We applaud government at national, provincial and municipal level for this vision of tackling this aspect while avoiding the practice of seeking to retrofit these important sectors in such developments.

 

Today’s occasion is a fitting end to our Human Rights Month at the heart of which is our Bill of Rights which enshrines equal rights to all sectors of our society. It is an occasion affirming Generation

 

Equality and is opportune in reminding us that women and vulnerable groups must never be an afterthought as we conceptualise and implement development

 

It is also appropriate that this gathering is part of our effort to elevate the issues of women and particularly their role in the economy to the forefront of our programmes. In particular we expect women to be involved in the entire value-chain of the Eastern Seaboard Development, and not to be relegated to catering and cleaning. This project represents the greatest opportunity to deploy this valuable asset in our society as we build the KwaZulu- Natal of our dreams.

 

In addition, we must be clear that we are building this Eastern Seaboard Coastal Smart City for the future while using it to correct the structural legacies of the past. We thus welcome this as a radical and unprecedented departure from the apartheid spatial planning of our recent past which stands in the way of sustainable development.

This project also presents an opportunity for the participation of young people in one of the continent’s foremost developments as we build a new city anchored on smart and green principles. In that sense, we cannot afford to plan, design and implement this futuristic project without those who in the future will benefit from it when some of us are no longer here.

 

In the same vein, we have an opportunity to take advantage of technological developments to enable this to be ground-breaking in its accommodation of people with disabilities both as users and as owners of equity in the project. It is not enough to build disability-friendly infrastructure, but we must also cater for the socioeconomic empowerment of all sectors of our society as we build our new country. City regions such as Dubai and Singapore are a clear demonstration of the heights that can be achieved if we focus on our greatest resource which is the people. Even economies that once relied on commodities as the basis of their economies are now turning focus to human resources and technology as the driver of sustainable growth. With the people at the centre, in rural and urban areas, we will certainly defeat the challenges of social ills, crime, unemployment, poverty and inequality.

Ladies and Gentlemen, for us this is even more important as we try to change the fundamental pattern of ownership of our economy while emerging from the devastating setback of COVID-19 and the July 2021 social unrest. These developments resulted in worsening our unemployment with the rate rising to 28.7% in KwaZulu-Natal from about 23% before the pandemic. The latest Labour Force Survey from StatsSA places our country’s unemployment rate as having sky-rocketed from an average of 25% in the 4th quarter of 2019, to the current 34.9%. While projections are that the KwaZulu-Natal regional economy is expected to grow at 4.2% for 2021 and 1.7% in 2022, this will depend on the successful implementation of key projects such as the Eastern Seaboard Development project.

This project will crowd in private sector investments by domestic and international investment and serve as a shining example of what is possible when we adopt the best practices of the District-Based Development Model. The interdisciplinary and inter-sphere nature of the project demonstrates the benefits of breaking down our silo mentality while focusing on the goal and fixing our eyes firmly on the prize.

 

The Eastern Seaboard has been prioritised for development starting with the 120km coastal stretch line between Port St Johns (in the Port St Johns Local Municipality of OR Tambo District – Eastern Cape) and Margate (in Ray Nkonyeni Municipality of the Ugu District – Kwa Zulu Natal). The stretch is the identified site(s) of a polycentric and/or multi-nodal African Coastal Smart City. Its economic anchors as have been identified as Tourism, the Oceans and marine economy, Agriculture, cean energy generation, the creative sector and Infrastructure which is inclusive of basic and human settlement as well as integrated transport infrastructure and ICT.

The Eastern Seaboard Development is a “whole of government” and “whole of society” project bringing together the private sector, public sector and community-based organisations through which we are building better and safer cities for women, youth and persons with disabilities. We welcome this project as part of the District Development Model which brings to life our roadmap towards NDP 2030 and the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy 2030.

 

We are fully behind this common vision for development of our country which is collectively generated and broken down according to the opportunities of each district and metropolitan geographical area.

 

It takes into consideration the largely under-developed coastline starting with the 600km coastal stretch between Buffalo City and eThekwini wherein the initial phases will encompass the 120km coastal stretch between Port St Johns and Margate, and its surroundings. This is in line with the National Spatial Development Framework’s Corridor1 which is from Buffalo City to Port Shepstone and boarders the

National Urban Region of eThekwini including integration of the Revitalization and renewal of rural and township areas.

As we know Ladies and Gentlemen, the goal is for government to facilitate conducive conditions for thriving businesses, pleasant living environment for families, urbanise the Rrral while instilling effective governance and ensure food security and safer communities for all. It is a project that will factor best practice and the voices of women and the vulnerable from the onset on how their protection and safety can be drastically improved in a country that has attracted the shame and infamy of being at war with its women.

 

As we indicated during the KwaZulu-Natal State of the Province Address (SOPA) last month, our province has been able to attract a number of investments into key sectors of our economy. We are heartened by the progress we are making in renovating regional airports, including Margate Airport which has already helped more than doubled the number of visitors coming to the South Coast during the festive season. KwaZulu-Natal has also launched a signature annual cultural festival along the South Coast and the potential for tourism growth and business development for the communities of the Eastern Cape are massive.

We applaud the immense vote of confidence demonstrated by investors and the private sector in our provincial economy. Other critical projects that we mentioned in the SOPA include:

 Re-opening of Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) where 2000 jobs were sustained;

 Tetra Pak’s R500 million New Investment in Durban;

 Unlocking of the Zulti-South operation in Richards Bay and the Nyanza Investment- R4.6 billion where 200 jobs were saved;

 Part of the Durban Aerotropolis the Weston mixed-use development is under construction with R2 billion investment with potential to create 200 jobs;

 The Wilmar Factory is under construction at R1.1 billion;

 The launch of the Hybrid Technology Toyota Corolla Cross of R2.6 billion investment;

 SAPPI Vulindlela expansion Project- Progress is underway;

 The recently held Intra-African Trade Fair has harnessed opportunities for export into the African Continent through AFCFTA Trade;

 Dube Trade Port has secured R200 million for Trade Zone 2;

 Various Projects in the Provincial Infrastructure Master Plan are underway.

These are some of the projects that are included in the KZN Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan which is fast tracking infrastructure delivery in the province. We wish to pay tribute to our traditional leaders that are part of the process and for their enthusiastic response to this ground-breaking initiative. We also welcome the business community who are central to all stages of this development from planning to execution and ensuring its sustainability.

Our message is one, simple, and clear: KwaZulu-Natal is open for business. Please come and invest in this post-apartheid smart city development and together let us use development to deepen peace and unite the people of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. Come build with us and give meaning to the vision of a truly united, non-racial, non-sexist, equal, and prosperous society.

Again as is my duty this morning, you are all welcome to the majestic and breath-taking KwaZulu-Natal which is ever alive with endless possibilities!

Together, building secured, dignified, inclusive, prosperous and better communities where the women of our country and the vulnerable are driving the agenda for their own development.

I thank you!