As Richards Bay in the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal gears up to overtake Durban as the key economic hub, it has emerged that plans are underway to develop an internationally recognised airport in the City of uMhlathuze.
According to the city, the current Richards Bay Regional Airport, which services two daily flights to Johannesburg, will be moved towards the N2 highway to Phongola around the Enseleni area which is surrounded by vast tracts of sugarcane fields.
“Now that the feasibility study has been completed to relocate the airport, we are ready to begin work,” explained uMhlathuze mayor Xolani Ngwezi.
“This is one of our major catalytic projects and it will see the airport being increased three times its original capacity.
“It will also bring in flights that will accommodate up to 150 passengers.”
Richards Bay boasts the deepest harbour on the continent, and it is also home to the largest coal terminal in Africa.
Airport expansion
Ngwezi pointed out that the airport expansion will also see the introduction of flights to various destinations across the country.
“Richards Bay is the fastest-growing city, and we must prepare ourselves for this reality. At the moment, we are the second-biggest economy in KwaZulu-Natal.
“We are not dreaming when we say that in a few years, we will overtake Durban as the biggest economy.”
In her official visit to the region, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Nomalungelo Gina explained that a bigger airport in the region will not only inject much-needed investment, but it will also improve the ease of doing business in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
“The airport expansion is a critical development which will open up other investment opportunities,” Gina said.
For investors intending to reach Richards Bay, they have to take a flight via King Shaka International Airport before embarking on about two-hour drive to Richards Bay.
This week, the City of uMhlathuze also announced the revitalisation of one of the oldest rural towns of eMpangeni.
The planned multimillion-rand facelift will see the historic town turned into one of the biggest cities in the province.
