Sihle Zikalala to open furniture manufacturing plant in KwaZulu-Natal

According to KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Sihle Zikalala, the factory has created more than 600 jobs and has provided training to 10 000 emerging furniture builders.

The KwaZulu-Natal government will on Tuesday open a government-owned furniture manufacturing plant, specialising in building coffins.

According to KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Sihle Zikalala, the factory has created more than 600 jobs and has provided training to 10 000 emerging furniture builders.

Besides affordable coffins, Zikalala said an assortment of timber products are produced and sold out to a diverse clientele.

"This unique factory uses timber cuts from alien invasive trees. It is, therefore, part of our Invasive Alien Species Programme aimed at eradicating invasive plants that are harmful to the environment," Zikalala said ahead of the launch.

Zikalala will officially open the plant at Cedara Agricultural College in Howick, Pietermaritzburg.

(With Inputs from South African Government Press Release)