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Today, the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry was briefed by the DTI on a programme to revitalise zombie industrial parks, created by the former Apartheid government in outlying rural areas. However, it was extremely concerning at the lack of information, business plans or even an indication of how many businesses have invested in these parks with many in a state of dereliction.

The amount of money allocated to this programme is R189 million to improve fencing, security, street lighting and waste management. There is no information by the deparmtnet on how this will attract businesses to invest in far flung, outlying areas. This money could have been used for more focused, vibrant and integrated programmes to boost economic investment and development.

The programme is aimed at revitalising 6 parks in the Eastern Cape, KZN, Free State, North West and Limpopo respectively to start with.  The problem with these parks is that they are often far from major infrastructure such as shipping ports which makes logistics and transport costs exorbitantly high. Without incentives from local or provincial government, there is little, if any reason for businesses to invest in the parks meaning 6 white elephants loom large over the DTI.

I have submitted parliamentary questions to Minister Rob Davies on this programme to find out how many new companies have invested in these parks, how many new jobs have been/will be created in each park and what incentives have been offered by each municipality and provincial government in each park. I will also be embarking on oversight visits to these parks to see what is actually happening on the ground.

The Democratic Alliance is committed to ensuring that public money is spent in a manner that achieves real economic growth, creating sustainable jobs and improving the rural economy in a meaningful way.

Issued by DA