October 22, 2003

By Margie Inggs

Durban - Partnerships between business and the eThekwini council had resulted in R20 billion being committed to investment in KwaZulu-Natal from 1997 to 2005, Gordon Hibbert, the chief executive of Moreland, the property arm of Tongaat Hulett, said yesterday.

"The really exciting investment comes from the multiplier effect, as every rand spent on construction creates a spin-off on investment in computers, furnishings and fittings which at least doubles the initial investment," he said.

Speaking at the Project Management South Africa conference, he cautioned, though, that more could be done to make Durban a global competitor.

"As not only the busiest port in Africa but the ninth-biggest port in the world, the port of Durban needs to engage more with the city."

At a recent function, port management and the city council signed a memorandum of understanding, which is hoped will attract the National Port Authority head office back to Durban.
 

"But much of the development is taking place to the north and south of the city, so the challenge now is to kick-start projects to the west," Hibbert said.

In addition to the rapidly growing La Lucia Ridge office park, projects include the Suncoast Casino, uShaka Marine World, Sibaya Casino, Riverhorse Valley business estate, Point waterfront development and widening of the harbour entrance. Gateway and the International Convention Centre were part of the investment, which is changing the face of the city.

Hibbert said one factor in Durban's favour was the quality of lifestyle on the stretch of coast north of the city, where business people were settling their families while they commuted between Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town.

However, to unlock the next R20 billion of investment, greater advantage had to be taken of the port and crime and grime had to be addressed. The council is developing a policy aimed at making Durban Africa's safest city.