Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) is running against time to secure R50 million funding for critical infrastructure at the tumbledown Komani Industrial Park (KIP) from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC).
Speaking during a special virtual council meeting on Saturday, April 9, CHDM executive mayor Wongama Gela said the industrial park revitalisation programme focused on both the physical infrastructure and other support requirements with the key objective to enhance industrialisation.
“In line with the legislative requirements of fining alternative mechanism for provision of community needs, CHDM has identified the need for revitalisation of KIP as a game changer in job creation for CHDM community.
“The programme of KIP revitalisation necessitates adequate infrastructure capacity for the industries to run optimally to create and sustain job creation,” Gela told council.
This was in anticipation for council to rally behind his call for his application of the funding application.
The industrial park is owned by long suffering Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, which has appointed the Chris Hani Development Agency to manage and attract investment to the park for a period of 50 years from 2020.
Said Gela:
Following an infrastructure capacity assessment, CHDA identified the need to upgrade the existing capacity in bulk water infrastructure at the KIP. As a result, Gela said, the agency approached the district authority – as a water services authority – to fund the required infrastructure for the optimal industrial operations.
There was a need for a water reservoir dedicated to the KIP. Around 2 000 jobs could be created at the industrial park with the implementation of improvements.
“The infrastructure improvements could sustain 30 businesses with a total investment value of R2 billion. Additional water infrastructure could attract expansion of existing industries and new industries to the park,” he said.
Gela did not give the exact date for the deadline to source funding.
While council approved the funding application, there were calls for a report into a R5.3 million funding in 2016 and an undisclosed amount of funding in 2020 to the KIP.
However, Gela dismissed the calls as mischievous, saying the funds were not municipal funds but sourced externally.
