HARRY GWALA DEVELOPMENT AGENCY NEWSLETTER

Official

NEWSLETTER Volume 1 of 2024

A Year in Reflection

Harry Gwala Development Agency (PTY) LTD www.hgda.co.za

CONTENTS PAGE 01 Editorial Note 02 Message from the Chairperson 04 H G D A B o a r d o f d i r e c t o r s 05 Message from the CEO 06 H G D A e m p l o y e e s 09 Vision and Mission 10 A g l a n c e r e f l e c t i o n a t 2023 programmes

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Importance of partnerships

Placing Harry Gwala on a 29 national platform

30 U p c o m i n g e v e n t s

EDITORIAL NOTE It is a privilege to be reflecting on the eventful year as the Harry Gwala Development Agency (PTY) LTD, through the first publication of this Newsletter “A year in Reflection”.

Before we reflect, allow us to introduce ourselves as Editors of the Harry Gwala Development Agency Newsletter. Together we are better known in the tourism space as Tourism practitioners. Our passion for marketing the disrict has birthed the compilation of this publication, which we hope our efforts will be mirrored.

This first volume will provide an inside look into the Agency, its strategic partners and programmes that took place over the past financial year. Let us reflect together in the journey that the Agency has travelled.

Regards: Siphokazi Mafongosi & Ntando Mbele

Editorial Team: “Unity is strength when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved”

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 1

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON As we embark on this journey , I am honored to address you as the Chairperson of the Harry Gwala Development Agency Board.

Our collective vision to foster sustainable development and upliftment within our communities is both inspiring and vital.

First and foremost, I wish to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to governance excellence. The principles of transparency, accountability, and integrity will continue to guide our actions as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Upholding the highest standards of governance ensures that our operations are conducted ethically and effectively, thereby safeguarding the trust and confidence of all stakeholders.

Attracting and retaining investment remains at the heart of our mandate. We recognize the importance of economic growth through investment and we aim to create meaningful impact and improve the quality of life for all residents within the Harry Gwala district.

Furthermore, our focus extends beyond the present to embrace the future needs and aspirations of our region. Through strategic planning and collaboration, we endeavor to foster innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth. Embracing emerging trends and harnessing the potential of technology will enable us to adapt and thrive in an everevolving landscape.

In closing, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to excellence, equity, and empowerment. By working together with purpose and passion, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.

Regards, MS S B DLUNGWANE

Board Chairperson: Harry Gwala Development Agency FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 2

The Harry Gwala Development Agency (HGDA) is a special purpose vehicle mandated to manage and implement development projects within the Harry Gwala District Municipality (HGDM), THE AGENCY IS DESINGED TO: Promote and develop economic potential, by building opportunities and competitive strength Leverage public and private resources for development opportunities which offer economic potential and to Strengthen investment environment to compete effectively for capital, in order to develop to full potential.

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 3

HGDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MS S B DLUNGWANE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

MR S I MBHELE

MS P NZIMAKWE

AREA OF SPECIALITY: LAW

AREA OF SPECIALITY: AUDITING

MR S MABASO AREA OF SPECIALITY: LOCAL GOVERNMENT

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 4

MR B M MHLONGO BACHELOR OF COMMERCE

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Harry Gwala Development Agency’s Newsletter, a publication dedicated to reflecting our journey and celebrating the milestones we’ve achieved over the past year.

The past calendar year has been a testament to our unwavering commitment to community development and empowerment. With each program, initiative and partnership, we have strived to make meaningful differences in the lives of the people we serve. In retrospect, we acknowledge that our journey is far from over. The challenges ahead may be great, but so too is our resolve to creating a positive change. Together, we will continue to push boundaries of possibility, guided by our shared vision of an abundant investment gateway with absolute transformative regional growth and sustainable development.

Thank you for joining us on this journey of reflection and celebration. Collectively, we will continue to write the next chapter of our story, one filled with hope, opportunity and lasting change.

Sincerely Ms. A C R Whyte CEO : HGDA FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 5

MEET OUR HGDA TEAM ACCOUNTANT: MS P NKOSI

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: MR LL MAKHAYE

SCM PRACTITIONER: MS N MALUNGA

SCM OFFICER: MS P SOSIBO

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 6

OFFICE OF THE CEO

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 7

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

MR P FAKUDE

MS MKULISI

MRS S MAFONGOSI

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 8

MISSION “TO DELIVER WITH INTEGRITY, PROACTIVITY AND RESPONSIVENESS, A PLATFORM FOR THE SHARED GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF HARRY GWALA DISTRICT”

VISION “ A POLYCENTRIC RESOUCE ABUDANT INVESTMENT GATEWAY WITH ABSOLUTE TRANSFORMATIVE REGIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT BY 2063"

MANDATE

TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC CONTEXT AND OPPORTUNITY BY FOCUSING ON SECTOR COMPETITIVENESS SUCH AS INDUSTRIALISATION, TOURISM, AGRICULTURE, JOB CREATION, HIGH IMPACT PROJECTS, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND SMME SUPPORT WITHIN THE DISTRCT.

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 9

REFLECTING ON PROGRAMMES 2023 At A Glance.

