Durban launches multi-billion Rand aerotropolis

Officials believe the development will make KwaZulu-Natal more economically efficient, sustainable and attractive to investment.

Economic Development MEC, Nomusa Dube-Ncube said at the launch yesterday that the 32,000 hectare development will be a city within a city.

"It is going to be a place where people can land, play, work, relax and walk to the airport," said Dube-Ncube.

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She said the development will be efficient when it comes to transport and moving around the area -- and will include easy access to the N2 freeway and other key routes and transport modes between between Gauteng, Richards Bay and the Port of Durban.

"All of this within one airport city," explained the MEC.

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Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala said eThekwini should be a municipality that operates 24 seven.

He said the municipality must be seen as a 24-hour business.

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The premier says the aerotropolis is one of the many projects being rolled out at the economic hub.

"We want to maximise the potential of KwaZulu-Natal in almost all sectors of the economy -- from the ocean economy and tourism to manufacturing, industrialisation and agriculture," he said.