An ex-Toti resident with major investment in the area, believes the South is set for an economic boom post-lockdown. Terry Brown, who lived in Toti from 1971 to 1999, and his father Len have invested some R58 million in Amanzimtoti over the past six years, developing various projects, including more recently the Kingsburgh Commercial-Industrial Park.
“With such a substantial investment in the area, we keep a close eye on developments, both by state entities and local firms. Covid-19 has affected the Toti area, as it has almost every area on the planet.”
Brown noted the recent R450-million investment made by Toyota in upgrading their plant in Prospection last year and the intended R3-billion further investment recently announced by Toyota, as well as the substantial investment made by Volvo and MAN trucks to local facilities.
“In a recent article in the Engineering News, Renai Moothilal noted the challenges facing the automotive suppliers industry, but noted a recent R1-billion Metair investment announcement to expand the company’s facilities in KZN, and the generally longer term outlook of the sector.”
READ ALSO: Will Amanzimtoti survive the Covid-19 pandemic?
Brown noted the area between Propecton and Kingsburgh is set to become a national automotive hub. “On 9 June, the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, announced that rather than take a backseat, as is claimed in the article, the MEC advises that: “COVID-19 is propelling us to move with speed to ensure that our Automotive Supplier Park Special Economic Zone, located in the South of Durban, is operational in 2021. More than 1 339 jobs are expected to be created through an investment of R2.2 billion”.
“Moreover, I am in regular contact with the CEO of Dube Trade Port, Hamish Erskine, the state entity responsible for the delivery of the R11-billion Illovo Automotive Suppliers Park (ASP) project. I can confirm that Dube Trade Port currently has a staff of more than 42 personnel working full-time to get the project underway. I also spoke to Sihle Mhkize of the KZN Department for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs and he was advised that the ASP project is very much part of the provincial Covid-19 recovery programme.
“GIBB has already been appointed as the project phase one design and management engineers. Their team is led by Mark Maris, whom I have known for many years, and he has confirmed that GIBB are working furiously to get the ASP project underway.
“I am also in contact with various bodies representing the automotive suppliers industry in South Africa, including various automotive clusters. Plans for more than 42 firms to relocate to the Illovo project are already in motion and it is intended that phase one of the project will be operational in the fourth quarter of 2021.
READ ALSO: Amanzimtoti set for big economic boom
“Those of us who have very substantial investments in the area are in general bullish about the post Covid-19 recovery. That is because we deal with the state and provincial playmakers and have a far clearer idea of the short to medium terms outlook for the region.”
Brown confirmed that work on the ASP project will commence in the fourth quarter of this year, with the specific intention to spur local growth and investment. Major works to the Umbumbulu and Winkelspruit intersection are in an advanced stage of planning and will result in a massive reconstruction of this interchange and the expansion of the R603.
“In the KZN revised budget speech on 2 June, it was highlighted that infrastructure sending would not be effected by the revised budget, as it was necessary to create jobs and get firms back to work.”
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