Harry Gwala District Mayor Cllr. Z.D Nxumalo at the Greater Kokstad Golf Course.

The Mayoral Golf Day The Mayoral Golf Day was held on the 04th of March 2023 at Greater Kokstad Golf Course.

The Golf Day presented and promoted tourism activities in the area and provided an opportunity to fundraise for eventual donation of funds raised to a charity organisation selected by the office of the Mayor. It provided a further opportunity for local business to show case products on offer and to support the fundraising drive by sponsoring a hole on the green.

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 10

HITTING THE GREAN

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 11

Harry Gwala District One Stop Shop launched by MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr. Siboniso Duma and Harry Gwala District Deputy Mayor, CLLR T. N Jojozi

One Stop Shop In 2017, the provincial government launched the investSA One Stop Shop initiative which is geared towards proving investors with services to fast-track projects.

With the task of pursuing and attracting investment and facilitating economic development in the District and its local municipalities, The Harry Gwala Development Agency (PTY) LTD in partnership with Trade and Investment KwaZulu Natal (TIKZN), a provincial Agency established by the KwaZulu Natal provincial government to facilitate trade and investments in the province established the District’s One Stop Shop centre.

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 12

The Harry Gwala District One Stop Shop was launched by the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr Siboniso Duma on 06 June 2023 at the Harry Gwala Development Agency workplace premise.

SERVICES OFFERED AT THE ONE STOP SHOP Assistance with business registration, annual returns and company amendments SARS tax compliance pins e-filling profiles and tax number National Student Financial Aid Scheme application and Tertiary institutions application Enable access to various entities Facilitate access to business opportunities To date, the One Stop Shop has received enquiries and consultations and has assisted a number of businesses with registration.

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 13

Harry Gwala Techno Hub launched by MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr. Siboniso Duma

Harry Gwala Techno Hub The Techno Hub was launched by the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr. Siboniso Duma on the 06th of June 2023 at the Harry Gwala Development Agency workplace premises.

The Objectives of the Techno Hub include: Enabling access to information and infrastructure for skills development Promoting technology and innovation related activities in townships and rural areas, Providing world class infrastructure in an environment that will promote social and business interaction, Enhancing innovation support for entrepreneurs and innovators in the rural and township areas and also Developing business activities that will add value to stakeholders.

The strategic partnership between the Agency and Moses Kotane Institute has resulted in access to technology by providing technological training to 151 young people throughout the Harry Gwala District from the time of the Techno Hub’s establishment and launch.

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 14

Training by the Moses Kotane institute are continuous and are aimed at training all young people within the District. .

The Techno Hub targets: Youth Unemployed graduates and Entrepreneurs

Offering Online and Contact Training 113 Youth trained online and 38 Contact training

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 15

IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERSHIPS

Pictured above are the strategic partners of the Agency

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 16

Through its strategic partners, the Agency is able to make major progress towards reaching its mission. One of the roles of the Agency is to facilitate access to opportunities, partners of the Agency, such as Moses Kotane Institute and National Youth Development Agency enable the Agency to fulfil this role.

NATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

OFFICES AVAILABLE AT THE HARRY GWALA DEVELOPMENT AGENCY SERVICES OFFERED : Grant Programme Application Business Management Training Life Skills Programme Mentorship

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 17

G2 COMMUNICATIONS AND BYTEFLOW

OFFICE LOCATED AT THE HARRY GWALA DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (PTY) LTD SERVICES OFFERED 1. Product services include: Life and car insurance King price Old mutual and: Pineapple 2. Training for new recruitment G2 Communications and Byteflow is also employs the youth within the Harry Gwala District. To date, 39 young people are employed.

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 18

Mr S Duma, CLLR T N Jojozi, Deputy Mayor of Umzimkhulu Local Municipality, CLLR B Lukhakhayi and Mayor of Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality, CLLR E B Ngubo

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT FUND

The Agency introduced the ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT FUND aimed at providing much needed assistance to SMMEs across all economic sectors.

Due to the demand for assistance, the programme was introduced as a 3year rolling programme with funding allocated as follows: Year 1 – R2million Year 2 – R2,5million Year 3 – R4million (anticipated) 11 Businesses supported in Year 1

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 19

INVESTMENT SUMMIT

The HGDA hosted a successful investment summit on 07 June 2023 under the theme of “a re-imagined District”. The purposes of the Summit were to derive the following successful outcomes: To provide solutions to business, private investment and community identified challenges.

Presentation of Catalytic Projects Signing of the Social Compact Strengthening partnerships – KZN Growth Fund, Durban Chamber of Commerce and TIKZN The attendees were Potential Investors Business fraternity (formal), key role players in economic development and investment promotion.

Harry Gwala Development Agency (PTY) LTD Investment Summit at Amble Inn in Ixopo FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 20

WOMEN IN BUSINESS SERMINAR Incelebrating women’s month and commemorating the significant role of women in society, The Harry Gwala Development Agency hosted a two days Women in businesses seminar on 23 and 24 August 2023 under the theme: “Pitch your success” The purpose of the seminar was to afford women within the Harry Gwala District support in their entrepreneurial endeavours.

