Latest news with #TourismandEnvironmentalAffairs
IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
KwaZulu-Natal celebrates US Independence Day with a focus on economic partnerships
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) MEC Reverend Musa Zondi delivered a message of support at the commemoration of the United States of America's 249th Independence Day in Durban. Image: EDTEA KZN / Facebook During the commemoration of the United States of America's 249th Independence Day, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) MEC Reverend Musa Zondi emphasised the significant investments made by American businesses in South Africa, especially in KwaZulu-Natal. On Tuesday evening, Zondi delivered a message of support on behalf of the KZN government at the commemoration event at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Durban. 'On behalf of the Honourable Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Honourable Thami Ntuli, and the people of our province, I extend warm wishes of peace, prosperity, and enduring friendship to the government and people of the United States of America,' Zondi said. He highlighted the significant investments made by American businesses in South Africa, particularly in KZN. These contributions, he noted, have fostered economic growth and aided families in a province struggling with high unemployment. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'Through AGOA, billions of Rands' worth of exports have found their way into American markets, creating a vital trade lifeline. From vehicles to agricultural goods, from our ports to your cities, the connection is real. And beyond commerce, there is the cultural influence - music, film, innovation, that continues to inspire,' Zondi said. He also called for the reaffirmation of sub-national diplomacy, emphasising the importance of strengthening partnerships between provinces like KZN and US states and cities. 'In this regard, we support the revival of the Friendship City Agreement between Durban and Los Angeles. This partnership holds potential for renewed collaboration in port development, maritime education, creative industries, and green logistics. We also hope to expand US investments in key provincial sectors,' Zondi said. US Consulate General in Durban, Consul General Rebecca E Gonzales, with Amajuba District Municipality Mayor Thembelihle Mthembu. Image: Amajuba District Municipality / Facebook Amajuba District Municipality Mayor Thembelihle Mthembu expressed his honour at the chance to participate in the celebration. 'As we celebrated the rich history and enduring spirit of independence that the United States embodies, it is important to reflect on the long-standing and fruitful relationship between our two countries,' Mthembu said. 'Over the decades, the United States has been a vital partner in global development, with its contributions in various sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and governance positively impacting the lives of millions of people around the world, including here in South Africa.' Mthembu said honouring the invitation was more than an expression of diplomacy but an important strategic opportunity for Amajuba. 'As the Amajuba District Municipality continues to focus on its sustainable development goals, it is essential to strengthen our ties with key international stakeholders and agencies who can contribute to our progress. The United States, with its wealth of resources and expertise, remains an invaluable partner for fostering growth, innovation, and prosperity within our region,' Mthembu said. He also said the invitation represents an opportunity where they hope to forge stronger collaborations that can attract investment, improve skills development, and address key socio-economic challenges within Amajuba. 'We look forward to building on this gesture of goodwill and engaging with relevant partners to bring positive, lasting change to our community,' Mthembu said.
IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Ematsheni redevelopment in Pietermaritzburg city centre: R18 million project to boost informal economy
An artist's impression of the Ematsheni Public Market redevelopment in the Pietermaritzburg CBD. Image: Supplied The crime-infested site Ematsheni in Pietermaritzburg's CBD is set to be redeveloped with the intention of revitalising the area for informal economic activity, at an estimated total cost of R18 million. About R4m has been made available for the first phase of the project, which could start as early as September. The contractor for the project is expected to be appointed by next month. Officials from the Msunduzi Municipality, who are leading the project, provided details on it when they appeared before the Economic Development Committee in the provincial legislature this week. This meeting followed an oversight visit by committee members to the area. The first phase of the development is funded by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. The Ematsheni Beerhall structures were demolished around 2017 after the property was overrun by criminal activity. The vacant land at the site has continued to be a subject of concern due to ongoing criminal activities. Phindile Zondi, manager of Economic Planning & Infrastructure under Development Services (LED) in the municipality, briefed the committee on the work underway and the expectations for the project. She said technical work on the project, in terms of consulting, costing and planning, is nearing completion. An artist's impression of the Ematsheni Public Market redevelopment in the Pietermaritzburg CBD. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'The municipality has sought funding to rebuild the area and ensure that the people who were operating there legally have a new area where they can operate,' she said, adding that as a result the municipality applied to the provincial government to rebuild the site and received about R3m in funding. The approval came with the condition that the municipality also had to contribute R1m of its own funds. The scope of the project includes various elements, including a taxi rank, after they had been approached by the South African National Taxi Council. The project will have three phases. Phase one involves the construction of 90 training stalls, storage facilities, ablution facilities, and other trading facilities. The subsequent phases will include the building of a taxi rank and other assets. 'Once completed, the area will feature a ground floor and a first floor, with the first floor designated as a taxi rank and the ground floor used for commercial space,' Zondi explained. 'We are looking for an anchor tenant. We believe that having a stronger anchor tenant will help manage and secure the facility, making it safer for those using it." Zondi mentioned that much more is required to complete the overall project, which is estimated to cost around R18m. She added that they had been able to source additional funding from the National Treasury for the other phases of the project. Speaking on when the construction work will get underway, she said they will be appointing a contractor soon from the municipal panel of building contractors. This should be concluded by August for phase one, with work commencing on-site by September. Phase one is expected to take nine months and should be completed by 2026. Economic Development Committee member Super Zuma expressed scepticism about the project, stating, "From what I am seeing, the scope of what had been promised has drastically reduced from what was presented before, and I am sceptical. What guarantees do we have that what you are promising now will be delivered?" Chairperson of the committee, Mafika Mndebele, stated that the Portfolio Committee on Economic Development and Tourism convened the engagement with representatives from Msunduzi to assess progress on key community-based economic projects. 'We are encouraged by the reports presented and the commitments made by all stakeholders. The committee is satisfied that these projects are on track and continuing as planned. 'They are already demonstrating tangible benefits for the local economy, particularly in creating opportunities for SMMEs, advancing township and rural enterprise development, and supporting inclusive local economic growth. 'These are not just infrastructure projects — they are instruments of economic justice and empowerment. They bring services closer to the people, stimulate job creation, and activate local supply chains that help small businesses to thrive. 'We will continue to exercise robust oversight to ensure that the impact of these projects reaches all intended beneficiaries and that any delays or implementation challenges are swiftly resolved.' THE MERCURY
IOL News
15-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
KZN Legislature's new initiatives for informal traders
