Boosting rural Zululand’s economy
New business centre in rural northern Zululand to boost local economic opportunities
A NEWLY built business hub along the P700 in Ulundi is anticipated to boost economic opportunities for remote communities of northern Zululand.
The Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC) joined hands with the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) to construct the building described by ZAC Sustainable Development Manager Zodwa Ntuli as ‘an ideally located hive of economic activity’.
‘Economic opportunities in the remote regions of northern Zululand are scarce and difficult for one company to address on its own,’ says Ntuli.
‘Our budget is limited, so we really have to work hard at finding the best way of assisting as many of our over 60 000 community members in our four host areas as possible.’
‘Working with CoGTA, the sustainable development division of ZAC has provided support with the establishment of the Dalisu Laundry and Dressmaking Centre, which is due to be opened in the near future.
‘And by putting our skills and resources together with other organisations and government departments, we can bring more projects that would benefit our communities.’
However, Ntuli says the project has encountered hiccups, such as waiting long periods for compliance certificates to install equipment for the co-operative to get started.
‘This, I believe, will come soon,’ Ntuli said.
Other initiatives by ZAC in partnership with government or development organisations include the World Aids Day commemoration with the Department of Health, a Career Expo with the Department of Labour and the Mlaba Community Greening Project with the Wildlands Conservation Trust.
‘We are looking forward to working together with the Department of Health in again hosting our annual World Aids Day commemoration in December,’ says Ntuli.
