Tourism body launches #buylocal campaign
Through the #buylocal campaign, the KZN South Coast is ‘growing its pride’ to attract interest and investment from beyond local borders.
South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE) launched a #buylocal campaign recently.
The SCTIE invited the media on a tour to launch the campaign. It was introduced at a briefing by the CEO of SCTIE, Phelisa Mangcu where she explained reasons to buy local.
This is to encourage communities and stakeholders to support local businesses, grow existing investments and thereby encourage job creation.
Mangcu stated that when buying local there is a decrease in fossil fuel use as it decreases the transportation needs from manufacturer to buyer.
She also said that supporting local businesses creates a greater sense of community as sellers and manufacturers get to know their buyers, and vice-versa.
“Supporting the #buylocal campaign creates many more local jobs and boosts the local economy. Also grown produce is better for the environment and better for you as it’s farm-to-fork fresh. Local businesses are identifiable, accessible, and more accountable than outside counterparts. Buying local creates a much more resilient local economy, allowing organisations and communities to better withstand times of economic uncertainty,” added Mangcu.
This also forms part of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s (DTIC) Buy Back SA initiative that encourages local business support as a way to create jobs and secure the country’s future by making it much more self-reliant.
The media tour started at Nemvelo Farm in Izotsha where organic vegetables are grown. Chickens are also bred on the farm.
The fresh produce is sold at the Waffle House deli which also uses some of the organic vegetables in its meals.
The second stop was at Out of Wood Furniture Manufacturers in Manaba, where a variety of wood furniture is manufactured and sold to furniture shops in KwaZulu-Natal.
At Oatlands Oyster Mushrooms in KwaNositha near Margate, Asanda Mkhize grows mushrooms using horse grass, lime and water.
Some of the stores Asanda sells her mushrooms to are Food Lover’s Market and Harbourview Spar.
The tour ended with a lovely lunch at the Waffle House.
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