The KZN Economic Development and Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) awarded R900,000 to Impendle for the construction of 18 galvanised steel vendor stalls. Image: Supplied Informal trading infrastructure projects were the point of focus at the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature on Tuesday. The Economic Development and Planning Portfolio Committee met with the Impendle and Msunduzi municipalities for project updates. The KZN Economic Development and Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) awarded R900,000 to Impendle Municipality for the construction of 18 galvanised steel vendor stalls. The project provided alternatives to containerised structures and provided dignified trade spaces. The municipality stated that the project improved the image of the CBD and brought some confidence in the recognition of informal trade. In its report, the Impendle Municipal Infrastructure for Informal Enterprises (MIE) had spent R877,000 to supply, deliver, and erect market stalls. The project closeout phase is expected to be completed on August 30, 2025. Satishrai Bhanprakash, IFP MPL, raised concerns about the long-term maintenance plans for the structures, which he feared would be open to theft. The municipality stated that it did have a maintenance plan and that the metal structures were galvanised and durable. The committee also called for better oversight and proper details on invoicing. Also discussed was the construction of 15 brick and mortar structures for the Inzinga\ KwaNxamalala Trading Units project, which received R2.1 million from EDTEA in the 2022/23 financial year. According to Impendle Municipality, the Inzinga settlement is mapped as a secondary node on Impendle's spatial development framework. The node already has schools, a sports field, a primary clinic, and a tribal court. The area is missing commercial service. "This application aims to close this gap. The implementation of this project will help in the strategic objective to bolster area area-based management plan. The idea is to provide options so that they don't have to travel to the Impendle CBD for minor day-to-day needs," the report stated. The implementation was delayed due to limited funding in 2024\2025 with a funding agreement concluded in December 2024. Work is expected to start in August 2025 subject to the finailisaton of a lease agreement with the Ingonyama trust. Shontel De Boer, a DA MPL, said she was not happy with the reports when the committee conducted an oversight in Impendle. 'The report lacked details. We asked alot of questions at the meeting and we were promised a detailed report to make a decision. This report is also too vague,' she said. Mafika Mndebele, the chairperson of the committee in the legislature, urged the municipalities to do all they can to ensure that the projects are implemented. Phindile Zondi, the Msunduzi Municipality manager of Economic Planning and Infrastructure, spoke of the redevelopment of the Ematsheni Development Services situated on Retief Street in the Pietermaritzburg CBD. They received R3 million from EDTEA while the municipality invested R1 million. Zondi said the site was previously developed as a beer hall, which further supports the proposal, which is to enhance informal traders and Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). 'In 2017, the site was demolished and mobilised for funding. Vagrants moved onto the property and undertook illegal activities. With the funding, we changed the narrative. It is expected that a contractor will be appointed during August 2025 to commence with the implementation of Phase 1 of the project,' Zondi said. The site establishment is expected to commence in September 2025 for nine months. [email protected] The redevelopment of the Ematsheni Development Services situated on Retief Street in the Pietermaritzburg CBD. The project is estimated at R4 million. Image: Msunduzi Municipality
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Budget constraints: KZN air quality stations non-operational
The Durban landscape. Concerns have been raised about the air quality in KwaZulu-Natal as air quality monitoring stations have not been working for two years. Image: File Photo: Leon Lestrade Independent Newspapers KZN's air quality monitoring stations are non-operational due to budget constraints, raising concerns about the health impacts on communities. YOSHINI PERUMAL explores the implications of the shutdown and the call for urgent action. WITH all six air quality stations in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) non-operational due to budget constraints, the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) has failed to assess the health risks posed by deteriorating air quality in local communities. The state of the air quality stations were revealed in a parliamentary response to the Democratic Alliance's (DA) Hannah Lidgett, spokesperson on environmental affairs for KZN. The stations are located in Newcastle, Stanger, Ngwelezane, Port Shepstone, Pietermaritzburg, and Estcourt. Dr Bonginkosi Dlamini, chief director of environmental management for EDTEA, said there was a lack of budget to operate the stations in Newcastle and Stanger, while at the Ngwelezane and Estcourt stations there were no budget available to repair the instruments. He said at Port Shepstone, the instruments were beyond repair and the facility had become obsolete. Dlamini added a lack of budget and vandalisation of the Pietermaritzburg station had led to it being shut down. 'Some of the stations will be repaired following the 2025/2026 financial year, while others have been earmarked for the 2026/2027 financial year,' he added. He said due to the stations being shut down, the EDTEA relied on data from the South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS) and its accompanying reports. 'The department has not assessed the health risks and impacts of poor air quality on communities. The assessments are part of the activities in the recently approved Air Quality Management Plan for KZN,' Dlamini said. Lidgett said it was alarming that the department had no data on the health impacts of poor air quality on communities. 'This collapse was allowed to happen under the neglectful eyes of the previous administration. What is particularly disturbing is that many communities across KZN are at the brunt of poor air quality and report significant health impacts. It is deeply concerning that former governments did not address the issue,' added Lidgett. She said it was also concerning that turnaround times to fix the stations were staggered. 