provincial government
to develop a renewable energy
technology innovation hub.
Enterprise iLembe (Pty) Ltd
drives investment into the area.
At Ndwedwe 26 biodigesters
produce gas for cooking as
part of the Working for Energy
programme of the South African
National Energy Development
Institute (SANEDI).
The Small Harbours and State
Coastal Property unit of the
National Department of Public
Works wants to see coastal
properties revitalised. Initiatives
are under discussion for Port
Edward (new harbour, fish
processing, fishing and leisure),
Hibberdene (waterfront and a
Music City) and Port Shepstone
(boat building and repairs and
a new economic zone).
KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS 2019/20
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