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The Complete Guide to Jobs in Port Shepstone
Situated on the mouth of the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast’s largest river, the uMzimkhulu, Port Shepstone is about 120km, or a 1hr15min drive, from Durban – and is located halfway between the towns of Hibberdene and Margate. Port Shepstone serves as the administrative, educational, industrial, and commercial centre for southern KZN, and the municipal seat for both the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality and the Ugu District Municipality. It also hosts a magistrate’s court, and most central and provincial government departments maintain regional branches or other offices here.
Which industries are thriving in Port Shepstone?
Port Shepstone is the main economic node on the KZN South Coast, featuring a diverse economy across the likes of manufacturing, commerce, services and service-providing companies, hospitality, and mining.
Over and above its situation in the centre of the Hibiscus Coast, which comprises a network of coastal resorts, and its status as an administrative, industrial and economic centre (as mentioned above), Port Shepstone is also a major supporting hub for the rural communities and smaller towns that surround it.
Marburg, just south-west of the CBD, is Port Shepstone’s large industrial sector, with industries that include Illovo Sugar’s sizeable mill, a lime works, and a marble quarry. Other items produced – or grown – in the district include timber, wattle bark, and sub-tropical fruit.
What is the population of Port Shepstone?
According to WorldPopulationReview.com, the current population of Port Shepstone is about 290 111 - having grown from 225 155 in 2011 and 185 269 in 2001. This growth rate of 1.97 percent is comparatively lower than that of Johannebsurg, for example, which grew by 2.04 percent in a similar timeframe.
Which jobs are in healthy supply in the town?
If you’re qualified to take up a production manager job on one of the farming operations in and around Port Shepstone, it will be important to show a relevant agricultural qualification, have at least two years of experience in a managerial position on a farm, a proven track record of managing a large team (i.e. of 65+ workers), and experience in the kinds of produce (i.e. bananas, macadamia) that are farmed along the KZN South Coast.
Alternatively, if a marketing job is of interest, a hospital administrator and copywriter role may prove a perfect match for your skillset. In this position, you will be responsible for all content creation, messaging, and positioning of marketing copy; will proofread relevant documents; work collaboratively with a senior management and creative team; assist with admin tasks, research, and information gathering; and will coordinate any marketing projects that fall on your desk.
Another option is a food and beverage job – say, an assistant catering manager to ease the workload of your team manager, when it comes to the quality, hygiene, cost reduction, and staff training of a hotel or restaurant.
A selection of relatively high-paying mining jobs, such as a plant manager at R80k plus per month as just one example, can also be considered – should your CV reveal not only a good matric, but also a BSc in Mining Engineering or Chemical Enginering, 10 years in some sort of leadership position, and plenty of experience in running a mining plant.
Remember that loading your CV onto the Executive Placements jobs board can only stand in your stead, as you will be put forward automatically to prospective employers and/or business owners seeking staff, who are active on this site.
What should I know about tourism in Port Shepstone?
The town’s main tourist attractions include the uMzimkhulu River Marina, which offers leisure boat trips that allow guests and locals alike to admire the river bank’s rich fauna and flora; the Port Shepstone Museum, which educates visitors about the town’s maritime-themed history; the Port Shepstone Lighthouse, with its 27 000 candela, which dates back to 1906; the Port Shepstone Beach, which is the town’s main (but not only) beach; together with the close-by Oribi Gorge, Aliwal Shoal, uMtavuma Nature Reserve, Pure Venom Reptile Farm, and the Riverbend Crocodile Farm. There is certainly something for people of all ages to explore or discover.
What's it like to live in the town?
Port Shepstone is a great place to live if you’ve secured a high-paying job, as the cost of living is relatively low – translating into incredible affordability (outside of December and Easter School holidays, of course, when price hikes for food and other consumables are inevitable).
Outside of work and school hours, it also helps to love playing golf, and to surf or spend time at the beach – or otherwise out in nature.
Service delivery needs bit of ramping up, especially infrastructure maintenance and better reliability when it comes to tap water; yet those reviewing the town on Reddit describe the residents as pleasant, if parochial, and the pace of life peaceful and stress-free.
