On Tuesday, 19 August 2025, the KZN Public Works and Infrastructure MEC, Martin Meyer, visited uMsinga to meet with Inkosi Majozi and the rest of the local izinduna from the district.
The meeting was about discussing the prospects around unutilised buildings owned by KZN Public Works and Infrastructure. The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government and the department has a number of abandoned assets across rural areas which no longer serve their intended primary purpose.
During the meeting, it emerged that the local chiefs are in need of structures to use as traditional courts and other activities for economical use. Other identifiable possible uses include community skills centres.
This meeting is the result of an initial engagement that the MEC had with inkosi Majozi during the Build KZN Better property management conference held in Durban early this year. This was the biggest property management conference held which saw investors, construction experts, etc converge to deliberate on the future of property.
Inkosi Majozi showed appreciation to the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) and MEC Martin Meyer for promptly responding to their requests for interventions.
The MEC has committed to engage other relevant departments going forward to assist in finding a solution to the issues discussed today.
Later on, MEC Martin Meyer took part in a joint inspection between KZN Public Works and Infrastructure and KZN Economic Development at an abandoned factory in the local community of Msinga.
At its prime, this factory was an operational hub for a well-known shoe producer which also makes shoes for school children around the country. It also housed a textile operation for some years before being abandoned.
MEC Meyer was happy that prior assessments have shown that the facility is still in good shape for the most part with repairs to be in the region of R60 million.
What’s more encouraging is that currently there are prospects of another operator moving into the factory which could see the creation of around 300 jobs. This is a welcomed boost for the locals of Msinga.