HCRDP Bulletin #2 November 2020
As a Hammarsdale, Cato Ridge firm/important stakeholder, the HCRDP Bulletin will keep you informed of key activities and information relevant to its vision. Be in contact to propose information that you believe your peers/neighbours should be aware of.
Inaugural Workshop: eThekwini affirms support for Hammarsdale Cato Ridge Development Programme (HCRDP), outlines bulk infrastructure plans
40 attendees representing 26 local firms attended the inaugural HCRDP Workshop at Merlog Foods. Head of eThekwini Municipality’s Economic Development Unit Shunnon Tulsiram affirmed the City’s support for the initiative and encouraged firms to participate.
Peter Gilmore outlining the City’s planned bulk infrastructure investments in the area.
Mr Tulsiram requested firms use the HCRDP to communicate priorities to the City which he committed would be attended to. He also highlighted aspects of the City’s COVID-19 recovery plan which includes a moratorium on development application fees until July 2021. Senior Project Manager Peter Gilmore outlined the City’s planned bulk infrastructure investment plans in the area. This presentation is available here.
Firms are encouraged to share issues relating to City service delivery by contacting the HCRDP facilitator. Through the Infrastructure and Safety Forums the City will be engaged to support resolution of these issues.
Founding Members of the HCRDP
Some of the founding members of the HCRDP share the reasons why they are supporting it and what they believe will be gained from participation. Join the HCRDP before 31 November to input into its 2021 strategy.
Businesses in the area are all facing the same issues. It is imperative that a communal voice is created, resources pooled to focus energy on the problems we face and we ensure accountability from the powers that be. The HCRDP is the only initiative in my opinion that has taken a strategic look at what needs to be done and is now rolling out a structured plan to make a difference.
Kelvin Kotze
Development Manager
The concept is simple, together we have a much stronger voice rather than trying to tackle issues independently. The ability to network, contribute, learn, share and solve problems easily and effectively makes sense on every level.
Brett Harris
Commercial Director
We joined the HCRDP to leverage a structured response to common interest issues and advance them for industry as a whole. We want to secure better service delivery for the area, as well as pool resources, especially in training and skills development.
Oliver Wilhelm
Managing Member
Founding members of the HCRDP also include
Associate member
We look forward to working together to advance Hammarsdale and Cato Ridge as a desirable place to work and live, thereby supporting growth, employment, and transformation.
We encourage all other firms in the area to join us to achieve this vision.
Workstream project updates
HCRDP activities to support the achievement of its vision are delivered under four Workstreams.
Infrastructure and Safety Workstream
Objective: Address infrastructure and safety deficits to make the area a better and safer place to work and live
1) Land invasions and business intimidation
October saw at least two significant land invasion attempts in Hammarsdale and one of business intimidation in Cato Ridge.
In Hammarsdale two large tracts of unoccupied land were pegged out for occupation within days of each other. In both instance the City’s land invasion unit was informed, swiftly responded and thwarted the well-organised effort.
Land pegged out, ready for illegal occupation in Hammarsdale
In Cato Ridge a Business Forum attempted to close a firm demanding all of their transport business, a significant share of their sales revenue amongst other unreasonable demands. The South African Police Service response was strong and the shutdown was avoided. Suppliers and customers of the firm were however intimidated over the following days.
These incidents highlight the short term thinking and greed of certain individuals who actions discourage investment into the area which would bring much needed jobs to the community. The need to develop a proactive strategy to addressing such challenges is clear.
2) Safety Forum
When: 8.30-10.00am, 24 November 2020 | Venue: Cato Ridge Electrical Construction | RSVP here
Criminals have grown bolder, smarter and more ruthless as the economic situation has deteriorated. There are however basic principles and new tools at our disposal to address the rising threat. Learning from each other and working together we can achieve the HCRDP vision to advance Hammarsdale and Cato Ridge as a desirable place to work and live, thereby supporting growth, employment, and transformation.
Agenda
08.00 - 08.30 - Arrivals, tea and coffee, networking
08.30 - 08.40 - Welcome, About the HCRDP and Infrastructure and Safety Programme
08.40 - 09.10 - Firms’ safety challenges and solutions (Workshop)
09.10 - 09.30 - Infrastructure, Early Warning and Rapid Response: Insights and practical experiences
09.30 - 09.45 - Q&A, discussion
09.45 - 09.55 - Common benefit crime reduction project proposals
09.55 - 10.00 - Way forward, thanks and close
3) Kelly Road upgrading
The Kelly Road area is an important hub for Hammarsdale based employees as they move between work and home. It is increasingly an unsafe space with drug use, muggings, poor trading and decaying public infrastructure all contributing to a negative sentiment and experience for its users.
The HCRDP will work with various Municipal departments, the South African Police Service, interested firms and other stakeholders to address these and other issues.
Signs of urban decay in and around Kelly Road
Relatively small interventions can go a long way to upgrading the area including enhanced waste management, improved lighting and minor infrastructure maintenance and repair projects.
Firms interested in contributing to developing and implementing solutions to these issues are encouraged to be in contact with the HCRDP facilitator.
Work Workstream
Objective: Support access to work opportunities, self-employment and reduce poverty
Local SMME directory in development
The development of a consolidated, accessible and current list of SMMEs in the region is underway. Without knowing what SMME capabilities in the region are it is clearly difficult to procure or identify those to support upgrade to a point at which they could form part of an established firm’s value chain.
Firms are encouraged to share this link with any local SMMEs to register on the directory and contact the HCRDP facilitator if they would like to support local SMMEs’ development. The survey is being promoted through various channels across the Outer West. All qualifying SMMEs will be listed on-line for firms to engage with them and efforts made to secure support for their development.
Consisting of 20 questions the survey is in both Zulu and English
Education Workstream
Objective: Support improved educational outcomes to achieve an increase in human potential realisation
Let’s Educate a Rainbow Nation
Various local NGOs have been engaged and literature reviewed to identify partners who could support deliver impactful educational programmes in the Outer West. Establishing a culture of reading at a young age delivers significant social and cognitive development benefits and can be delivered sustainably and cost effectively.
The LEARN Project (Let’s Educate a Rainbow Nation), based in Durban, has eight years experience successfully developing and managing libraries in partnership with schools. It has a range of contribution and partnership options and is proposed as a delivery partner to realise the vision of a quality library in every junior school in the Outer West. Firms wishing to support this vision are encouraged to contact the HCRDP facilitator
Media coverage
The HCRDP was featured in the 10th issue of KZN INVEST which can be found across the City or online here, pages 28-29.
