SPECIAL FEATURE for
SPECIAL FEATURE for imports of all sorts. The Richards Bay Coal Terminal exports massive quantities of coal while the Port of Durban is the busiest port in Africa. However, planners want to massively increase the economic benefits that the ocean can bring. An Oceans Economy Review Workshop has come up with a range of sub-sectors that can help grow the provincial economy and invite foreign direct investment: • Marine transport and manufacturing • Offshore oil and gas exploration • Aquaculture • Marine protection and ocean governance • Small harbours • Coastal and marine tourism. Strategies to grow the Oceans Economy dovetail with ongoing projects to boost the capacity of the province’s ports and to explore for gas and oil in the Indian Ocean. If oil rigs were to start visiting the KZN coastline on a regular basis, the shiprepair industry would grow exponentially. The Oceans Economy is one of the focus areas that has been chosen by national government to be part of Operation Phakisa, a focused, goaldriven attempt to jump-start a specific economic sector. Overall, Phakisa intends creating a million jobs by 2033 and injecting R177-billion into national GDP. The decision to build a cruise-ship terminal at the Port of Durban is a good example of the kind of decision that is in line with an “Oceans Economy” approach. 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 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 KwaZulu-Natal has 10 district municipalities and a metropolitan municipality, the most of any province in South Africa. 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. The promenade now reaches all the way to the KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS 2020/21 14
SPECIAL FEATURE harbour and the Point development will benefit. Major investments are taking place at the Port of Durban with the current centrepiece being the Convention Durban Cruise Centre Terminal. Complex, The Container which Terminal hosts the is annual also undergoing Tourism Indaba. an extensive overhaul. The Durban’s province's conference climate lends facilities itself are to well every utilised, kind of outdoor but many pursuit opportunities and its excellent still exist beaches in chemicals are always popular. and industrial Big sports chemicals, events are food regularly and beverages, hosted in KwaZulu-Natal, infrastructure development which has become and tourism. something Further of a south, home plans to mass-participation are in place to upgrade events such Margate’s as the Comrades airport and Marathon Port Shepstone’s and the Dusi beachfront. Canoe race. The province has excellent game and nature reserves. Western Isimangaliso region Wetland Park is a World Heritage Site and helps to fund 80 small businesses associated with Also its known business as as the a tourist Midlands, site. this is a fertile agricultural The building region of the which King hosts Shaka the International popular Airport annual to Royal the north Show. of It Durban produces allows sugar tourists cane, to fruit, get animal products, forestry and dairy products. to superb beaches and game farms very quickly, Pietermaritzburg is the provincial capital and and the airport has its own industrial development home to a major aluminium producer along with zone, the Dube TradePort. New international direct several manufacturing concerns, including textiles, flights furniture, have leather been goods announced; and food. 4.5-million The city has passengers good transport passed links through along the the airport N3 national in 2014/15, highway, almost 300 excellent 000 of whom schools were and foreign a lively visitors arts or tourists scene. (ACSA). The Midlands Meander is a popular tourist destination. Geography Eastern region The Although mixed topography most of this of area the province is very rural, allows Richards for varied Bay agriculture, is one of animal the country’s husbandry industrial and horticulture. hotspots The because lowland of area its coal along terminal, the Indian port Ocean and aluminium coastline is smelters. made up The of subtropical Richards Bay thickets Industrial and Development Afromontane Forest. Zone High (RBIDZ) humidity is a major is experienced, economic node especially in itself in the and far with north, the and possibility this is a summer of a power rainfall plant area. being The centrally built, the located RBIDZ Midlands could become is on a an grassland energy hub. plateau Mining among is an rolling important hills. sector Temperatures in this region. generally SPECIAL FEATURE get colder in the far west and northern reaches of the province. The other major urban The mountainous centre area is in Empangeni the west which – the Drakensberg – comprises has solid several walls educational of basalt and is the source of the region’s institutions. many strongly The running King rivers. Regular and heavy Shaka winter International snowfalls support tourist enterprises. The Airport Lubombo is adjacent Mountains to in the the north are granite formations Dube TradePort, that run in a parallel. Special Economic Zone (SEZ) which is attracting investors. Regions Northern region KwaZulu-Natal has 11 district municipalities, the The economic powerhouse is Newcastle in the most of any province in South Africa and, in economic north-west: coal mining, steel processing and manufacturing terms, the province are major offers activities. diverse Some opportunities. old coal Southern mines are being region reopened by new coal companies to cater for the country’s power stations’ demand This for the area fuel. is the Game province’s farms, most trout populous. fishing and The hiking city of Durban are part has of an experienced attractive package booms in for sectors tourists, such and as automotive, Zululand is ICT, a popular film and destination call centres. for Major cultural investments experiences. are taking The place region at the is rich Port in of Anglo-Boer Durban and there War history a possibility which that includes the old battle airport sites south such of as the city Islandlwana could become and Rorke’s another Drift. port, ■ if the money can be Standerton N5 LESOTHO Vrede Free State Harrismith Volksrust Newcastle Glencoe N11 Paulpietersburg Utrecht Dundee Vryheid uLundi Pongola Nongoma Hlabisa Mtubatuba Ladysmith R74 Melmoth Bergville N3 Colenso eMpangeni R74 Winterton Kranskop Estcourt Greytown Gingindlovu Mooi River R33 Stanger Darnall Howick N2 Tongaat Ballito PIETERMARITZBURG N3 uMhlanga Underberg Pinetown DRAKENSBERG Kokstad N2 N17 Bethal Eastern Cape Ermelo Mpumalanga iXopo Harding N17 KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE N3 N11 R56 Piet Retief R34 R33 uMzinto N2 R33 R68 Hibberdene uMtentweni Port Shepstone Margate Southbroom Port Edward N2 R34 DURBAN aManzimtoti uMkomaas SWAZILAND R69 R65 R66 INDIAN OCEAN Mkuze N2 Hluhluwe Richards Bay Motorway Main Road Railway MOZAMBIQUE St Lucia N KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS 2016/17 14 15 KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS 2020/21
