Ekurhuleni executive mayor Mondli Gungubele has outlined the Gauteng city’s manufacturing revitalisation strategy, which could facilitate R19-billion-worth of industrial investments into the area over the next few years.
Gungubele reported that R3.9-billion worth of industrial investment had already been facilitated, much of it aligned to its Aerotropolis, strategy.
The city was set to accommodate the manufacturing facility that would be built by the Gibela consortium, which recently won a R51-billion contract to supply 600 commuter trains over the coming ten years. Gibela plans to build a R1-billion factory in Dunnottar, 10 km north of the town of Nigel, to produce the 580 trains that will be made locally.
Ekurhuleni has entered into a MOU with Transnet and the Gauteng provincial government to create the country’s largest inland port, around which the city would seek manufacturing investment.
The plan aims to restore the East Rand’s dominance in manufacturing and the council was assessing the release of 147 parcels of land, following analysis showing land availability was impeding investment.
The Ekurhuleni Business Facilitation Network had also recently been launched in partnership with Emperors Palace to provide a one-stop shop for investment and development applications. It also houses the city’s Aerotropolis project office.
