The Ennerdale Industrial Park (EIP) is failing to create economic opportunities to the community. The EIP is not doing its basic function of giving access to entrepreneurs, general workers and the community access to a trading space. The Industrial Park falls under the management of the Gauteng Department of Economic Development, but in spite of large amounts of the people’s money being spent the EIP is dilapidated and badly managed.
During the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) recent oversight inspection at the industrial park in Ennerdale, we discovered that this facility is deteriorating. This industrial park meant to help grow the township economy and create job opportunities is now a white elephant.
See photos here, here, here and here.
The area around the industrial park is now being used as a dumping ground, and the road has not been maintained and is overgrown with grass. The building structure is cracking despite millions of rands spent on maintenance.
Furthermore, the area has become a hot spot for cable theft, drug dealings, and other criminal activities that do not contribute towards building the local economy.
This is despite Premier Panyaza Lesufi boldly announcing that a concerted effort will be made to ensure that Special Economic Zones (SEZ) receive the funding and investment needed to support entrepreneurs. This is one of many empty promises that have been made by the Premier that will never materialise.
This is another example of an uncaring government that is failing to help the township economy grow. When the DA governs Gauteng, we will conduct a forensic audit of all industrial parks in the province to determine the status quo and maintenance needed, and how much money has been allocated for maintenance and operational costs. This will help in terms of the allocation of resources and ensure that they are regularly and adequately maintained to benefit the township economy and create employment opportunities.