The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Economic Development and Tourism urged industrial developers to meaningfully transfer skills to local people when major projects are implemented.
This will enable the country to have adequate skills, said Chairperson of the Committee Mafika Mndebele, when they visited several multibillion-rand plants in the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) recently.
The committee visited Nyanza Light Metal and Wilmar and other plants being constructed. The committee commended the RBIDZ for creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
Mndebele said this has seen investments worth billions of rand being pumped into the economy of the province.
Nyanza Light Metal is a multibillion plant that will produce 80 000-ton titanium dioxide pigment per annum when completed in the next three years. The committee also visited Wilmar, another multibillion-rand plant that imports, stores, and trades unrefined products.
Mndebele received a comprehensive update on the upcoming investments, stating that the legislature delegation felt the special economic zone was performing exceptionally well in terms of creating an enabling environment that attracts investments.
He said that he received a detailed report on all projects that the RBIDZ has facilitated, adding that they are expected to be completed in the next few years.
“As the legislators, we will continue to keep a watchful eye on how this important zone operates because we want to see a sustained campaign to draw the attention of investors to the region and to motivate existing firms towards expansions.”
He said the committee had noted challenges that needed to be addressed to ensure that the special economic zone continued to execute its mandate of attracting investments.
“We have noted that most of the major projects have specialists from other countries who are helping in terms of setting up these projects. We have informed the leadership of the RBIDZ to ensure that there is a meaningful transfer of skills to local people when major projects are implemented. This will enable us as a country to have adequate skills,” Mndebele said.
The CEO of RBIDZ, Thabani Zulu, showed the committee the projects which were at different stages of implementation.
Zulu said that since its establishment in 2002, the RBIDZ has successfully attracted more than R25bn in investments, adding that operations are running smoothly, with strong demand from investors eager to establish industrial and commercial projects.
Portfolio committee member and ANC Chief Whip, Bangokwakhe “Super” Zuma, said the ANC has a multifaceted approach to economic development, rooted in its historical context as a liberation movement and its ongoing commitment to addressing the socioeconomic inequalities.
“This approach is encapsulated in several key policy frameworks and principles aimed at fostering inclusive growth, reducing poverty, and promoting social justice,” Zuma said.
DA Spokesperson on Trade, Industry and Competition Toby Chance said the Nyanza Light Metals is planning a R15 billion plant to extract minerals from sand deposits and convert them into Titanium Dioxide, which is used as a whitening agent in many industrial and food manufacturing processes.
Chance said it was impressive, but still a way off from financial closure.
“We drove south to KZN's biggest industrial estate, Isithebe, near Mandeni. Employing around 20 000 people in some 180 factories, warehouses and other premises, it was built in the mid-1970s. Today, it's a bit run down but still home to some impressive businesses that are manufacturing export quality products such as fridges and clothing.
“One of the recurring issues is how to counter aggressive and sometimes illegal Chinese trade practices which are out-competing SA businesses. An issue the committee will be seized with as we deliberate our findings,” Chance said.