City of Pietermaritzburg, Msunduzi Municipality

The City of Pietermaritzburg is a picturesque modern city that has developed into the financial hub of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

Pietermaritzburg, the capital city of KwaZulu- Natal, is situated just 45 minutes from Durban. It sits astride the country's busiest development corridor, the N3 highway, which connects Durban to South Africa's financial hub, Gauteng.

Main business sectors
Pietermaritzburg has a diverse economy with a robust manufacturing sector that is excelling in exports to markets as diverse as aluminium products, cut flowers, automotive components and furniture.

The city has achieved unprecedented growth in economic activity since 2003, with business confidence at a high of 83%. The property and retail sectors have grown by 30% since 2003. Major recent developments include the Liberty Midlands Mall, the Golden Horse Casino and Hotel, Motor City – a zone of motor dealerships – and Victoria Country Club Golf Estate.

Current economic activities

  • Manufacturing: aluminium and other fabricated metal products, footwear, textiles, furniture, wood and plastic products, electronics, motor vehicle parts and accessories, processing of food products
  • Agriculture: timber, beef, dairy, sugar cane, citrus, exotic fruit and cut flowers
  • Business: major service centre of the KwaZulu- Natal Midlands area, provincial government departments, legal services and Provincial Deeds Office
  • Tourism: parks and gardens, historical buildings and architecture, and dams

Main resources/attractions
The city is the legislative and administrative capital of KwaZulu-Natal and houses the Supreme Court and Deeds Office for the province. Pietermaritzburg boasts an excellent network of road, rail and air linkages. It was voted the secondmost desirable city to live in South Africa, a reflection of the excellent residential areas and schools available, including the internationally acclaimed University of KwaZulu-Natal. Pietermaritzburg is also the host of major sporting and other events like the Comrades and Dusi Canoe marathons, the Midmar Mile, the Royal Agricultural Show, and Art and Cars in the Park.

Key facts and figures
District municipality: uMgungundlovu
District Municipality
Population: 650 000
Area covered: 649 square kilometres

Key infrastructure

  • Main roads: excellent national, provincial and local road network
  • Railways: on the main line from Durban to Johannesburg
  • Airports: Pietermaritzburg Airport offers six flights daily between the city and Johannesburg
  • Ports: 45 minutes from the Port of Durban

Investment opportunities
Investment opportunities are plentiful, with the following just a few examples:

  • Seventeen hectares of prime land adjacent to the N3 highway have been earmarked for commercial and hotel development
  • Six hectares of prime land adjacent to the N3 highway in the city's CBD extension node have also been earmarked for commercial and office development
  • At least eight properties averaging six hectares each have been zoned for special and intermediate residential development
  • Shopping centre, residential and industrial development opportunities exist in Edendale, the city's vast former township area, where half the population lives
  • Victoria Country Club Golf Estate – stands for office, hotel and residential are still available
  • R1.6-billion Camp's Drift Waterfront Development – residential, office, commercial, entertainment and restaurants, hotel and convention centre opportunities are still available

Invest in the city of choice Pietermaritzburg is the ideal city to live in if...

  • You want to live in a modern city, but enjoy a less hectic and stressful lifestyle
  • You want your children to attend some of the best schools in the country
  • Your business would profit from being close to the Port of Durban and also readily accessible from Gauteng
  • You would prefer to invest in a city with a proud past and secure future
  • You want to be an hour away from the beach and the berg

CONTACT DETAILS

Key contact person:

  • David D Gengan: Economic Development and Growth

Physical address: 341 Church Street, Professor
Yembezi Centre, Pietermaritzburg 3201
Postal address: PO Box 85, Pietermaritzburg 3200
Tel: +27 33 392 3000
Fax: +27 33 392 2726
Email: david.gengan@msunduzi.gov.za
Website: www.msunduzi.gov.za


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