By Charmaine Ndlela
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has hailed the opening of Conlog’s new Meter Verification Laboratory at the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone as a major investment in the province’s industrial future, saying it will strengthen water security, support municipalities, create jobs and reinforce KwaZulu-Natal’s position as a manufacturing hub.
Speaking at the facility’s official opening on Monday, Ntuli said the state-of-the-art laboratory reflects investor confidence in the province while advancing innovation, advanced manufacturing and economic growth.
“We are standing inside a business that has called Durban home for 60 years. This is 60 years of engineers, artisans, technicians and workers showing up, solving problems, and building something real with their hands and their minds,” he said.
Ntuli said reliable water infrastructure is fundamental to economic development, adding that accurate water metering is essential for municipalities to manage resources, improve revenue collection and expand basic services.
Quoting Leonardo da Vinci’s words that “Water is the driving force of all nature”, Ntuli said the statement remains highly relevant.
“Water feeds our families. It irrigates our farms. It cools the data centres that now run our economy. It cools the engines of every truck that moves food, equipment and products across this province. No water, no industry. It is that simple,” he said.
He warned that without reliable metering, governments cannot effectively manage water supplies, plan reserves or bill consumers fairly.
“If we cannot measure water, we cannot manage it. We cannot plan our reserves. We cannot bill fairly. We cannot raise the revenue that keeps the system running. Metering is not a technical detail. It is the foundation of the entire water economy,” Ntuli said.
He said the new laboratory would help improve municipalities’ financial sustainability by ensuring accurate water metering, strengthening public confidence and boosting revenue collection needed to maintain and expand infrastructure.
“A financially sound municipality can do what really matters – extend water to more households, including those who cannot afford to pay, our indigent communities,” he said.
Ntuli highlighted manufacturing as a key driver of KwaZulu-Natal’s economy, noting that the sector contributes 17.7% to the province’s gross domestic product.
“Without reliable water, manufacturing stops. Public services stall. Even sport, even everyday life, grinds to a halt. That is not an inconvenience. That is an economic emergency waiting to happen. This laboratory is part of how we prevent it,” he said.
The Premier said Conlog supports about 2,000 direct and indirect jobs, with each employee supporting an average of eight family members, meaning around 16,000 people depend on the company for their livelihoods.
“Every job Conlog protects is a job the state does not have to replace with a grant. Welfare exists as a safety net. It should never be the plan. Employment is the plan, because employment restores dignity in a way that no grant ever can,” he said.
Ntuli called on Conlog to work with the provincial government to help small businesses in its supply chain become contract-ready and gain access to funding.
“When Conlog grows, we want the small businesses around Conlog to grow with you. We are equally ready to work with you on skills development on the factory floor and across your supply chain,” he said.
He also outlined the provincial government’s plans to improve logistics infrastructure through the KwaZulu-Natal Port Masterplan and the KwaZulu-Natal Logistics Hub, saying the projects would strengthen export capacity and improve the movement of goods.
Paying tribute to Conlog’s 60-year presence in Durban, Ntuli said the company’s continued expansion sent a strong signal to investors.
“Six decades in this province is not a coincidence. It is a decision, made and remade every year. That kind of loyalty speaks louder than any investment brochure we could produce,” he said.
He noted that Conlog exports its products to 58 countries, describing the company’s international footprint as proof that KwaZulu-Natal remains globally competitive.
“Every meter you export tells the world that KwaZulu-Natal, that South Africa, is a serious place to do business. You represent us every time you close a deal abroad,” Ntuli said.
He encouraged the company to continue investing in research, development and innovation to strengthen its competitiveness.
“This laboratory is a vote of confidence in this province, in this industry and in the people who will run it. We intend to be worthy partners in what comes next,” he said.
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