Economic boost for Melmoth

THE KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has launched a R22.6-million service delivery projects aimed at stimulating the economy of the Mthonjaneni Municipality.

The projects include market stalls worth R3.6-million, walkways to the tune of R1.9-million and road upgrades worth R15-million.

The upgrades will create more than 100 jobs.

One of the 30 beneficiaries of the market stall upgrades is Jabulisile Ngubane (52), who says, ‘Business at Ndundulu market stalls has increased many fold since the upgrades and people who stop by to buy fruit and African crafts now feel safe as a result of these public works.

‘Those of us who work here are now able to feed our families and send our children to school,’ said Ngubane.

Dube-Ncube said the launch of these projects is a clear sign that the provincial government’s commitment to rural development is impacting positively on the lives of local people.

‘We would also like to see the women who are working in these stalls advancing to the point where they form co-operatives and supply fruit to various retail stores across the region.

‘This is something that is possible and our officials are working together with the traders to ensure that adequate training is provided for the local people to seize opportunities that await them,’ she said.

She also visited the newly built market stalls near the Melmoth taxi rank, which now houses more than 50 traders.

‘These stalls play an important part in growing the economy of this town.

‘Three years ago when we embarked on the rehabilitation of this town, we identified informal traders as key role players in the growth of the local economy and in the creation of local jobs.

‘As we speak, traders who work in these stalls support other traders who work within this town.

‘This is the kind of symbiotic relationships we would like to replicate elsewhere in KwaZulu-Natal,’ said Dube-Ncube.