South African economic transformation receives a boost with more than R20m industrial park in Mthatha

Government’s radical economic transformation received a boost with the launch of the Vulindlela Heights Industrial Park in Mthatha, Eastern Cape. Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Director-General of Special Economic Zones and Economic Transformation at Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), Mr Sipho Zikode said radical economic transformation starts when the government provides the infrastructure that will enable business to thrive and the more than R20mn (US$1.52mn) revitalisation of the park speaks exactly to that.

The park is an Industrial area that comprises of a mixed tenants of manufacturers, services and suppliers of various products for the local market. The park currently employs 866 people on a full time basis. It is envisaged that the revitalisation of the park will enhance its contribution towards transformation and will effectively contribute to the greater developmental goals of the district.

“While government is providing the infrastructure, businesspeople must stand up, roll up their sleeves and work hard,” said Zikode.

He added that the revitalisation of the Vulindlela Industrial Park was part of efforts to decentralise the country's industrialisation in order to deepen and strengthen the industrial base of the South African economy. 

According to Zikode, the revitalisation programme is rolled-out in phases with the first phase focussing on the upgrading of the infrastructure and the purpose of the programme.

“The upgrading is part of the dti's Revitalisation of the Industrial Parks Programme. The purpose of the programme is to upgrade the country's state-owned industrial parks in order for them to contribute in growing the country’s economy and creating jobs,” said Zikode.

Vulindlela is the second industrial park to be launched in the Eastern Cape. In November last year, Minister Davies launched the revitalised Komani Industrial Park in Queenstown. The two are amongst the six that the dti upgraded in various provinces last year at a cost of R189 million.