Engineering News – 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 have 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.KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Sihle Zikalala said: “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.”
