Cape Town - The Komani Industrial Park Revitalisation Project, launched by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), will see new jobs being created in townships and rural communities in the Eastern Cape.
In collaboration with the provincial and local government of the Chris Hani District Municipality in Komani, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies explained that the project is the fourth industrial park to be launched this year and is anticipated to create more jobs for locals, thereby boosting the local economies.
“To date, the four launched parks combined, employ almost 40 000 people,” added Davies at the launch on Monday.
Davies said that during the first phase of the revitalisation programme, seven SMMEs were appointed as sub-contractors at the value of R5.3 million.
“Seventy-one local labourers were employed and 63 percent of these were youth,” added Davies.
According to Davies, there was a need to create opportunities for more people in the manufacturing sector.
“The manufacturing sector is capable of creating more jobs and thus it must be supported. We also need to search for job-creation opportunities that will boost the economy,” said Davies.
Davies went on to provide examples like agro-processing and clothing and textile which could also address the unemployment challenges, when supported.
According to Davies, the Black Industrialist Programme, with an objective to increase role-players in the manufacturing sector, has to date supported 22 black industrialists and 1 500 jobs have been created. R1.5 billion has been injected to support these industrialists.
Mfundo Tsheketshe, the provincial chairperson of the Black Management Forum, said: “We welcome the initiative because it inspires hope for the local people as this will create jobs and boost our local economy.”
The launch marked the completion of the first phase of the project, which covers security upgrading of the industrial park. The (DTI) has so far invested R22.5 million in the revitalisation of the Komani Industrial Park. This was in response to a call by President Jacob Zuma to work towards full-scale industrialisation and inclusive growth.
AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY