Page 17 - KZN Top Business Portfolio eBook -2024

added benefit of being part of urban regeneration, as
it is situated in the heart of the Durban CBD.”
Recently private sector investment included that of
the Edinvest team, which is headed up by Nhlanhla
Khambule and Thanda Ndaba, businessmen who
have built their Artisan Training Academy (ATA) to
be one of the country’s leading private vocational
training institutions. They opened their first school,
Canaan College, in Umlazi, southwest of Durban, in
2019, and recently included Etham College in Hilton
KZN in their portfolio.
FINANCE SECTOR
The finance sector contributes substantially to the
provincial economy with high numbers of employees
in the sector.
KwaZulu-Natal boasts a strong finance, real estate and
business services sector which is growing fast.
Many domestic and foreign institutions already
provide a full range of services from commercial and
retail, to merchant banking, mortgage lending and
insurance, as well as investments.
Business process outsourcing (BPO) is a major market
sector in the region. The province is home to more
than 60 BPO centres and accounts for almost 50% of
South Africa’s financial services call centres. South
Africa is moving towards becoming a knowledge-
based economy, with a greater focus on technology,
e-commerce and financial and other services in the
digital space.
Coastal Developments
The property market on KwaZulu-Natal’s north coast
is fuelled by much demand for residential properties.
For example, between 2011 and February 2023,
Ballito’s adult population saw growth of 106%, while
Salt Rock has experienced a 117% increase. This
trend is bolstered by the arrival of 45 and 65 families
monthly. The region’s remarkable growth can be
attributed to a combination of factors, including
coastal living, top-tier schools, premium estate living,
and an abundance of family-friendly facilities. (Source
https://propertywheel.co.za/)
The south coast is also seeing notable development.
Serenity Hills eco-estate located in Margate was
recognised by President Ramaphosa along with
Renishaw Hills for their investment pledges at the fifth
SA Investment Conference in April 2023.
Serenity Hills – the R800m eco-estate near Margate on
the KZN mid-South Coast – is a 120-hectare eco-estate
offering residents secure living within an exquisite
coastal forest. Serenity Hills includes the Sweetdale
Skills Centre, which develops and coaches emerging

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