KwaZulu-Natal Business 2023-24
A unique guide to business and investment in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The 2023/24 edition of KwaZulu-Natal Business is the 15th issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2008, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the KwaZulu-Natal Province. In addition to the regular articles providing insight into each of the key economic sectors of the province, there is a special feature on the growth and importance of the recycling sector, with increasing activity covering cover paper, board, e-waste and rubber. The overview of the regional economy notes the importance of energy and the steps being taken by KwaZulu-Natal to turn Richards Bay into an energy hub. The fact that the province is also angling to create additional Special Economic Zones suggests that the two existing zones, at Richards Bay and the Dube TradePort at King Shaka International Airport, are living up to expectations in terms of attracting investment and boosting employment. The creation of a joint venture by Transnet and a private operator of ports is a significant step for the Port of Durban. To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online at www.globalafricanetwork.com under ebooks. Updated information on KwaZulu-Natal is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at www.gan.co.za, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces, our flagship South African Business title and the latest addition to our list of publications, Journal of African Business, which was launched in 2020.
A unique guide to business and investment in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
The 2023/24 edition of KwaZulu-Natal Business is the 15th issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2008, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the KwaZulu-Natal Province.
In addition to the regular articles providing insight into each of the key economic sectors of the province, there is a special feature on the growth and importance of the recycling sector, with increasing activity covering cover paper, board, e-waste and rubber.
The overview of the regional economy notes the importance of energy and the steps being taken by KwaZulu-Natal to turn Richards Bay into an energy hub. The fact that the province is also angling to create additional Special Economic Zones suggests that the two existing zones, at Richards Bay and the Dube TradePort at King Shaka International Airport, are living up to expectations in terms of attracting investment and boosting employment. The creation of a joint venture by Transnet and a private operator of ports is a significant step for the Port of Durban.
To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online at www.globalafricanetwork.com under ebooks. Updated information on KwaZulu-Natal is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at www.gan.co.za, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces, our flagship South African Business title and the latest addition to our list of publications, Journal of African Business, which was launched in 2020.
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OVERVIEW<br />
Water<br />
Solar power is a water solution.<br />
An off-grid, solar-powered groundwater harvesting system<br />
has been installed in Ekushane.<br />
The Mayor of eThekwini was on hand to help launch the<br />
system together with a representative from Coca-Cola<br />
Beverages South Africa (CCBSA). The Coke Ville Project, pictured, was<br />
launched at several sites across South Africa in 2020 and not only<br />
harvests groundwater but treats it as well. Water wheelbarrows are<br />
distributed as part of the project to enable residents to transport<br />
water easily.<br />
In the Harry Gwala District Municipality, an amount of R30-<br />
million has been set aside for 28 solar-powered boreholes with<br />
elevated tankstands to be constructed. In the Umkhanyakude<br />
District, Mhlathuze has been appointed as the implementing agent<br />
to install boreholes across all four local municipalities. The water<br />
infrastructure servicing the coastal areas from Southbroom to<br />
Port Edward and the inland rural areas will receive more than R40-<br />
million in upgrades and repairs.<br />
In response to loadshedding, the iLembe District Municipality<br />
and two local municipalities, in partnership with the <strong>KwaZulu</strong>-<strong>Natal</strong><br />
Department of Economic Development and Tourism and funded<br />
by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, has conducted<br />
a feasibility study into using renewable energy to abstract raw water<br />
from the lower Tugela River, treat it to safe drinkable standards and<br />
pump it to consumers in the Mandeni and KwaDukuza municipalities.<br />
A provincial Water Intervention Plan is being rolled out in<br />
hotspots where municipalities are struggling to provide consistent<br />
services. The main pipelines of Kokstad and Underberg are receiving<br />
upgrades, as are the water supply systems at Bergville, Skhemelele<br />
and Moyeni Zwelisha.<br />
The area north of the Durban central business district is one of the<br />
fastest-growing urban areas in South Africa, with a number of large<br />
office and accommodation projects going ahead simultaneously.<br />
This is a welcome development for the economy, but the new<br />
buildings also create pressure on infrastructure.<br />
The multi-year, R250-million Northern Aqueduct Augmentation<br />
project was initiated in 2014 and the fifth phase of the project is<br />
underway. This will provide water for Durban North, Umhlanga,<br />
Newlands, KwaMashu, Phoenix and Cornubia.<br />
ONLINE RESOURCES<br />
National Department of Water and Sanitation: www.dws.gov.za<br />
Umgeni Water: www.umgeni.co.za<br />
Water Research Commission: www.wrc.org.za<br />
SECTOR INSIGHT<br />
Municipalities are<br />
upgrading infrastructure.<br />
Umgeni Water currently<br />
supplies seven municipalities,<br />
including the eThekwini<br />
Metropolitan Municipality which<br />
includes Umlazi and Durban.<br />
Large parts of the northern<br />
part of the province are served<br />
by Mhlathuze Water. The utility<br />
has assets valued at more than<br />
R3-billion and its area of supply<br />
covers 37 000m².<br />
New technology has<br />
been installed at the Verulam<br />
Wastewater Treatment Works<br />
of the eThekwini municipality.<br />
Murray & Roberts Water and its<br />
European technology partner,<br />
Organica Water, has installed an<br />
environmentally friendly system<br />
that uses 30% less energy and<br />
produces 30% less sludge. ■<br />
KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS <strong>2023</strong>/<strong>24</strong><br />
26 PHOTO: CCBSA
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