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The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies and KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), Mr Sihle Zikalala will launch the first phase of the Isithebe Industrial Park revitalisation in Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday, 4 October 2016. The R49-million project is part of the Revitalisation of Industrial Parks Programme of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti). Isithebe is one of the 10 industrial parks that the department has prioritised for revitalisation as part of the programme.

“The first phase of the revitalisation includes the security infrastructure upgrade, fencing, street lighting and critical electricity requirements, but in the case of Isithebe we have upgraded the roofs of some of the factories within the industrial park,” says Davies.

According to Davies, a large variety of industries operating from Isithebe contribute significantly to the economy of the area, providing 15 000 to 20 000 jobs. These include textiles, clothing, weaving and dying, steel fabrication, furniture manufacturing, plastics, polypropylene bags, chemicals, paper products and packaging, foundry work, white goods, workshops and engineering, foam manufacturing and conversion, plastic injection moulding and stationery.

Davies adds that the dti has recognised that these parks have the capacity to serve as catalysts for broader economic and industrial development in their host regions, mainly townships and rural areas.

MEC Zikalala says the Isithebe Industrial Estate is one of the biggest in KwaZulu-Natal and is home to many industries and factories that have contributed immensely to the growth of the economy of the province.

“The fact that so much investment is being injected into this estate to revitalise it is not only a vote of confidence into the growth prospects of the economy of the province, but testifies to the fact that as government we have placed reindustrialisation at the apex of our list of priorities in order to grow the economy and create employment,” adds Zikalala.
The Group Chairman of Ithala, Dr Mandla Gantsho says his agency, that manages Isithebe on behalf of EDTEA, acknowledges with appreciation the magnitude of the contribution made by the department and recognises with gratitude the positive impact it will make, not only on Isithebe Industrial Estate but on the community, the region and the province as a whole.

Minister Davies launched the completion of the first phase on the Free State-based Botshabelo Industrial Park which cost the department R24 million and the Seshego Industrial Park at the cost of R21 million earlier this year.

Issued by Department of Trade and Industry