30 JULY 2019MEDIA STATEMENTEDTEA BOLTS AHEAD OF THE PACK ON THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AS MEC NOMUSA DUBE-NCUBE DELIVERS THE MOST INNOVATIVE BUDGET SPEECH POLICYDelivering her dynamic maiden Budget Speech Policy under the theme "Position KwaZulu-Natal as a Technological Hub to Harness the Fourth Industrial Revolution for Economic Growth, Development and Job Creation", KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube said the province is marching full steam into a digitally inspired future. Enthralling and mesmerising MPLs and guests with an artificial intelligence-inspired visual presentation of her budget speech being beamed in giant monitors around the House and outside, Dube-Ncube said the economy and society is being fundamentally changed by technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution disrupters. "While the prospects of job losses are real, new jobs are being born, new work methods are being introduced and others need to be developed. Thus, the workforce will continue to be reskilled and that will advance work collaboration increasing production and the quality of decision making," said Dube-ncube.The Leader of Government Business said the advent of "4IR" meant that "we must adapt and commit to continuous improvement and continuous learning but, more so, repurposing our skills, innovation and doing things differently,".She said it was for this reason that the Department wanted to position the province of KwaZulu-Natal as a technological hub in order to harness the Fourth Industrial Revolution. "History has taught us that you cannot stop the raging tide of technological change. Even the Luddites did not succeed to stop technological change when they destroyed machines during the Industrial Revolution because they were worried that machines were taking their jobs," said Dube-Ncube.Dube-Ncube said in this age of technological disruptions, we want our province to be ahead of the curve. She said central to this is the rollout of optic fibre across the province in order to create universal internet connectivity. "Our ambitious plan is to have wall-to-wall internet coverage across the province in the next five years. Regrettably, the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution has meant that jobs, especially in the financial sectors like banking, have been affected. Banks are retrenching due to the advancement in financial services technology. However, there is room for the creation of related applications."More than ever, we hardly have a choice; we have to bring our people on board and to connectivity. We intend establishing containers for vendors sell data, repair handsets and even develop APPs," she said.Chairperson, on the part of broadband rollout we have signed agreements with Sentech and we are working with SITA and Dube Trade Port to expand our footprint to every region in the KwaZulu-Natal through the creation of digital parks. We want to be disrupters!The speech also advocated strongly for development of small businesses through targeted funding as the engines of the economic development and activities in the township and rural areas.Among her major announcements Dube-Ncube touched on the issue of medicinal cannabis hemp. She said the legalisation of cannabis to be grown for recreational purposes has opened up endless opportunities that the province needs to exploit. "We are glad to reveal that this has drawn huge interest even from global investors. As we speak, we already have investors in talks with Dube Trade Port. However, this also presents a golden opportunity for our growers to exploit this boom. As government, we will be ensuring that regulation, licensing, cultivation and extraction are adhered to. Cannabis has an assortment of value-added products produced from it and we want that market for our people," she said.ISSUED BY THE KZNECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS MINISTRY For more information contact Acting Spokesperson Nathi Olifant on 060 970 5113 or Media Liaison Officer Ms Thando Biyela on 066 489 7373 view more

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KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Nomusa Dube-Ncube today received and hosted investors from King Kong Organics (KKOG) in the United States of America who will be investing in the Dube Trade Port AgriZone. The Department, Premier's Office, Dube Trade Port and the Moses Kotane Institute were part of the briefing and a tour of the prospective facilities . The investment in the region of $5 million (R71 million) will see KKOG establishing a cannabis greenhouse facility after attaining a cultivation and extraction licenses as well as signing of a lease with the Dube Trade Port. The investment has the potential to create a huge value chain in the industry that will also help small growers with a market. KKOG is one of the world market- leaders in cannabis cultivation and are expanding their operations to South Africa and the African continent. "We are mostly pleased with Dube Trade Port that continues to attract investments to this Special Economic Zone. With the Phase 2 already underway, we are confident that more direct foreign investment will come our way and in no time we shall have full occupancy of Phase 2. We also welcome the KKOG investment and look forward to working with them but also to help our own people establish the same facilities and enabling a competitive cannabis industry and its benefits, ", said Dube-Ncube. #GrowSouthAfrica #SikhulisaUmnothoSiwubuyiselaEbantwini view more

MEDIA RELEASE09 JUNE 2019MEC DUBE-NCUBE CONGRATULATES COMRADES MARATHON RUNNERS, THRILLED AT THE KZN ECONOMIC AND TOURISM PROSPECTSKwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Nomusa Dube-Ncube has congratulated the 20 000-odd runners for their participation in the 94th edition of the 87 kilometre-long Comrades Marathon up-run race from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.MEC Dube-Ncube also heaped praised at the winners; Edward Mothibi for his maiden win in the men's race and Gerda Steyn for her feat in the women's race. For her win at 5:58:53 Steyn also broke a 13-year-old record of 6:09:23 held by Russian Elena Nurgalieva thus becoming the first woman to run the race just under six hour for the up-run. She finished 17th overall.Mothibi beat perennial winner Bongumusa Mthembu, a KZN citizen by 25 second to the finish line."I'm glad that the winners' medals went South Africans. Gerda in particular has made South African women proud with her efforts and sterling performances. She repeated the same feat after winning the Two Oceans Marathon two months ago. This race is indeed about the spirit of endurance, Ubuntu displayed by the majority of runners and lifetime friendships as they root for each other along the grueling and treacherous route," said Dube-Ncube.The Leader of Government Business was equally thrilled at the economic and tourism impact the annual race was creating for the entire province. She said the ultra-marathon continues to promote KwaZulu-Natal as a leisure and events destination."The Comrades Marathon is also a very important event for the province in terms of economic impact and tourism at large. We have seen thousands of tourists as well basking in the glorious weather of our province as a result of the marathon. We learnt also from the Comrades Marathon Association that this year's instalment is expected to boost the economy of KwaZulu-Natal by R700 million. That cash injection also hopefully trickles down to communities along the route of the race," said Dube-Ncube.ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS IN KZNFor more information contact Mr Nathi Olifant on 072 292 2502 or 060 970 5113. view more