The first phase of the R49-million Isithebe Industrial Estate revitalisation in Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal will be launched on October 4.
Isithebe is one of ten industrial parks that has been prioritised by the Department of Trade and Industry for upgrading under its Industrial Parks Revitalisation Programme.
“The first phase includes the security infrastructure upgrade, fencing, street lighting and critical electricity requirements but, in the case of Isithebe, we have also upgraded the roofs of some of the factories within the industrial park,” Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies said in a statement on Thursday.
He added that industries operating from Isithebe contributed 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.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Sihle Zikalala noted that the Isithebe Industrial Estate was one of the largest in KwaZulu-Natal and was home to many industries and factories that have contributed to the growth of the provincial economy.
“The fact that so much investment is being injected into this estate is not only a vote of confidence in 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,” he commented.
Davies had announced the completion of the first phase of revitalisation at the Free State-based Botshabelo Industrial Park, costing R24-million, and the R21-million Seshego Industrial Park, earlier this year.