Page 15 - KZN Top Business Portfolio 2018

support innovation in a range of industries, including
forestry, agri-processing and other biomass-based
industries.
Mining and Beneficiation
The mining sector is a small economic sector, which
contributes less than 2% to KwaZulu-Natal’s GDP and
employs approximately 4000 direct employees, rising
to more than 15000 indirectly. KwaZulu-Natal currently
has 23 operational mines, operating mainly in coal,
heavy mineral sands as well as sand and aggregate.
The industry is concentrated around the mining of coal,
titanium dioxide, zircon and other minerals in lesser
quantities. Richards Bay Minerals and Tronox are key
companies in this sector.
The government is playing a vital role in encouraging
the growth of smaller entrepreneurs by offering
incentives to large mining companies using services
and products of smaller companies at the upstream
stages of the value chain. The increased beneficiation
of minerals especially in aluminium, coal, iron and steel,
phosphates and mineral sands is being promoted.
Mineral Resources Minister, Mr Gwede Mantashe
together with KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu
recently attended the first KwaZulu-Natal Mining
Indaba in Newcastle, Northern KwaZulu-Natal. The
two-day Indaba presents an opportunity for delegates
to deliberate on issues that will help in transforming the
sector and unlock mining value chain opportunities in
the province.
Minister Mantashe further emphasised the importance
of rehabilitation of mining sites, which have the
potential to create jobs, while restoring the land that
has been mined.
Manufacturing
After Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal’s diversified manufac-
turing sector is the second largest in the country
with almost 30% of South Africa’s manufactured
exports produced in the province. The Durban South
Basin is a key manufacturing and industrial zone of
the city, contributing a major part of Durban’s Gross
Domestic Product and providing 10% of the country’s
manufacturing jobs.
The top five manufacturing industries in the province,
in terms of employment, are clothing, textiles and
footwear; food and beverages; basic iron, steel and
metal products; chemicals and plastic; and paper
and publishing. Major players in the KwaZulu-Natal
manufacturing sector include: Unilever, Mondi, Sappi,
Aspen Pharmacare, Corobrik, Constantia Afripack and
Hulamin to name a few.

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