DA points out Musina-Makhado SEZ flaws

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo recently submitted a document containing comment on the downside of the planned Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (Leda).
This follows a scoping report on the project which was out for public review with the last day for submissions being 25 February. DA Provincial Leader Jacques Smalle emphasised that the SEZ site requires a total of 123 million m3 of water per annum but currently only 0,3% of the required amount is available from the site. He further said the project is dependent on long-term availability of water as the region is severely water strained. He stressed that the project would affect farmers as it is planned to be constructed on eight farms.
“The biggest concern for the farmers and the business sector in the area is ‘who’ the developer is. It is a fact that the Chinese will be developing this SEZ as copies of a memorandum of understanding with the national and provincial governments are already in place, although details are not available. It is not so much what was disclosed in the scoping report that is a concern but rather what was not disclosed being the ‘who’,” Smalle explained.
He went on to allege that China’s blatant disregard for human rights and employees’ rights make them undesirable to bring into the country to invest in such a project. Smalle concluded by saying it was Leda’s duty to ensure that all is in order before issuing out operating licences and that there should be transparency in all the processes.
Former Leda Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ben Mphahlele, who retired at the end of the last month, upon receiving the document indicated that he was grateful for the information provided by the party and added that it was of profound importance for key stakeholders in the project to pull in the same direction to make the project a success. He emphasised that the DA was one of the key stakeholders and their input was therefore vital. He undertook that the entity would study the document.

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