It was a weekend of celebrations as the inauguration of Chief MR Cele, head of the KwaCele Tribal Council (KTC), was honoured in KZN, starting in Scottburgh on the KZN South Coast. With Amandawe one of six regions under the tribal council, the generous donation of 142ha of land by Renishaw Coastal Precinct developers, as well as 10% in the development company being made available to be acquired by the council through a buy-out process, ensures community inclusivity, prosperity, and ongoing collaboration.

The Gala Dinner on Friday night was attended by KwaCele Tribal Council leaders, including the izinduna, representatives from Renishaw Coastal Precinct, as well as several dignitaries. Among them was Lily Sanya from the Un International Organisation of Migration; Lot Mlati from the UN Food Agriculture Organisation; Dr Thami Klaasen, The Department of Trade Industry and Competition (DTIC); Malusi Zondi, the President of the Black Business Federation; as well as CSI representatives from major corporations including, Coca-Cola Foundation, and Vodacom.

This networking event was followed by a tribal celebration in Amandawe on Saturday, where Cornel Roodt, Construction Project and Development Manager of Renishaw Coastal Precinct, presented the Chief with a bull as a gift. In addition to honouring Chief Cele, the weekend was used as an important platform to showcase what is being done for the local communities, and open dialogues with key stakeholders about what opportunities exist for partnerships and community development.

Speaking at the event, Chief Cele said: “As the KwaCele people, we have a rich culture with much potential, and a friendly, welcoming community. All of this creates great opportunities for tourism and development. We have very good relations with our neighbouring communities, and today we can cement and develop our relations to expand agriculture, tourism, and other developmental projects. I believe in the preservation of our culture and customs – if our culture is strong, our nation is strong. That’s why culture will form the basis for the development of our tourism economy. In order to achieve this, we need to explore these partnerships for the collective development of our people.”

Barto van der Merwe, MD of Renishaw Coastal Precinct added: “We are so honoured to be a part of Chief Cele’s inauguration celebrations and thankful to be included in the weekend programme, which included a presentation at the Renishaw offices before attending a networking gala dinner at Premier Resort Cutty Sark. This provided us with a platform to present to the council and Amandawe community the enormous benefits the precinct will bring to the area as it unfolds.”

Van der Merwe said the great working relationship between the developers and council was based on a shared trust and understanding that the success of Renishaw Coastal Precinct had to be a success for everyone in the community. In addition to the job opportunities the precinct is set to create, there will be schools and clinics to improve the living conditions of those in the areas, and developers are looking to support the community’s youth by establishing a tertiary institution for skills development.

The generous donation of 142 hectares of prime property adjacent to Renishaw Coastal Precinct in the area leading to Amandawe provides further opportunities for sustainable income generation through agricultural practices or commercial ventures. The establishment of the KTC Trust will ensure that the entire community reaps the benefits of this donation. Thanks were extended to the DTIC for their support, with DTIC’s Thami Klaasen through the inclusion of the Renishaw Coastal Precinct into the Eastern Seaboard Initiative, and the setting up a steering committee to aid with the removal of governmental red tape.

Renishaw Coastal Precinct is a mixed-use property development initiative by Renishaw Property Developments, a division of Crookes Brothers Limited. To date, R500m has been spent on this 25-hectare Renishaw Hills - the first development within Renishaw Coastal Precinct – out of an anticipated R1 billion, with a total anticipated spend of around R15 billion upon completion, creating thousands of jobs in the area.

Van Der Merwe said it was vital to continue the legacy established by Crookes Brothers Limited in the region: “This is a legacy of community upliftment and this legacy must continue with Renishaw Coastal Precinct which is one of inclusivity and sustainability.”

The 1 300-hectare Renishaw Coastal Precinct offers property developers significant opportunities, with the first two sites of Node 1 now ready for development – both of which are ideal locations for secure eco-estates. Investors looking to get in early can visit www.renishaw.co.za or call Barto van der Merwe on 087 135 5555.