UMhlathuze economy set for growth

MEGA projects being undertaken in the City of uMhlathuze will not only create much-needed employment opportunities but will reshape the economic landscape of the city.

This is according to Mayor Mduduzi Mhlongo who welcomed the support of the provincial government in multi-million rand developments within uMhlathuze.

The city’s projects were unpacked by KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala during his State of the Province Address last week. These include the Empangeni Mega Housing Project, currently under way opposite Qalakabusha Prison, as well as the Aquadene Housing Project.

‘An amount of R144 000 000 is budgeted for Empangeni Phase 2, for the installation of internal civil engineering bulk infrastructure. The municipality has finalised installation of external bulk infrastructure.

‘The proposed Aquadene Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP) is located within ward 26 of uMhlathuze Municipality.

‘The development will consist of 2 416 housing opportunities. An amount of R14.2-million has been budgeted in the 2021/22 financial year internal services.

‘An amount of R1-million has been budgeted for internal bulk infrastructure as most of the work was done in the 2020/21 financial year,’ Zikalala announced during his speech in the provincial legislature.

Mayor Mhlongo said these investments, along with others in the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone, will go a long way to changing the lives of the people of uMhlathuze.

‘The Empangeni Mega Housing Project will consist of more than 10 000 different typologies of houses, ranging from low-cost housing, social housing and finance-linked individual subsidy programme (gap housing).

‘For the people of the city, these projects have begun to create muchneeded employment opportunities, and we will continue to canvas for the localisation of other value chain in the process for our small, medium and micro enterprises’ (SMMEs) benefit,’ Mhlongo said.

He said the key focus now is to resuscitate the economy of the city and the region through a number of interventions to ensure that effective service delivery is uninterrupted to allow community members to thrive and provide for their families during these challenging times.