'Adding to the concern, the department confirmed it had not commissioned any studies or assessments regarding the health impacts of poor air quality on communities. This historical neglect is in direct contradiction to their constitutional duty to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all residents of KZN. Instead, EDTEA stated that health impact assessments form part of future activities under the recently approved Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). 'It is unacceptable that the provincial government remains unaware of the extent of harm caused by air pollution while simultaneously delaying meaningful intervention for years to come. Without data, there can be no accountability, and without accountability, communities will continue to suffer needlessly,' she said. Lidgett called on EDTEA to fast-track the urgent repair and recommissioning of the three air quality monitoring stations earmarked for remediation in this financial year. 'We also call for the immediate implementation of the AQMP which was approved in 2024, and a transparent implementation timeline for the AQMP with measurable deliverables. 'The department must begin interim community-level air quality assessments through mobile monitoring units, immediately initiate health risk studies in known pollution hotspots, and prioritise emergency repairs and recommissioning of existing stations in the 2024/25 adjustment budget,' she added. EDTEA's AQMP report indicated the gap and capacity analysis in the province, and revealed that the human resources capacity in KZN was limited and comprised one air quality officer and one environmental compliance officer. To adequately manage air quality, the AQMP stated that it was necessary to fill the vacant AQMP positions and expand the team. Proposed interventions in the plan included the investigation of the feasibility of renewable energy and mechanisms to regulate newly identified technologies; to develop and enforce emission reduction plans or measures for controlled emitters; and to identify any listed and controlled activities currently operating without emissions licences The management plan included health studies conducted in KZN. One study examined respiratory outcomes in association to ambient air quality among school children at primary schools located in two regions, which was the highly industrialised Durban south areas and non-industrialised Durban north areas. The outcome of the study indicated that poor respiratory health was more common in children from the Durban south region than from the north region. In the population-based sample, 32.1% of participants had asthma of some severity, 12.0% had persistent asthma, of which 4.0% had moderate to severe symptoms, and 7.8% had marked airway hyperreactivity. The south region participants were noted to have prevalent cases of severe symptoms of asthma. The results indicate that 12.2% of south region participants had moderate to severe persistent asthma compared to the northern region participants, which was 9.6%. The findings strongly suggested that the adverse respiratory symptoms had been increased by industrial pollution. THE POST
IOL News
10-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Repairs to Mobeni Heights and Tongaat crematoriums to be fast-tracked
ETHEKWINI Mayor Cyril Xaba conducted a site visit to the Mobeni Heights Crematorium yesterday (Tuesday) to address the challenges plaguing the facility, and vowed to accelerate the repairs. On May 12, the crematorium was shut-down after the municipality had failed to renew the Air Emission Licence (AEL). At the time, eThekwini Municipality spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, said the closure of the crematorium was based on the poor performance of the furnace due to the control unit malfunctioning. This impacted on the facility's ability to cremate within the parameters of the AEL, and the closure was enforced despite the AEL being valid until January 31, 2026. The high emissions posed an environmental health risk to the surrounding community. Xaba said to remedy the situation, the municipality has started the process of procuring two furnaces which would be installed by the end of August. He called for patience from the affected communities and vowed to monitor the repairs closely to ensure that the facility was back to its full operations. 'The municipality has allocated R14 million to repair the furnaces at the Mobeni Heights Crematorium and to give the entire facility a facelift,' he added. Sisilana said the upgrade of the crematorium was funded in the 2025/2026 financial year and would focus on the replacement of the furnace and a building upgrade of the 'pyramid' portion of the facility. 'Any changes would require permission from the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) and final approval by other role players,' she added. The crematorium has two furnaces, both of which are not operational. The upgrade would replace the oldest furnace with a locally manufactured and maintained unit. The new unit will comply with the latest legislation required to operate a crematorium. The second furnace that was commissioned in 2021 will undergo a refurbishment, including the control unit to latest industrial standards and norms to be fully compliant with all legislative requirements. Xaba said processes to repair the Tongaat Crematorium were also at an advanced stage as the municipality had reprioritized R7 million for the replacement of furnaces. 'We anticipate completing the work at the Tongaat Crematorium by the end of next month. While repairs are ongoing at these facilities, the municipality urges residents to use nearby crematoria,' Xaba added. The POST
