The two new factories will feature a large recycling park which will specialise in recycling old vehicles, electronic scrap and rechargeable batteries.
Partnering for change
Premier Mchunu said the development will help strengthen socio-economic relations between the two provinces. “In response to climate change challenges, the provincial government is forging partnerships with the business fraternity to help our country reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change,” he said.According to Mchunu, government has launched a grassroots mobilisation campaign of waste collection focusing on recycling industries of various materials such as plastic, bottles and scrap.
“The scrap metal industry alone in South Africa is worth between R15 and R20 billion a year and has the potential to create more employment. It is for these reasons that as the provincial government we are committed to working with Hubei Province to ensure that we create much needed jobs for local communities in the areas of recycling,” he explained. The municipality said it is keen to take advantage of bilateral relations between South Africa and other countries including the BRICS bloc. “Government will work with Jingmen Hubei to identify opportunities for local Small, Medium and Microsized Enterprises and black industrialists in particular to become major role-players in the two new factories, as suppliers or in the entire value chain of recycling,” the city said. Vice Chairman of the Provincial Committee of People’s Congress, Fu Dehui said: “We pledge to continue working with the province of KwaZulu-Natal through focusing on recycling as a way to mitigate climate change. The two provinces will also focus on growing the economy and creating jobs.”
