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KwaZulu-Natal Business 2019-20 edition

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A unique business and investment guide to KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa. The 2019/20 edition of KwaZulu-Natal Business is the 11th issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2008, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the KwaZulu-Natal Province. In addition to the regular articles providing insight into each of the key economic sectors of the province, there is a special feature on the surge in investment in new tourism projects, from casino expansions to the building of a dedicated cruise-liner terminal. Another special feature surveys other large investments in a wide variety of sectors, showing the diversity and strength of the provincial economy. For monthly updates about the region, subscribe at https://www.globalafricanetwork.com/subscribe/ or visit our portal at https://www.globalafricanetwork.com/category/regions/kwazulu-natal/

OVERVIEW ICT Port

OVERVIEW ICT Port Shepstone has a new incubator. SECTOR INSIGHT Dube iConnect is an accredited service provider. A SmartXchange SMME Incubator has been launched in Port Shepstone on the South Coast. The concept of ICT has been expanded to include media and electronics, so the hub is called an MICTe Incubator. The province’s SmartXchange is an example of a successful publicprivate partnership that supports businesses in the information technology and communications sector. Incubation strategies for startups and skills development (including links to educational institutions) are important parts of the organisation’s brief. After the successful launch of the first such incubator outside Durban in the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality, there are now plans to establish three more, at Newcastle, Richards Bay and Pietermaritzburg. Spending on information and communications technology (ICT) has been steadily increasing in the private and public sectors in recent years in KwaZulu-Natal. The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which administers Durban, has actively been promoting ICT since the launch of its MetroConnect programme in 2008. A key component of the strategy has been the sale at hugely discounted rates of spare capacity on the municipal fibre network. The Dube TradePort (pictured) has spent more than R100-million on ICT infrastructure that includes two data centres. Dube iConnect has a licence from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa to be a service provider. An advanced metro Ethernet network connects businesses within the precinct and surrounding areas with one another and with the world. ONLINE RESOURCES Dube TradePort: www.dubetradeport.co.za Information Technology Association of South Africa: www.ita.org.za SmartExchange: www.smartxchange.co.za South African Vanguard of Technology: www.savant.co.za KwaZulu-Natal has an established skills base in microprocessors and radio-based systems and a strong manufacturing base. Some companies within the domestic sector specialise in supporting specific systems. In the case of Pinetown-based RN Software, support is provided for Syspro, an enterprise resource software (ERP) system most commonly applied to manufacturing and logistics to enhance performance and control costs. South African Vanguard of Technology (Savant) is a Department of Trade and Industry (dti) programme. It is the marketing and awareness programme for the South African ICT and electronics sector. The aim is to develop South African exports and to attract foreign investment. The State Information Technology Agency (SITA) is a state-owned enterprise that provides ICT services to government and leads projects in the sector. Sentech is the state agency that provides broadband infrastructure and signals for the country's broadcasters. Internet connectivity is provided to government departments, municipalities and other institutions through a VSAT service. KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS 2019/20 54

Education and training University research is linked to development issues. OVERVIEW The reputation of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) as a leading research institution was enhanced in 2018 with the opening of a Chemistry Postgraduate Research Facility at the School of Chemistry and Physics in Pietermaritzburg. The university aims to align its research programme with important areas of development such as food security, health, liveable cities and climate change. The R30-million facility was funded mainly by the National Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). UKZN also hosts the National Research Foundation. There are two universities and two universities of technology in KwaZulu-Natal, and the national distance university, the University of South Africa (Unisa), has a presence in five locations. USB Executive Development offers business courses for executives. The Durban University of Technology (DUT) has six faculties operating in seven campuses in Durban and in the Midlands. DUT is well known for its outstanding graphic-design school and offers one of only two chiropractic programmes in South Africa. The University of Zululand offers diploma and degree courses on two campuses at Empangeni and Richards Bay. The unbundling from the successful Curro group of a separate tertiary entity which listed on the JSE as Stadio Holdings is a good indicator of the growth of the private sector in education. Stadio currently has three institutions: Southern Business School, AFDA (the School for the Creative Economy) and the Embury Institute for Higher Education which has recently opened a campus in Musgrave, Durban. There are six Curro schools in KwaZulu-Natal. Advtech, the other big private company, has 27 tertiary campuses nationally, in addition to its 78 schools operating under a variety of labels. Advtech operates 10 educational sites in KwaZulu-Natal. The Provincial Government of KwaZulu-Natal, through the national Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and other job creation programmes has committed to providing training to marginalised ONLINE RESOURCES Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa: www.isasa.org KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education: www.kzneducation.gov.za National Research Foundation: www.nrf.ac.za SECTOR INSIGHT Training is part of the Expanded Public Works Programme. communities to help people become more employable. In 2018, more than 41 000 full-time equivalent jobs and 166 000 work opportunities were offered, and this is set to increase. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges are tasked with bridging the skills gap. TVET colleges are concentrating on 13 trade areas, including bricklayers, millwrights, boilermakers and riggers. KwaZulu- Natal has nine such colleges with a total enrolment of about 80 000. R16.5-billion has been allocated by national government to skills development and infrastructure over the medium term. Coastal KZN TVET College gives students practical experience through facilities such as the Nongalo Industrial Park, where school furniture is repaired, and burglar bars and computer tables are made. The college has several sites on the South Coast and caters for 15 400 students. Majuba TVET College focuses on engineering as the coal and steel industries are prominent in Newcastle. The Mnambithi TVET College is located in the Battlefields Route tourism area and offers National Diploma courses in tourism, among other qualifications. 55 KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS 2019/20

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