The R1.9 billion Giba Business Estate, the largest light industrial and logistics development to break ground in Durban’s Outer West over the past three years, is set to boost the greater eThekwini region’s GDP.
The development has marked the opening of new land for industrial development that was previously zoned for agricultural use.
Strategically located adjacent to the west bound carriageway of the Mariannhill Toll Plaza along the N3, it will rejuvenate the Giba Business Park, creating important business opportunities for the logistics and SMME light industrial sectors.
“Sultex Holdings is a black owned company with a level one BBBEE score. It comprises a group of local Durban businessmen who are collectively undertaking this prestigious project as an expression of its commitment to the eThekwini region. This substantial investment in this project is testimony to their confidence in the region,” said Nel Nathoo, spokesperson for developers Sultex Investments.
“Sultex Holdings has employed a full black professional team. The development is being led by Nathoo Mbeyane Engineers and Re-Invent Property Development Managers, companies whose track records have led to the commencement of the project.”
The Westmead Industrial Park and the Mahogany Ridge Industrial Park lie to the North-East of Giba Business Estate, making this a natural extension of this sought after industrial node along the busy route Durban Gauteng corridor. It offers easy access to all major national highways. The N3, N2, and the M7 interchanges are all less than 10km away, providing access to both northbound and southbound routes.
The development, which has been earmarked as one of the city’s key catalytic projects by the eThekwini Municipality, will be constructed in two phases with 22 000m2 of platformed sites of various sizes. Work has already begun on the infrastructure and platforms for the first phase which is due for completion in July 2024.
Early investors will benefit from its proximity to the N3 between Durban and Pietermaritzburg which is in the throes of a R20 billion, eight–year upgrade by SANRAL.
The upgrades to both this and the N2 form part of national government’s Strategic Integrated Projects, SIP2: Durban-Free State-Gauteng Logistics and Industrial Corridor. SIP2 aims to strengthen the logistics and transport corridor between South Africa’s main industrial hubs, improve access to Durban’s export and import facilities and raise efficiency along the corridor.
Nathoo added that the launch of the project also corresponded with other major projects within the Outer West corridor such as the development of the Cato Ridge dry port and logistics hub by Transnet, further development of the Hammarsdale precinct by various stakeholders and the creation of Westown at Ntshongweni which has been pitched as the new residential and commercial hub for Durban’s Outer West. It is expected to generate approximately R15 billion in investment over the next ten to fifteen years.
Whilst kick starting industrial growth in the area, the project also supports the eco-tourism aspect of Giba Gorge. It is expected to have a significant social impact on the neighbouring informal community both in terms of job creation and by increasing business opportunities within the logistics industry and SMME light industrial sectors.
The Giba Business Estate encompasses eco-friendly green zones aimed at reducing the site’s carbon footprint and environmental impact. Infrastructure to support high-speed fibre and solar electricity generation as well as state-of-the-art security have also been included in the planning.
