Building goes on at Coega

NEARING the close of the year, the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) is a hive of activity, with two construction projects providing employment for more than 750 people. “While most institutions are winding down for the year‚ we continue earnestly building South Africa’s economy through job creation‚” CDC marketing and communications unit head Dr Ayanda Vilakazi said. The CDC is building two key projects in Zone 3 of the industrial development zone (IDZ), the Coega Dairy and Cheese expansion worth R25-million and the multi-user facility worth R86-million. The Coega Dairy project involves the expansion of the cheese product line‚ while the facility will also install a new warehouse and office block. Progress in building the facilities is at 98%, with completion expected before the end of the year.

“Besides the fact that investor confidence is high, what makes us even more excited is the 650-plus jobs the project is producing‚” CDC recruitment and placement head Duncan Grenfell said. The second project also going up is the 7 800m² multi-user facility, also in Zone 3. Once completed it will comprise smaller units between 350m² and 1 500m² in area, under one roof with shared communal infrastructure. “We recently signed our first investor – River Edge Trading (R10-million investment) – who will be moving in as soon as construction is completed,” CDC agro-processing business development manager Dr Keith du Plessis said. So far‚ the multi-user facility has seen more than 103 people employed, with construction likely to carry on into the new year. Completion is due in the middle of next year.