KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli. Picture: Supplied
Durban — Following the deadly 2021 July unrest that left a trail of destruction in KwaZulu-Natal, Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has embarked on a mission to revive the ravaged Isithebe business precinct.
The 2021 July unrest led to a jobs bloodbath in the northern rural area.
Ntuli, who became premier in June, will hold a meeting with the businesses marred by a string of snags, which have led to their closures.
This worsened after the chaotic riots that occurred after former president Jacob Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in jail, for allegedly defying a Constitutional Court order instructing him to appear before the then-state Capture Commission of Inquiry, chaired by the now-retired chief justice, Raymond Zondo.
More than 350 people are said to have died, and more than R50 billion was lost after the widespread looting.
The closure left many residents without the much-needed jobs in the northern rural town.
The Mandeni Business Forum, chaired by Mangaliso Ngcobo, welcomed Ntuli’s intervention.
“We hope that his visit will lead to tangible results. Many people were left without jobs after the precinct was looted during the riots (2021). The closure of the businesses here (Mandeni) has led to the rise of crime as many people have been left without jobs,” said Ngcobo.
In a statement, the Office of the Premier said: “This initiative is in line with the 7th administration's strategic priority to drive inclusive economic growth and job creation. By revamping these factories, the Premier aims to restore economic stability, create employment opportunities, and foster community development.”
Ntuli will kick off his inspection at the KwaSithebe CBD Centre as part of Operation Siyahlola.
“This inspection aims to assess the extent of the damage before proceeding to an engagement with the local business sector, traditional leaders, including Amakhosi and Izinduna, and other members of the community. The premier will then issue a guide on how to navigate abandoned structures that have become havens for criminals,” read the statement.
The KwaSithebe business industrial precinct was rocked by looting in 2016, where 200 factories lost millions of rands due to damages.
At the time, Stephen Fox, spokesman for Business Against Crime Mandeni, said: “If we take into account lost production, it is going to run into millions.”
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