Newcastle Ladysmith & Dundee

Intro The Honourable Premier MEC’s Mayors HOD’s Captains of Industries We would like to apologise on behalf of our Mayor Afzul Rehman and MM Errol Mswane for not attending, but they are busy with a strategic workshop to ensure Newcastle stay the Model City in KZN We would like to congratulate the Premier for the 2015 KZN Citizen Satisfaction Survey, the residents of Newcastle are 94% satisfied with Newcastle and it’s Municipality, the best in KZN We would like to invite the Premier to assist us to rather establish a University in Newcastle, it is halfway between Johannesburg and Durban and we will attract students from Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and KZN. We would like to invite Captains of Industry to come and invest in Newcastle, one of the only cities with no Load Shedding Newcastle the Model City in KZN

Developments Currently Underway Ladysmith - Shopping Mall in CBD is currently upgrading and expanding improving the look of the CBD - The Ezakheni Plaza has been built in the Ezakheni Township - Large local Manufacturers have upgraded their existing operations, making them more competitive in the market - Exporters in the District have benefitted from the worsening exchange rate

Developments Currently Underway Newcastle - Lanxess is building new spillage dams, investing R120 million - The New Supper Spar Shopping Complex is in the Construction Phase - The Vulintaba Hotel will open in March Newcastle Techno Hub which is EU Funded next to the Airport will kick of this year - Clothing & Textile employed 2000 more people in 2015

Potential New Developments Underway Ladysmith - Uthukela District Electronic Hub - Colenso Multi Smelter Park will be implemented both in Ladysmith and Newcastle - Colenso Power Station - Aerodrome is currently a Mini Airport, however the existing infrastructure need to be upgraded as per the Crack Team - Ladysmith Mall Development - Dream Land Piggery Project - Ladysmith Black Mambazo Academy

Potential New Developments Underway Newcastle - Negotiations with a Company from China to establish a textile operation to the value of R120 million - Two new Shopping Complexes planned for Madadeni and Blaaubosch - A number of mining permits have been issued in the area - The Local Municipality will also implement housing projects - The Ncandu Dam Project overall investment of R2 billion - Upgrade of the Newcastle Airport

Challenges Being Experienced Ladysmith - Water Infrastructure, ageing of pipes and reservoirs, negative impact on businesses - Retention of Professionals and attracting of Skilled Labour to Ladysmith - Ageing of Electrical infrastructure - Training and Educational Facilities - Poor Signage, N 3 - Legislation and Red Tape to get projects off the ground - Communication breakdown between local Municipality and District

Challenges Being Experienced Newcastle - Clothing and Textile sector is dominated by CMT operations and foreign owned companies experience problems to acquire work permits for key personnel - Currently no DTI Incentive Scheme to promote new manufacturing businesses - Red Tape between different departments local, provincial and national - Ageing of water infrastructure - Land availability to develop businesses - Funding from province to host national and unique events in Newcastle to attract tourist

Critical Interventions to Unlock Potential Ladysmith - Pipeline from Spioenkop to Ladysmith & recommissioning of Windsor Dam as storage dam - Education, Schooling, Sport, Entertainment - Ring Fenced Funding for infrastructure and implementation of projects - Streamlining TVET Colleges offering into what local industries need - Rebranding of Ladysmith as a preferred destination - Intervention from Senior Officials to unblock channels on specific projects - Ladysmith need to be marketed as a Tourism Junction because of location, Drakensberg Boy’s Choir, Nambiti Game Reserve, Battlefield Route act

Critical Interventions to Unlock Potential Newcastle - Work Permit issue need to be addressed urgently - DTI incentives needs to be introduce to attract more manufacturing operations - Local authority must release land quicker for industrial and residential development - Electricity connections and charges are too expensive and needs to be addressed - Intervention by Provincial Government iro Ncandu Dam - Funding of big Tourism Events in Newcastle that attract Tourism

Thank You