Call for business to invest in economic development in uMkhanyakude
The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Nomalungelo Gina, will host businesses and potential investors at a corporate investment event in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, on Thursday, 22 October 2026, aimed at advancing economic development in the uMkhanyakude District Municipality.
The uMkhanyakude District Corporate Investment Dinner is a call to businesses and development partners to invest in the district and help drive inclusive economic growth across the region.
Aligned with the District Development Model (DDM) and the district's One Plan, the investment proposition is expected to translate the uMkhanyakude District Development Plan into clearly defined and investable opportunities.
Deputy Minister Gina will lead the event in her capacity as the DDM champion for the district, alongside MEC Champion Ms Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development in KwaZulu-Natal and Executive Mayor, Councillor Siphile Mdaka.
Other partners include the uMhlosinga Development Agency and the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The event will provide the district with an opportunity to present 11 catalytic projects, outlining their investment requirements and potential partnership models, including public-private partnerships, build-operate-transfer arrangements and private-sector-led investment.
The investor-focused gathering will showcase practical opportunities in tourism and conservation, agriculture and agro-processing, strategic urban development, aviation and logistics, infrastructure, property and digital innovation.
Deputy Minister Gina has highlighted the importance of investment in the district's catalytic projects, saying these interventions were essential for creating jobs, attracting investment and improving long-term development prospects in the district.
She said infrastructure capacity, project execution and institutional competence were critical indicators of a municipality's ability to deliver services, attract investors and improve the lives of residents.
"All of us must have a clear imagination of what uMkhanyakude can look like in a decade if all identified projects are successfully implemented in each local municipality. It is this spirit of building for the next generation that must ignite our collective commitment to deliver a better uMkhanyakude," she said.
Among the catalytic projects to be showcased is the Mkhuze Airport Precinct Development, a strategic aviation, logistics and mixed-use development intended to support tourism, trade, cargo handling and commercial activity.
The airport-related infrastructure requirements include an estimated R200 million investments for a fire station and supporting infrastructure. The broader precinct presents opportunities in residential development, industrial and factory sites, business premises, offices, retail, logistics and hospitality.
The portfolio also includes the Nkodibe Interchange Mixed-Use Development in Mtubatuba, also known as Mtuba Ridge, with an estimated project value of R1.9 billion.
The development presents an opportunity to unlock strategic land around a key transport interchange and create a mixed-use destination for commercial activity, property development and supporting economic services.
Another opportunity is the Hluhluwe Mixed-Use Development, which seeks to leverage Hluhluwe's strategic location and tourism economy to promote commercial development and complementary business opportunities. The project has the potential to support investment in property, retail, hospitality and related services, while strengthening economic activity in the surrounding area.
The district's agro-processing portfolio includes a proposed Cassava Processing Plant, with an estimated project value of R1.1 billion. The project is expected to create approximately 500 jobs through the development of a tapioca-starch value chain that could support small-scale farmers and strengthen local agro-processing.
The proposed Pineapple Processing Plant requires an estimated investment of R15 million and is expected to create approximately 40 direct jobs. The facility would add value to locally produced pineapples through the production of canned products, juices and other processed goods.
Another opportunity is the Chicken Abattoir, which requires an estimated investment of R11 million and is projected to create approximately 28 direct jobs. The project aims to strengthen the district's poultry value chain and improve market access for emerging farmers.
The portfolio further includes the Kosi Bay Border Node Development, which seeks to establish a formal trade node at the Mozambique border to facilitate cross-border commerce and regional economic integration.
The gathering will also position the uMkhanyakude District as a strategic gateway to Eswatini and Mozambique, with the potential to strengthen regional trade, mobility and cross-border economic activity.
A call will also be made for investment into the Malabela sportsground in Hluhluwe, into a state-of-the-art facility through the Mbekezeli Mbokazi Foundation.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday, 22 October 2026
Time: 16:00
Venue: Umfolozi Hotel and Casino, Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal
Issued jointly by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation; uMkhanyakude District Municipality; and uMhlosinga Development Agency.
For more information, please contact Veronica Mohapeloa at 083 400 5750 or Nonhlanhla Jele at 078 197 4234.
