The KZN Growth Coalition held its annual breakfast summit on the 6 September 2016 at the Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani Hotel. The much anticipated function was well attended by a range of representatives from private and public entities across the province.

The KZN Growth Coalition, together with various chambers of business, the provincial government, especially the Department of Economic Affairs, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and local government, through the KZN Economic Council, are currently working regularly to identify and unlock projects that are not only meaningful to KZN but also to South Africa.

Since it establishment in 2000, the KZN Growth Coalition, â€œHas been forging a meaningful and results-driven partnership between government and business in order to both fast track the growth of the province,” said MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr Sihle Zikalala.

He added, “The key pillar of this relationship has always been partnership. From its inception, the two major partners in the KZN Growth Coalition, being government and business, have been aware that, while they are both critical players in economic development, they play different but complimentary roles.”
Zikalala further commented, â€œWe need to create conducive conditions and indeed intervene, where necessary, to ensure that business thrives and our economy grows.”

Premier of KwaZulu-Natal and Co-Chair of the KZN Growth Coalition, Willies Mchunu said, â€œWe must reiterate that the leadership collective of the ANC, as the ruling party, recognises the important role of big business in growing the economy of the country and the province as a whole.”

Currently a number of flagship projects are underway, many as a consequence of partnerships between the private sector and public sectors. Moses Tembe, Co-Chair of the KZN Growth Coalition, commented, “We in KZN are blessed with many flagship projects that are currently being implemented, and others that with some extra assistance and strategic intervention, will be up and running in the near future.”

The following projects are underway or operational:

• Keystone Commercial Industrial Park at Inchanga and the interchange
• Mr Price Mega Logistical Hub at Hammarsdale
• Cornubia
• The Umhlanga Rocks / Mt. Edgecombe upgrading of N2/M4 Interchange is currently the largest of its kind in the country
• Durban Point Development by the Malaysian UEM Sunrise SA
• Umhlanga Pearls R3bn development
• Multi-billion Oceans development
• The Sibaya precinct In addition, the Clairwood Park, Kings Estate, Blythedale Coastal Resort, and Finningley Estate should be under construction early next year and the R700m water supply system to Richards Bay has been commissioned.

The following projects are still in the planning phase: Suncoast, Natal Command Site, Centrum and Exhibition Precinct and require government assistance or intervention.

Tembe added that a review of the following matters was required to promote development projects:

• Financial laws
• Labour Act
• VISA regulations
• Upscaling municipal competencies
• Review of the tedious and inefficient processes to be followed for the release of land by the Department of Agriculture for development, compliance with stringent environmental laws, rezoning of land and building plan approvals
• The rooting out of corruption in all its many forms
• The lack of development incentives

Tembe concluded, “We will continue to do what we can to make sure that KZN becomes a model and prosperous province. What we ask for in return is strong leadership, political and economic certainty and a return to the values of the South Africa post-1994.”