The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and the Gauteng Provincial Government, together with the Midvaal and Emfuleni Local Municipalities, will engage residents on April 8.

This will be done through public consultations on the planned designation of the Vaal Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

On March 3, the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition Parks Tau revealed his intention to open the proposed SEZ for public comment.

In Midvaal, the consultations will take place at the Meyerton Town Hall, where businesses and stakeholders will have the opportunity to express their views and share ideas on the proposed SEZ. The session will lead up to a broader engagement at the Vereeniging Civic Centre.

The Vaal SEZ land area will comprise five land parcels in Heidelberg, Rietspruit, Langlaagte, Zwartkopjies, and Kookfontein. According to the department, the prospective sites for the Vaal SEZ are strategically located near significant population centres and essential transportation infrastructure.

“The development of the Vaal SEZ aligns seamlessly with the objectives outlined in the Sedibeng District Municipality’s District Development Model (DDM) and its District One Plan.”

The department reveals that the Vaal SEZ will explore diverse investment opportunities, including:

• Green industrialisation aimed at transforming the industrial basin into the country’s pre-eminent hub for low-carbon manufacturing and renewable energy production
• High-impact investments into the food, agriculture, and agro-industries value chain.
• Investment in gateway logistics to exploit the locational advantages of the Sedibeng District.
• Investment in the blue economy and the tourism sector on the back of the Vaal River.
• Building a smart city along the Vaal River and an aerotropolis (aero zone) to drive urban development.

The Vaal SEZ is set to build strong local linkages between township and rural economies, connecting communities with the value chains it will develop and strengthen.