Under the theme “Pitch your Success”, women from all economic sectors pitched their business to a panel of judges.

The first day of the seminar was attended by sixteen women, who pitched their business to a panel of experts.

Only four Businessess were recommended and ranked. These included: Vikityani Construction, Amashazi Animal feed

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 22

REESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY TOURISM ORGANISTIONS To ensure that tourism is coordinated effectively, through functional tourism structures, such as Community Tourism Organisation’s (CTO’s), the Agency embarked on a comprehensive audit of tourism businesses within the Harry Gwala District.

The initiative held multiple objectives, with a primary focus on supporting the reestablishments of CTO’s, whilst establishing an extensive database of tourism businesses through an audit that will determine informed interventions to enhance visitor experiences, as well as to encourage tourism product owners to affiliate with a local CTO. FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 23

REESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY TOURISM ORGANISTIONS

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 24

YOUTH IN BUSINESS DIALOGUE The Youth in Business Dialogue which took place at the Harry Gwala Development Agency workplace premises in Ixopo on the 05th of December 2023 aimed at providing a platform for emerging and existing young entrepreneurs to exchange knowledge on essential areas such as accessing funding and partnering with other organizations, which can assist in growing their businesses, the economy of Harry Gwala District and in youth employment. The aim was also to make young business owners aware of grants, funding opportunities, mentorship and business training that are provided by the provincial and national government.

In order to facilitate economic growth and development in the Harry Gwala district, good Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is essential, and the Youth in Business Dialogue aimed at strengthening this partnership.

The Youth in Business Dialogue was attended by various local, provincial and national stakeholders which included: • Panda Mo • The office of the premier • The National Youth Development Agency • Food Safety Agency • Department of Small Business Development • Simama Centre for Career and Professional Development • Harry Gwala District Municipality

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 25

His Worship, The Harry Gwala District Municipality Mayor, CLLR Z D Nxumalo, Harry Gwala Development Agency CEO, Ms A C R Whyte, Greater Kokstad Local Municipality Mayor, CLLR M Madikizela and Mr H Nkonjela from SRSA at Shayamoya community hall in Kokstad.

TYRE REPAIR AND FITMENT FACILITIES HANDOVER The handover of four fully fitted tyre repair and fitment facilities took place in all the four local municipalities of the Harry Gwala District, namely UMzimkhulu local municipality (at Entsikeni village), Ubuhlebezwe local municipality (at Ncalu river lodge), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini – Zuma local municipality (at Enkwezela village in Bulwer) and Greater Kokstad local municipality (at Shayamoya community hall) on the 19th of December 2023. The tyre fitment programme is a result of the partnership between the Harry Gwala Development Agency (PTY) LTD and Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA) and aims to promote enterprise development, create entrepreneurial culture and promote self - reliance, provide opportunities to increase access to employment chances, skills development and innovation and also to revitalize township economies.

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 26

The HGDA – Dunlop tyre repair and fitment facilities programme was led by: His Worship, the mayor of Harry Gwala District, Cllr ZD Nxumalo Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HGDA, Ms. ACR Whyte HGDA LED and Tourism manager, Ms. Z Mkulisi and Accounts manager – Enterprise development SRSA Mr. H Nkonjela

Hr. Mayor of Greater Kokstad Local Municipality, CLLR M Madikizela at Shayamoya community hall during the handover

Mayors of local municipalities that were present at the programme were as follows: Greater Kokstad Local Municipality mayor, Cllr M Madikizela Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality mayor, Cllr EB Ngubo UMzimkhulu Local Municipality mayor, Cllr J Mzizi Dr Nkosazana Dlamini – Zuma Local Municipality mayor, Cllr PS Msomi

Recipients of the tyre repair and fitment facilities were as follows: Mr. L Lutshaba (Greater Kokstad Local Municipality) Mr. A Zulu (Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality) Mr. O Jili (UMzimkhulu Local Municipality) Ms. T Phungula (Dr Nkosazana Dlamini – Zuma Local Municipality)

Also present at the programme were: Honourable speaker, Cllr BT Nozaza (Greater Kokstad Local Municipality) Cllr S Mbatha (Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality) Cllr K Mafuleka (UMzimkhulu Local Municipality) Cllr BB Khathi (Dr Nkosazana Dlamini – Zuma Local Municipality)

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 27

CEO, Ms. ACR Whyte Opened the programme and welcome everyone present. She then provided a brief background of the tyre repair and fitment facility programme, the way in which the programme came about and also mentioned the amount it costed to provide the fitment facilities.

His worship the mayor, Cllr ZD Nxumalo stated that the tyre repair and fitment facilities are aimed at assisting young entrepreneurs grow and improve their standard of living. Furthermore, the mayor emphasised the importance of discipline and dedication from the recipients.

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KwaZulu Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube Ncube and Harry Gwala Development Agency (PTY) LTD CEO Ms A C R Whyte at the International Convention Centre in Durban

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 28

PLACING HARRY GWALA DISTRICT ON A NATIONAL PLATFORM (INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER, DURBAN)

FEBRUARY 2024 | PAGE 29

UPCOMING EVENTS

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