The 2016-17 edition of KwaZulu-Natal Business is the eighth issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2008, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide to the KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa.
The province is unique in terms of its abundant natural and human resources, and is also one of the key drivers behind the South African economy.
To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition of the magazine (15 000 copies), the full content can also be viewed online at www.kwazulunatalbusiness.co.za.
Updated information on KwaZulu-Natal is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at www.globalafricanetwork.com, in addition to our other business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces, complemented by our flagship publication, South African Business.
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SPECIAL FEATURE get colder in the far west and northern reaches of the province. The mountainous area in the west – the Drakensberg – comprises solid walls of basalt and is the source of the region’s many strongly running rivers. Regular and heavy winter snowfalls support tourist enterprises. The Lubombo Mountains in the north are granite formations that run in parallel. Regions Convention Centre Complex, which hosts the annual Tourism Indaba. The province's climate lends itself to every kind of outdoor pursuit and its excellent beaches are always popular. Big sports events are regularly hosted in KwaZulu-Natal, which has become something of a home to mass-participation events such as the Comrades Marathon and the Dusi Canoe race. The province has excellent game and nature reserves. Isimangaliso Wetland Park is a World Heritage Site and helps to fund 80 small businesses associated with its business as a tourist site. The building of the King Shaka International Airport to the north of Durban allows tourists to get to superb beaches and game farms very quickly, and the airport has its own industrial development zone, the Dube TradePort. New international direct flights have been announced; 4.5-million passengers passed through the airport in 2014/15, almost 300 000 of whom were foreign visitors or tourists (ACSA). Geography The mixed topography of the province allows for varied agriculture, animal husbandry and horticulture. The lowland area along the Indian Ocean coastline is made up of subtropical thickets and Afromontane Forest. High humidity is experienced, especially in the far north, and this is a summer rainfall area. The centrally located Midlands is on a grassland plateau among rolling hills. Temperatures generally KwaZulu-Natal has 11 district municipalities, the most of any province in South Africa and, in economic terms, the province offers diverse opportunities. Southern region This area is the province’s most populous. The city of Durban has experienced booms in sectors such as automotive, ICT, film and call centres. Major investments are taking place at the Port of Durban and there is a possibility that the old airport south of the city could become another port, if the money can be Standerton N5 LESOTHO Vrede Free State Harrismith Bergville Winterton DRAKENSBERG Underberg Kokstad N2 N17 Bethal Volksrust Eastern Cape Ermelo Newcastle Glencoe N11 Mooi River Ladysmith Colenso R74 Estcourt Paulpietersburg Utrecht Dundee PIETERMARITZBURG iXopo Harding N17 KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE N3 R74 Mpumalanga N3 N11 R56 Howick Piet Retief R34 R33 uMzinto Greytown R33 N3 Pinetown N2 Vryheid Kranskop Hibberdene uMtentweni Port Shepstone Margate Southbroom Port Edward R33 R68 N2 R34 uLundi Melmoth Stanger N2 Tongaat aManzimtoti uMkomaas SWAZILAND R69 Ballito uMhlanga DURBAN Pongola Nongoma R65 eMpangeni Darnall R66 Hlabisa Mtubatuba Gingindlovu INDIAN OCEAN Mkuze N2 Hluhluwe Richards Bay Motorway Main Road Railway MOZAMBIQUE St Lucia N KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS 2016/17 14
SPECIAL FEATURE found to dig it up and let the sea in. Durban's conference facilities are well-utilised, but many opportunities still exist in chemicals and industrial chemicals, food and beverages, infrastructure development and tourism. Further south, plans are in place to upgrade Margate’s airport and Port Shepstone’s beachfront. Western region Also known as the Midlands, this is a fertile agricultural region, producing sugar cane, fruit, animal products, forestry and dairy products. Pietermaritzburg is the provincial capital and is home to a major aluminium producer, along with several manufacturing concerns, including textiles, furniture, leather goods and food. The city has good transport links along the N3 national highway, excellent schools and a lively arts scene. The Midlands Meander is a popular tourist destination. Eastern region Although most of this area is very rural, Richards Bay is one of the country’s industrial hotspots because of its coal terminal, port and aluminium smelters. The Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) is a major economic node in itself: the 62-hectare first phase is almost fully subscribed, with the investment value of the two phases (some having already been secured for phase two) at R6.8-billion. Mining is an important sector in this region. The other major urban centre is Empangeni, which has several educational institutions. The newly completed King Shaka International Airport is kick-starting massive new investment in the area. The Ilembe District Municipality is particularly active in seeking out new investors. Northern region The economic powerhouse is Newcastle in the north-west: coal-mining, steel processing and manufacturing are major activities. Some old coal mines are being reopened by new coal companies to cater for the demand for the fuel from the country's power stations. Game farms, trout fishing and hiking are part of an attractive package for tourists, and Zululand is a popular destination for cultural experiences. The whole region is rich in Anglo-Boer War history. 15 KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS 2016/17
