Hibberdene harbour all
systems go!
20 November 2009
Article by Gini Ndovela and Johan Pretorius
www.feveronline.co.za
Ugu Mayor Sithembiso Cele and HCM Mayor Nolwazi Shusha franking the Deputy
Minister of Public Works, Hendreta Zulu at the Hibberdene Harbour site with
ceremonial handover title deeds she gave them to earmark the release of land to
start the project, on Monday.
The land transfer from the government to the Hibiscus Coast and Ugu to open
up the way for the development of the Hibberdene Harbour project, was done on
Monday this week. This project will be the single biggest development in the
history of the KZN South Coast, and is set to create thousands of new jobs,
besides creating a major economic and financial stimulus in the region.
The handing over was done by Deputy Minister of Public Works Hendreta Zulu in a
ceremony at Hibberdene. When she handed Ugu Mayor Sithembiso Cele and Hibiscus
Coast Mayor Molwazi Shusha the title deeds, Ms. Zulu said the delays, which
caused some concern at one stage, were due to the fact that Government takes a
long time to finalise applications of this magnitude. Detailed investigations
had to be done before the land could be transferred to the municipalities. She
paid tribute to the late previous minister of Public Works Stella Sicgau for
accepting the concept conceived by the preferred bidder and developer,
Bayaphambili PTY.
The project will be 26% owned by black investors, with a 10% ownership by women
and 5% disabled people. The Black consortium is funding the project, and Ugu
Trust will own 10%. The two municipalities will each own 50% of the transferred
land for which each paid R1.4 million, and Byaphambili will be leasing the land
for 35 years, renewable for a further 10 years.
Prior to the developer actually “breaking ground”, it is obligatory for them to
satisfy certain deliverables, such as financing agreements and town planning
approvals.
Of particular importance is the creation of two trusts, being the Fairview Land
Owners’ Trust, as well as the Ugu community Trust, which will have allocated
shares within the shareholding of the developer. These trusts comprise members
of the local communities and are designed to ensure that the local communities
share in the economic benefits of the development.
One of the Byamphambili Directors, Mr. Hein Beukes from Hibberdene, said he
conceived the project 20 years ago and ascribed the delays to its sheer
magnitude. He hoped to see the physical construction begin within 18 months,
because design plans still have to be finalised.
The South Coast Fever has reported on the project regularly over the past 11
years, and the signing of the development contract by the participating parties
on 12 November, brought an end to many years of ups and downs, and speculation
about whether the project was only “pie in the sky” was wishful thinking.
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