Eyabantu recently acquired the equity of small operating companies with the necessary licenses to trade in petroleum products. Collectively these companies now form part of the oil and gas division of the group; allowing Eyabantu to further develop its procurement, logistics and distribution solutions for oil and gas products.

Responsible for the planning and development of infrastructure at Eyabantu, Themba has garnered over ten years of experience within the petrochemical industry. He has dealt with project development, construction development and the operations of bulk fuel storage depots.

Having executed several multimillion Rand projects; which included feasibility studies, infrastructure upgrades and compliance, Themba is skilled in every aspect of project management. His expertise includes but is not limited to; project finance and budget management, engineering health and safety standard studies, construction management, business management and leadership, maintenance, equipment liability and inspection, just to name a few.

Themba has his Masters Degree in Project Management from Cranefield College and a B.Tech Degree in Mechanical Engineering from UNISA. He is also a professional member of the South African Institute of Mechanical Engineers, the Project Management Institute and the Engineering Council of South Africa.

EYABANTU SUSPENDS PARTICIPATION IN NOQHEKWANA HOLIDAY RESORT PROJECT

After agonising for a lengthy period including various meetings with key stakeholders in the town, the community of Noqhekwana, the leadership in the area and Chief Zwelibanzi Mditshwa under whom the area falls and who had given the development her blessings, the Eyabantu Consortium has decided to suspend its participation in negotiations with Noqhekwana Community.

As earlier indicated the decision has not been taken lightly and it is a painful decision considering the benefits that were going to accrue to the community particularly Women and Youth of the area. Jobs opportunities at construction phase were estimated at 750 and 200 permanent jobs at full operation.

The Consortium had earlier identified Noqhekwana area because of its natural beauty and the fact that there was no land claim against the property unlike most of Port Saint Johns, which is under land claims. The reasons for suspending negotiations on the holiday resort development negotiations with the community are outlined hereunder:

• the leadership of the community extended the size of existing site that was occupied by a local resident doubling it from the standard allocation encroaching entirely on the agreed piece of land allocated to the development leaving the remaining area unsuitable for the agreed development;
• community invasion of an area with sensitive fauna and flora compromised any form of prospective negotiations as the project had committed to preserving any sensitive fauna and flora retaining the biodiversity of the area. The community claims that the area is theirs and they were in the process of lodging a claim with the Land Claims Commission. Even though no proof of the lodging of claim or the proof of acquisition of the land, this posed a security risk that the Consortium could not overlook.

Eyabantu is still committed to investing its resources in the Port Saint Johns area, as it believes that the area could provide a catalyst of the development of the region.

Issued by Pat Mdoda

3/8/2017

0832953000

patm@eyabantuholdings.com