News Archive
Locals threaten uprising over African theme park
Released on 04/12/2008
The Dubai-based Ruwaad Group’s ambitious proposals for a US$4 billion South African themed entertainment park, Amazulu World, have been threatened with disruption by local people.
The Macambini community in KwaZulu-Natal has pledged to disrupt all economic activities on the North Coast near Durban if local people are forced from their homes to make way for the 16,500-hectare leisure, retail and residential development. The threats include the closure of national roads between Durban and Richards Bay.
Last week, hundreds of Macambini residents protested in the streets against the project, claiming it would uproot 8,500 families from their ancestral land, reported South Africa’s Independent Online newspaper.
Last month, Ruwaad CEO Hayan Merchant told Arabian Business he was confident that the development – planned to be built in phases over 25 years – would “progress as planned”.
“We remain committed to developing this project which we believe will have huge benefits for the local community, the Kwazulu-Natal province and South Africa,” he said.
According to Ruwaad, Amazulu World will create more than 200,000 new jobs and increase tourism in the region by almost 40 per cent. The developer claims that millions of tourists will flock to a development that boasts unparalleled facilities in Africa.
Ruwaad’s plans for Amazulu World include Africa’s largest shopping complex, Africa’s largest ‘lifestyle community’, South Africa’s first dedicated education and health village, the most comprehensive and advanced sports village development in Africa, residential dwellings, hotels, spas, a marina, nature reserves and community facilities.
Despite the scale, the community leaders of the Macambini people are less than impressed. They are backing a rival development from another Dubai-based company, which they say will not turf people out of their homes. They have given the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Sibusiso Ndebele, an ultimatum to respond to their demands for the Ruwaad plan to be withdrawn.
The provincial government, which signed an agreement with Ruwaad Holdings earlier this year, is reluctant to withdraw its commitment.
