Toyota reaffirms commitment to long-term investment in eThekwini and KwaZulu-Natal

In a significant show of commitment and dedication to the eThekwini municipality and the greater KwaZulu-Natal region, Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has reaffirmed its long-term investment strategy.

This commitment was made clear during a strategic meeting held yesterday between the eThekwini Municipality mayor Cyril Xaba and TSAM President and CEO Andrew Kirby.

Their discussions centred on enhancing collaboration in essential infrastructure and economic development, paving the way for greater industrial growth in the area.

At the heart of their conversation were several crucial enablers for fostering the g

rowth. These included plans for road upgrades, the assurance of a stable electricity supply, and improvements to water and sanitation infrastructure in the Prospecton precinct, the operational base for TSAM's manufacturing activities.

In attendance to support Xaba were key municipal officials, including City Manager Musa Mbhele and Economic Development Chairperson Councillor Thembo Ntuli.

In a robust investment effort, the municipality has allocated more than R450 million for various road infrastructure projects currently being implemented throughout the Prospecton area.

Among these improvements was a major water infrastructure upgrade, which will replace an ageing 375mm asbestos cement pipeline with a more durable 400mm steel pipeline—an essential step aimed at significantly enhancing the water supply to support the industrial activity in the region.

Responding to challenges posed by environmental factors, the city has also earmarked over R120 million for the repair and upgrade of sewer networks and pump stations affected by recent flood damage.

There has also been an investment in refurbishing power substations that service TSAM and other surrounding industries, to ensure that power reliability remained a priority.

In highlighting the significance of this partnership, Xaba expressed gratitude for TSAM’s long-standing presence in eThekwini, which has spanned over five decades.

“We are not taking this relationship lightly. That’s why we are committed to accelerating current infrastructure projects by shortening lead times for construction and repair work,” he said.

He also affirmed that a dedicated support team, led by the City Manager, will maintain close cooperation with TSAM to swiftly address infrastructure challenges and ensure timely updates on progress.

In response, Andrew Kirby reinforced TSAM’s commitment to the area, asserting that their continued operations in Durban have never been in question, despite the adversity following catastrophic floods.

“The strength of our relationship with the city has always been a key factor,” said Kirby.

With TSAM contributing R18 billion in national taxes each year and the municipality collecting over R6 million in rates from the automotive giant, the partnership not only supported local industry but plays a vital role in the broader economic landscape of South Africa.

Moving forward, the municipality stated it will continue its collaboration with TSAM on strategic initiatives aimed at further bolstering the automotive manufacturing sector in eThekwini.

DAILY NEWS