Musina-Makhado SEZ still a castle in the air

While plans to reduce the unemployment rate and alleviate poverty in the province were highlighted during the State of the Province Address (Sopa) at Jack Botes Hall last week, what was expected to become a major role player in the process, the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (SEZ), apparently remains a castle in the air.
Last year Premier Stan Mathabatha had announced approval of the project by national cabinet yet on Friday during the Sopa he reported that the construction of the project have not started yet and all that has been done so far was the allocation of a piece of land, operating licence and the designs of the structure. The process to establish the SEZ board is reportedly in its final stages. Mathabatha announced that an amount of R147 million has been set aside to support the roll-out of basic infrastructure in the receiving SEZ municipalities of Musina and Makhado and called upon the receiving municipalities to enhance their capacity around water infrastructure, energy and town planning.
Although Mathabatha did not say anything about the budget for the construction during his speech, Provincial Government Spokesperson Phuti Seloba clarified that the budget comes from a Chinese investment to an estimated amount of over R40 billion.
Last year when Trade and Industry minister Rob Davies launched the Musina-Makhado Intermodal Terminal (MIT) which is regarded as one of the key support facilities for the Musina-Makhado SEZ, he reportedly said the Chinese investment was to establish at least eight large scale industrial projects including a power station, a coking coal plant, ferrosilicon plant, a steel plant, and a stainless steel plant.
Seloba spoke with confidence saying the Musina-Makhado SEZ was no longer a dream but a project because they have acquired the operating licence from China last year and they were about to start with procurement of services.
When Polokwane Observer requested pictures of the structures completed so far, Musina Local Municipality Communications Manager, Wilson Dzebu indicated that: “The constructions of the project has not started and so far the work that has been done cannot be seen with the naked eye.” He joked saying one needs spiritual eyes to see the progress of the project.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za