Earlier today MEC Ravi Pillay together with the mayor of uMhlathuze, Cllr Mdu Mhlongo led business inspections at Esikhaleni Township. Three supermarkets and a hardware store were inspected. Two of those businesses had to be closed down due to serious concerns over health and safety. Compliance notices were also issued to all four businesses for transgressions including the sale of prohibited skin lightening creams and selling expired food items. Owners and employees in some of the shops also failed to produce documentation to prove they were in the country legally. R48 000 worth of prohibited skin lightening creams were seized by officials during the operation. These creams contain harmful substances and may cause skin cancer. Expired food items worth a R18 000 were seized. They include concentrated juices, chips, biscuits and packets of instant maize meal porridge. Speaking after the inspections MEC Pillay said enforcement will continue on a daily basis. "In this area here we have seen the issue of goods not being labelled properly and also the goods that have expired being sold. We cannot play with the health and safety of our people. We want to boost the township and rural economy but we want people to comply with the laws of our country. There has to be consequence management whether in the form of fines or deportation".   view more

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) has directed the Ugu District Municipality to act urgently to stop sewage spillage in Uvongo. The directive, issued by the department in terms of Section 28(4) of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), follows sewage spills that have resulted in the pollution of the Uvongo river and the Uvongo Bathing Beach. MEC Ravi Pillay visited the area yesterday after receiving complaints from concerned members of the public. The site visit included an inspection of the two sewage pump stations (pump station 2 and pump station 3) in Uvongo. These pump stations have been overflowing leading to sewage flowing into the river and the bathing beach. While the two pump stations are not faulty, the overflow is linked to the damage to the pipeline connecting the two pump stations to the wastewater treatment works. The damage to the Asbestos-Cement pipeline was discovered at Pioneer Road. MEC Pillay also visited the Pioneer Road site where work to replace the pipeline is underway. The MEC was given assurance that the municipality was doing all it could to stop the overflows and to limit the impact on the environment. Some of the measures already in place include using tankers to suction sewage at the two pump stations so as to limit the overflow. Officials from the municipality also said there was a move to connect a temporary line at Pioneer Road. MEC Pillay said the matter had to be attended to urgently. "We are very concerned that this matter has been left to go on for many weeks. This is why we have issued this directive as a form of administrative enforcement. The department has the right to pursue criminal enforcement but we hope it does not come to that. All the stakeholders, including the municipality and contractors on site, have assured us that the situation is being given priority and is being attended to with the urgency it deserves. We are satisfied with the information we have received that that there is work underway to connect a temporary line which will solve the immediate problem," MEC Pillay said. MEC Pillay later convened a meeting with senior leadership of the local Ray Nkonyeni Municipality and Ugu District which was also attended by officials from the municipality and from departments such as Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Water and Sanitation and EDTEA. MEC Pillay has also asked the Ugu Municipality to provide him with a full report on the matter. The report has to be submitted before the end of the week. "A pollution incident of this nature may result in environmental damage and degradation. Not only does this spillage infringe on the rights of residents but it may also have a negative impact on tourism which is the lifeblood of many of our coastal areas, especially on the south coast". ENDS Issued by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affiars Enquiries: Bheki Mbanjwa 060 968 2417   view more

