ITHALA`S INDUSTRIAL ESTATES A LIFELINE FOR COMMUNITIES

Several local and surrounding communities across KwaZulu-Natal are highly dependent on the existence of purpose-built industrial estates for employment, income and an improved lifestyle.  This was revealed by a socio-economic trend assessment of Ithala Development Finance Corporation’s industrial properties and comes in the wake of current economic pressures.

Ithala has several industrial estates under its ownership including Isithebe, Ezakheni and Madadeni Industrial Estates which collectively have created over 40 000 jobs affording up to an estimated 300 000 people in regional areas a livelihood.

Isithebe Industrial Estate in northern KZN is among several industrial estates identified by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for phase one of a revitalisation programme. The valued contribution from DTI attests to the growing relevance of industrial estates and the significant role they play in developing the economy.

The revitalisation of the Industrial Parks Programme is part of the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP), aimed at promoting industrialisation and boosting the country’s manufacturing capacity to increase the production of goods for export.   The programme is also aligned with the DTI’s economic transformation initiatives aimed at ensuring that all regions of the country and enterprises participate meaningfully in the mainstream economy.

The 414 hectare Isithebe industrial estate located in Mandeni and midway between the ports of Durban and Richards Bay, is a one-stop shop providing leasing of property; property maintenance and water, electricity, solid waste removal, sewage disposal and fire protection.  There is approximately 535 000 m2 of Ithala owned industrial property and approximately 100 000 m2 of privately owned industrial property.

A large variety of industries operate from Isithebe which contributes significantly to the economy of the area, providing 15 000 to 20 000 jobs. When applying an accepted multiplier effect, Ithala’s presence at Isithebe impacts on 100 000 to possibly 200 000 people. 

The operations at Isithebe include textiles, clothing, weaving and dying, steel fabrication, furniture manufacturing, plastics, polypropylene bags, chemicals, paper products and packaging, foundry work, white goods, workshops and engineering, foam manufacturing and conversion, plastic injection moulding and stationery.

 “Our business imperative is our investment in people. We work tirelessly to empower communities and provide an environment conducive to a better quality of life and improved prosperity, thus nurturing a legacy of growth, self-development and upliftment,” said Keith Palmer, Property Portfolio Manager: Isithebe Industrial Estate.

“Industrial estates represent the tools for sustainable development by making an invaluable contribution to job creation and the country’s economic growth.  The diversification of activities through industrialisation and manufacturing attracts valuable investments in the areas in which the industrial estates are located.”

Developed in 1983, Ezakheni Industrial Estate is situated in Ladysmith, between Durban – Africa’s busiest harbour – and Gauteng – the country’s major consumer market.

The 640 hectare industrial estate provides employment to a massive labour force, making approximately 15 000 jobs available to the surrounding economy.

It is home to large, medium and small enterprises specialising in manufactured goods, textile and clothing, school furniture, polypropylene bags, welding consumables, corrugated cardboard, injection moulding, refrigeration, animal feed, footwear and stationery.

The Estate has also been earmarked for the establishment of an Industrial Hub to generate economic growth and provide further employment for the area.

Madadeni Industrial Estate, developed in 1983, Madadeni is the smallest of the three Industrial estates and is situated adjacent to Madadeni Township, 17 kilometres away from Newcastle.

 The majority of the factories on this estate relate to Clothing and Textiles (CMT), as well as bed and bedding manufacturing and one of the biggest of three factories in South Africa that do fibre manufacturing. The Estate provides employment opportunities for approximately 5000 people.

With over one million square meters of industrial and commercial space, Ithala is well placed to service a variety of business sectors across the length and breadth of KZN, thereby affirming its position as the second biggest landlord in the province.

Ithala is the pioneer in establishing shopping centres and industrial estates in remote regions of the KZN province for rural communities, accelerating regional economic growth and promote job creation. 

In supporting the province’s social economic vision, Ithala Properties continues to work with both the public and private sectors to leverage its infrastructure base as a catalyst for development.