Ramaphosa defends KZN unity government

By Celani Sikhakhane

• President Ramaphosa visited the Hillside Aluminium smelter in Richards Bay to celebrate thirty years of the company operating in KwaZulu-Natal.

• The aluminium factory provides work for thousands of local people and helps bring clean water to homes across the district.

Thousands of people in KwaZulu-Natal rely on the Hillside Aluminium smelter in Richards Bay to earn a living.

The factory supports 3,650 direct and indirect jobs. It helps create another 29,000 jobs across the economy and supplies aluminium to local businesses.

President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the factory to celebrate its 30th birthday. While there, he praised the KwaZulu-Natal government of provincial unity.

Ramaphosa said the government has created a space where private businesses can grow the economy and give people jobs. He backed the unity government even as internal fights in the National Freedom Party threaten to break the coalition apart.

The president thanked South32, the company that runs the smelter, for helping local communities.

He said the company built a children’s burn unit at Ngwelezana Hospital and fixed Aquadene Secondary School.

“There is also its support for water projects in the King Cetshwayo District, which has helped connect over 1,200 households to safe, clean water,” Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa told the crowd that South32 promised at the South Africa Investment Conference to spend R3.9 billion on fixing rail lines in KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape.

Former president Nelson Mandela opened the factory in April 1996.

Ramaphosa quoted Mandela, saying a project is only successful if it brings economic growth, creates jobs and stops poverty.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli said the factory brings money into the province and builds trust with investors.

Ntuli said the unity government wants to build a stable province, attract more businesses and expand local factories.

He said this will create real opportunities and give the people of KwaZulu-Natal a chance to live with dignity.

Pictured above: President Cyril Ramaphosa sharing a light moment with workers of the Hillside Aluminium smelter in Richards Bay alongside Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and Parks Tau.

Image source: KZNGCIS