The CEO of a Dubai company behind ambitious plans for a new multi-billion dollar South African city has vowed to improve the lives of people living near the project site, thousands of whom have been protesting against it.
Hayan Merchant, CEO of Ruwaad Holdings, said he remained 100 percent committed to the Amazulu World development which is planned to be built over the next 25 years on a 16,500 hectare site in KwaZulu-Natal.
Merchant spoke for the first time about the opposition that has emerged to the entertainment and destination mega-project, which will also include special health, education zones to benefit the local community.
He hit out at South African media reports that have suggested that the scheme will force more than 8,000 local families out of their home.
“This is non-factual. Our proposals want to help the local community and bring better housing, healthcare and education facilities,” he told Arabian Business in an exclusive interview.
“When you look at the positive impact we are going to make, we are disappointed that they (the protests) have taken place.”
He blamed the demonstrations, the latest of which saw people injured and arrested last week, on political issues and misleading media reports and added that he was confident that government officials would be able to address the concerns of the local community.
“We are not getting involved in tit-for-tat arguments. The government is in the process of the social engagement programme and I am confident that over time they (the local Macambini community) will recognise the real facts about our project,” he added.
Merchant said he hoped the social engagement period would be over by the end of the first quarter of 2009 and the company can then press on with planning the project, which will be funded by a mix of South African government and private investment.
Amazulu World will be the continent’s largest ever development, includes 65 percent of green areas and Merchant said eco-friendly planning and sustainability were at the centre of the proposals.
“We are concerned about the good we can do in the area and whether our development can add benefits,” he added.
The project – set up in collaboration with Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, king of the KwaZulu-Natal province in which Amazulu World will be built – is predicted to create 200,000 direct jobs in the area.
Ruwaad also expects the development to increase tourism in the region by 40 percent.
The development will also offer a sports village, lifestyle community with hotels, spas and resorts, nature reserve and marina.
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