New KwaZulu Natal premier, Thami Ntuli, used his State of the Province address on 30 July 2024 to sketch out his economic vision for the province, and cannabis development is a key part of his plans. Ntuli, who’s Inkatha Freedom Party was the only party to include cannabis in its May election manifesto, said KZN viewed the cannabis industry as one of the driving forces of creating inclusive growth and job creation.

DA provincial leader Francois Rodgers said the premier’s address struck the right chord, with many of the initiatives in line with the DA’s election pledges to the people of the province.

“The DA commends the Premier’s commitment to effective oversight within all areas of government. This includes unannounced inspections at KZN’s Health and Education facilities and municipalities, many of which demand urgent turnaround.

“We also welcome new developments within KZN’s cannabis industry. Income-generating initiatives such as this are critical in reviving our provincial economy and creating a positive knock-on effect for citizens. KZN’s agricultural sector as a whole has the potential to be a massive economic driver in KZN and address poverty and unemployment, particularly within our rural areas,” said Rodgers.

Rodgers added that they continue to monitor and ensure that the government delivers.

“The fact that we are now part of the government of provincial unity (GPU) gives us the power to do so. The time has come to do things differently. The DA is very aware of its responsibility to the many citizens who came out and voted for us. We reaffirm our commitment to them to deliver on our promises,” said Rodgers.

KZN and the Eastern Cape are the provincial leaders in cannabis development with both focussing on encouraging cannabis farmers to plant low-THC varietals that meet the hemp definition of having less than 2% THC.

Although this is a positive development in that it starts bringing cannabis into the mainstream, it does not address the problem of legacy farmers who have grown high-THC strains for generations for the illicit market. 

There is also the uncomfortable issue of the ‘THC spike’, whereby southern African climatic conditions can boost THC naturally – in some cases as high as six percent.

The Presidency’s Operation Phakisa already has the solution – classify all cannabis as “industrial” as a whole plant approach, thereby negating the need to distinguish between “hemp” and cannabis with higher strains of THC. However, this solution requires implementation, for which the ANC does not have a glowing track record. The first marker will be the removal of cannabis from the Drugs Act and its classification as an agricultural crop – this will unlock mainstream finance and government support systems.

In the meantime, KZN is forging ahead with its own cannabis master plan, centred around how it can be used to fight rural poverty. It’s pledged R40 million to the Okhahlamba (Bergville) Municipality to expand its community cannabis project to include more traditional growers. The plan, initiated by the new sheriff in town, is to grow the low-THC Europa varietal.

READ: KZN govt pumps R40 m into Drakensberg sheriff’s community cannabis plan

Other cannabis initiatives underway in KZN are:

The planned cannabis and hemp industrial park in Vryheid

Tricanna pledged R120 million at last year’s presidential investment summit to build a cannabis and hemp industrial park in Vryheid, north of Durban

The cannabis initiative in iLembe

The iLembe district north-west of Durban has been earmarked as a cannabis hub.

Meanwhile, cannabis processing is likely to feature in the Richards Bay agri-hub development, which Ntuli says the province will fund to the tune of R2 billion.

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