The last decade and a bit of South Africa’s history is often described as a journey towards full democracy. But it has also been characterised by a strong and rising flow of people from rural towns and communities to the big urban centres.

This has placed extreme pressure on the existing urban infrastructure, with service delivery – be it housing, electrification, water, transport and social services – battling to keep pace.

 There is also little sign that this urbanisation phenomenon will slow markedly in the years ahead, given that work and wealth opportunities appear to have gravitated towards the cities. Therefore, development and job creation in rural South Africa are arguably emerging as one of this country’s most pressing challenges.

Our cover story this week interrogates one of the rural-development options being pursued, focusing on moves to increase afforestation in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as associated industrial activity, such as pulp and paper and furniture production.

There is a view that an afforestation opportunity exists for 100 000 ha in the Eastern Cape, which could contribute R215-million to gross domestic product (GDP) and create 26 000 plantation jobs within the next ten years. Another 40 000 ha is being studied in KwaZulu-Natal, with the potential to add R500-million to GDP and create 15 000 plantation and 429 processing jobs. Much work, however, will be needed to convert this aspiration into real projects.

There is also a range of other aspirational stories in this week’s edition, ranging from plans for a R1,9-billion rapid bus transport system in Pretoria, through to news that a leading South African construction group is positioning itself to take equity in some of the independent power producer projects arising in Africa.

We also carry an exclusive report on the start of production, in Germany, of an innovative solar-panel solution developed in South Africa by Professor Vivian Alberts. The panel is thinner and cheaper than those produced anywhere else in the world, and will begin rolling off the production lines next month.

Our features this week take a look at developments in the waste management and recycling industry, as well as in the truck, trailer, bus and bakkie sector. We also interrogate black economic empowerment in South African industry.

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