South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise (SCTIE) has been recognised for its impactful role in driving economic development after securing the Number One Spot for Best Functional District Development Agency at the prestigious KZN COGTA Municipal Excellence Awards, held at the Durban International Convention Centre on Thursday, 12 March 2026.
The award celebrates municipalities and development agencies that demonstrate excellence in governance, service delivery and economic development. SCTIE’s recognition underscores the agency’s continued efforts to position the Ugu District Municipality as a leading tourism and investment destination.
Established to address gaps in tourism marketing and investment attraction within the district, SCTIE has implemented programmes aligned with the strategic development framework of the district and its local municipalities. Through this alignment, the agency has played a pivotal role in strengthening tourism promotion, facilitating investment opportunities, and supporting initiatives that stimulate inclusive economic growth.
A cornerstone of SCTIE’s success has been its strong public–private partnerships and collaborative social compact approach, working closely with tourism operators, investors, municipalities and community stakeholders to unlock opportunities for the region.
Among the initiatives that contributed to this achievement was SCTIE’s partnership with Umdoni Local Municipality to host an investment conference that showcased key investment opportunities within the district. The conference attracted interest from investors and government stakeholders and created a platform to strengthen economic collaboration across the region.
SCTIE has also played an active role in supporting the broader Eastern Seaboard Development vision, a strategic initiative aimed at unlocking the economic potential of KwaZulu-Natal’s coastal corridor. Through investment promotion, stakeholder engagement, and catalytic tourism initiatives, SCTIE has contributed towards positioning the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast as a key node within this development corridor, helping to attract investors and stimulate sustainable coastal economic growth.
Commenting on the recognition, SCTIE CEO Dr. Vusumuzi Sibiya said the award reflects the collective commitment of stakeholders working to grow the district’s economy.“This prestigious recognition affirms the important role that collaboration plays in unlocking economic opportunities for our region. SCTIE’s mandate is to drive tourism growth while facilitating investment into the district and this award demonstrates the impact of our work in aligning our programmes with municipal priorities and working closely with both the public and private sectors,” said Dr. Sibiya.
He added that the agency will continue building on this momentum by strengthening marketing initiatives, supporting and driving catalytic infrastructure projects and creating platforms that attract investors to the region.
“We remain committed to positioning the Ugu District as a competitive tourism and investment destination while ensuring that our initiatives contribute to sustainable economic growth, enterprise development and job creation for our communities.”
SCTIE also extended its gratitude to Ugu District Municipality for its outstanding performance at the awards, having secured several accolades. These included recognition for achieving 100% expenditure of its capital budget within its mandate, as well as awards for Best Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP) and Excellence in Disaster Management.
SCTIE further acknowledged the contributions of its Board members, staff and industry stakeholders whose continued support and collaboration drive the district’s economic development agenda.
The award further reinforces the region’s growing reputation as a dynamic hub for tourism, investment and development along the South Coast
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Find out more about these and other investment options by visiting the KZN South Coast website; following South Coast Tourism on Facebook; South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise on YouTube; @infosouthcoast on Twitter or Instagram; and South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise on LinkedIn. And click here to check out previous SCTIE press releases. Watch why KZN South Coast is a top tourism destination here.
To find out more about investment opportunities, get in touch with SCTIE, the KZN South Coast’s One-Stop Shop for investment. Contact SCTIE on 039 682 7944, email oss@sctie.co.za or visit www.investkznsouthcoast.co.za.
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CEO Dr Vusumuzi Sibiya, Ugu District Municipality mayor Cllr Sikhumbuzo Mqadi, and Ugu District Municipality Municipal Manager Mr Vela Mazibuko. .