Where in Port Shepstone can I play golf?
The Port Shepstone Country Club, which opened way back in 1912, features an award-winning 18-hole golf course on the northern banks of the scenic uMzimkhulu River. Even though the club also offers bowls, cricket, squash, padel, tennis, and even belly dancing these days, it is its golf course that is seen to win accolades via the South Coast Herald’s Readers’ Choice Awards, such as the Best Golf Course on the South Coast.
What shopping malls can I visit in Port Shepstone?
The Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality’s urban renewal programme has encompassed the construction of a R550-million Intermodal Facility, where those commuting to and from work via taxi or other public transport can shop at a wide variety of informal traders and anchor stores – such as Boxer, Shoprite, and China Hyper. The estimated date of completion of the four-level structure of 23 890m2 is November 2024.
Otherwise, high street and mall shopping comprises the likes of Oribi Plaza, the town’s largest shopping centre, Sheppie Mall, Ithala Shopping Centre, and Bargain City Centre. Nearby Shelley Beach also features both large and desirable shopping complexes, such as Shelly Centre and Southcoast Mall.
What are two little-know facts about Port Shepstone?
Port Shepstone is home to the Burry Stander Bike Park, an initiative opened in honour of the talented KZN South Coast’s late Olympic-level mountain biker. Only 25 at the time of his passing, Stander died after being hit by a taxi while out training in the area – having become a household name following his courageous ride at the 2012 Olympic Games’ cross-country mountain bike race.
Cyclists come from all over South Africa, and further afield too, to enjoy this high-quality bike park, with its 2km cross country track, 5km farm track, kiddies zone and coffee shop – making it an attraction and an activity venue, all rolled into one.
Visit KZN South Coast also reveals that the town is home to the Dezzi Raceway, the only Motorsport South Africa-approved race track in KZN. It is renowned for the nationally-televised events that it stages, and the crowds of drifting and drag racing spectators it attracts.
While Dezzi Raceway started as a single-tarred track for car testing, it has subsequently evolved into a competitive racing circuit for drivers of all skill levels. Don’t miss its annual Dezzi Invitational Time Attack, which features top South African motorists competing for the coveted winner’s title.
What natural vegetation can I expect in the vicinity of Port Shepstone?
As mentioned in the tourism section above, the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, just 21km outside of Port Shepstone, lies snugly at the head of a magnificent river gorge – among stunning natural coastal bush and forestry.
At 1 917ha in extent, the reserve is a photographer’s paradise – with common sightings of oribi, bushbuck, reedbuck, blue and grey duiker, and a multitude of bird species (up to 250!), as well as the occasional very shy leopard.
Select from one of a number of different picnic spots, take a walk on a self-guided trail, and even – if you’re ultra brave – try a bungi swing down into the gorge itself.
The Margate website describes the reserve’s six self-catering chalets as being two-bedded, and reveals that its five campsites have plug points for those with a device to charge (camera, laptop, smart phone, or other).
Is the Port Shepstone climate pleasant?
According to Weather Spark, this town offers its residents summers that are “short, warm, and muggy”, and winters that are “long and comfortable”. The best time of year to visit Port Shepstone to take part in outdoor activities, is from early April to around mid September.
When it comes to average temperatures, Hot-Weather.com advises that January is the town’s hottest month at 27°C, July is its coldest month at 16°C, and the longest number of daily sunshine hours can be experienced in August (at nine hours, in total). When it comes to rainfall, February is Port Shepstone’s wettest month with an average of 120.6mm of rain; while the best month to take a dip in the sea in February, when the average sea temperature is a balmy 26°C.
Which famous people were born, or lived in, Port Shepstone?
Among the famous people born and bred in Port Shepstone, are the late mountain bike champion Burry Willie Stander (1987 to 2013) as mentioned above, together with Afro-Jazz singer Naima Kay, actor Eckard Rabe, cricketer for Zimbabwe Eddo Brandes, the late political activist Beatrice Ngcobo (1943 to 2018), politician and educator Peggy Nkonyeni, rugby union player James Venter, and award-winning poet and editor Abdul Milazi.
