This was the sentiment of Sipho Zikode, Deputy Director-General of Special Economic Zones and Economic Transformation at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)), during a community and stakeholders’ meeting held in Atlantis on Wednesday 11 October.
The DTI held the meeting as part of a 30-day public consultation process. This came after a notice to designate a section of the Industrial Area as an SEZ was published in the Government Gazette by Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Rob Davies last month.
The purpose of the meeting was for the DTI to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the proposed SEZ.
“SEZs have been developed by the DTI to generate thriving, sustainable industrial business environments,” Zikode said. “The Atlantis Green Technology SEZ holds great economic and development potential, not only for investors but also for the local community, the province and the nation as a whole.”
Local Atlantis community leader Annie Petersen said, “The SEZ is very much needed in Atlantis, we have much to benefit,” she said. “A programme like this can go a long way to lift up the community. My hope is that our younger generations can benefit from the green economy as well.”
Atlantis was formed in the 1970s by the apartheid government as an industrial node and community for people of colour. Businesses that were originally attracted to the area by government incentives moved away when these incentives ended, resulting in widespread unemployment.
The SEZ promises to lure new business to the area with similar incentives, the biggest of which will be tax incentives.
PR councillor Greg Barnado urged the DTI, Western Cape Government and City of Cape Town officials to put policies in place around the training and development of workers.
Rachel Watson, Radio Atlantis manager, also asked that foreign investors be made aware of South African labour laws to ensure workers are not exploited.
Sub council 1 chairperson, Cynthia Clayton, also committed to working with the other spheres of government by looking at local infrastructure, providing traffic lights and suitable housing.
Ward councillor Barbara Rass urged companies to not just employ labourers, saying Atlantis has many professional people who should also benefit from the development.
She also asked officials to look into reopening the railway line.
The role-players were also asked to look at ways how women can be empowered, involving small businesses and prioritising skills development. The overall aim of the SEZ is to bring long-term investment to the area, which could mean over a thousand job opportunities within the next few years.