At least 400 KwaZulu-Natal tourism businesses are set to benefit from the R20 million Tourism Relief Fund which has been set up by the provincial government to support businesses in distress as a result of Covid-19.   This was announced today by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr. Ravi Pillay, while giving details of the relief scheme Applications for the Fund opened today (the 15th of March 2021) and will close on 15 April 2021. Successful tourism businesses will each receive R50 000 while tourist guides stand to receive R4 500 each.   Priority will be given to enterprises that could not benefit from any of the available government funding schemes for Covid-19.   MEC Pillay said: "The survival of small distressed tourism businesses during this trying time is of critical importance. This is why as the KZN government we have recognized the need to intervene to save these businesses from total collapse. We also hope that this scheme will to jobs being saved."   The MEC added that he believed government's intervention would help small struggling businesses minimize the negative effects of COVID-19 and help them maintain a basic level of operational sustainability during the pandemic.   "The emergence and spread of coronavirus, early last year, had a severe and adverse economic impact on the tourism industry in general and to small tourism enterprises in particular.   These businesses were heavily dependent on providing services to both international and domestic travelers to sustain their businesses. When travel bans were imposed by various countries, including South Africa, bookings were cancelled and businesses had to shut down their operations for a period of time," said MEC Pillay.   This, he added, has resulted in a loss of revenue, the result being that businesses and tour guides are unable to sustain themselves and their employees.   Some business owners were reliant on equity funding and loans from banks and other financial institutions for their start-up and continuous operations. Their contractual obligations mean that they have to repay funds and loans every month, irrespective of whether they have any revenue coming in or not.   Last year the R100 million National Tourism Relief Fund successfully supported 4000 businesses, 607 of which are from KZN. Eligibility • Accommodation Establishments. • Hospitality and related services (restaurants which are not attached to hotels; conference venues which are not attached to hotels, professional catering and tourist attractions). • Travel and Related Services (tour operators, travel agents, tourist guides and coach operators). • Businesses which have been operating for a minimum of one year are eligible for relief funding, providing they meet other requirements.   Grants will be prioritised to achieve transformation and equity targets which means that:   At least 70% of beneficiaries will be enterprises that are black-owned; at least 50% of beneficiaries will be enterprises that are women-owned; at least 30% of beneficiaries will be enterprises that are youth-owned and at least 4% of beneficiaries will be enterprises that have met a target of at least 2% employment of people with disabilities.   Criteria for businesses • Businesses must be registered or show evidence that they are in the process of registration with EDTEA. • Proof of registration with Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC); • Confirmation of an annual turnover not exceeding R2.5-million. • Copy of valid tax clearance certificate issued by the South African Receiver of Revenue. • Proof of compliance with the national minimum wage rate. • Proof of UIF registration for employees employed in the business. • Proof that an enterprise is the existing tourism-specific establishment as outlined in the scope of the application (suppliers and intermediaries are not eligible). • Proof that the enterprise has been in existence for at least one business financial year. • Applicants also have to provide statements of the financial position: over 6 months' bank statements, balance sheet, income statements, cash flow statements. • Motivation for the intended use of funding.   Criteria for tour guides: • Be registered as a tourist guide with EDTEA. • Be a tax payer in good standing with valid tax clearance certificate/PIN before the grant is disbursed. • Be in business for one year or more. • Motivate how lockdown regulations brought about hardship and distress in the business. The application forms for tourist guides and tourism enterprises should be supported by the following documents: • Certified ID copies of directors/members; • A business profile; and • certificate of B-BBEE or affidavit and medical certificate for people with a disability where applicable.   Applications will be evaluated by an independent assessor for verification and these assessments will go before a screening committee.   Applications open on March 15, 2021 (today) and close on April 15, 2021, and forms are downloadable from the official TKZN , website: www.zulu.org.za   A help desk has been set up to guide and provide information to applicants.   Only electronic application forms will be accepted. The completed application forms together with supporting documents must be scanned or converted into pdf and sent to the following email address: kzntourismrelief@zulu.org.za For enquiries, contact the Helpdesk: kzntourismrelief@zulu.org.za or 0861777579 ENDS   view more

MEC Ravi Pillay, as part of a delegation of MPLs led by Speaker Nontembeko Boyce, has also visisted the Fundokuhle Secondary School in Imbali. This visit is part of the KZN Legislature's school functionality programme. Earlier, the delegation visited Mnyandu Primary School. Apart from assessing the general functionality of the schools, the delegation also used the oversight visits to also assess and monitor compliance with Covid-19 protocols. Speaking at the school, MEC Pillay said the school functionality monitoring visits have been conducted for many years but they become even more important now because of the Covid-19 pandemic. "Our priority number one is to defeat Covid-19. This requires an effort from all of us, it requires a high level of discipline" After an inspection of the school, the legislature delegation held an engagement with the school management, members of the governing body, and Education Department officials. The members of the legislature were generally impressed with the school saying this was a sign that it has good leadership. "The life of the school is not at district level but it is here in the management of the school. You ve got learners that are committed to learning, and you have teachers who are willing to teach" said Speaker Boyce. The programme continues tomorrow.   view more