Overview
This lecture covers the Durban-Pinetown core industrial region in South Africa, focusing on its location, main industries, factors affecting development, and its economic and social impacts.
Core Industrial Regions: Overview
- South Africa has several core industrial regions: PWV (Gauteng), Durban-Pinetown, Port Elizabeth-Uitenhage, and South Western Cape.
- Core industrialization means many industries are concentrated in a specific area.
Durban-Pinetown Core Industrial Region
- Located between Durban and Pinetown in KwaZulu-Natal, along the east coast.
- It is South Africa’s second-largest core industrial region.
- The Durban harbor serves as a major "break of bulk" point facilitating transport and trade.
Main Industrial Activities
- Key industries: fuel refineries, chemical industry (e.g., paint), sugar refineries (due to local sugarcane), textiles, ship repairs, paper and pulp, and motor car assembly (e.g., Toyota).
- Proximity to harbor supports ship-related industries and exports.
Factors Favoring Development/Location
- Durban harbor is the busiest in Africa and aids imports/exports.
- Abundant local raw materials, especially agricultural (sugarcane, milk, fruit).
- Large, skilled and unskilled labor force.
- Reliable water supply due to good rainfall (800–1000 mm annually).
- Well-developed transport networks (roads, railways) connect to Gauteng and international markets.
- Adequate power supply from nearby coalfields.
- Suitable high temperatures aid crop production.
- Access to both local and international markets.
Factors Hindering Development
- Overconcentration of industry strains water and power supplies.
- Transport infrastructure experiences congestion and delays, especially at the harbor.
- Heavy industry causes air and water pollution.
- Environmental laws require costly pollution control, possibly slowing development.
- Load shedding and high electricity costs challenge industry operations.
Social Impacts
- Increased employment and higher earning potential.
- Reduced poverty rates due to job opportunities.
- Improved access to services and better standard of living.
- Expansion and improvement of local infrastructure and facilities.
Economic Impacts
- Larger local markets due to increased population and buying power.
- Infrastructure investment and upgrades are stimulated.
- Efficient transport enables smooth movement of raw materials and goods.
- Promotes domestic and international trade.
- Significant contribution to South Africa's GDP.
- Attracts domestic and foreign investment.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Core industrial region — Area with a high concentration of various industries.
- Break of bulk point — Location where goods switch from one transport mode to another (e.g., ship to truck).
- GDP (Gross Domestic Product) — Total value of goods and services produced within a country.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review previous presentations on sugarcane, gold, and other industrial regions.
- Prepare for next lecture on Duban Trade Port IDZ and Maputo Corridor SDI.
- Check exam guidelines for prescribed sections to study.