SALGA launches Provincial Local Economic Development Forum in Mpumalanga

Show Voice Options On the 2nd and 3rd of December 2024, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) in collaboration with the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements & Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), and the Department of Economic Development & Tourism (DEDT) launched the Provincial Local Economic Development Forum (PLEDF) at Steve Tshwete Local Municipality in the Nkangala District. The PLEDF is a ground-breaking initiative aimed at fostering economic growth and development in Mpumalanga province. The purpose of the Provincial LED Forum is to facilitate economic development platform at the local government level in partnership with key stakeholders. The forum seeks to ensure that local economic recovery plans and strategies are in alignment with the provincial economic recovery plans, create a platform to engage on issues affecting local economic development, and further serve as a conduit for information sharing, peer learning, capacity development. The SALGA Mpumalanga Chairperson for the Economic Development and Job Creation Working Group, Cllr Busi Khanye, emphasized the importance of the PLEDF, stating that its launch is a crucial moment for local government in the province. Cllr. Khanye said that in order to achieve rapid and inclusive growth, it is crucial to fix the struggling municipalities. Khanye also added that, "Growth happens at a local level, where people live and work. Our municipalities must become both providers of social services and facilitators of inclusive economic growth. They must work to attract investment. This approach can encourage businesses to expand and create more jobs in municipal areas. Investors are attracted to areas with reliable and modern infrastructure." Some of the key objectives of the Provincial LED Forum include: Promoting the implementation of the National LED Framework in municipalities, Improving integrated economic planning across government and its agencies, Coordinating access to funding and finance for LED initiative, Improving the performance of municipalities with respect to all aspects of local economic development, Ensuring participation of previously disadvantaged communities and individuals in the realization of the opportunities offered by local economic development, Influencing policy formulation and decision making around programs intended to stimulate local economies, Monitoring the implementation of economic development programmes. Chairperson Khanye also said that "It is therefore our optimistic view that the Provincial Forum we are launching today will add impetus to the work that SALGA and Provincial Government are doing towards Radical Socio-Economic Transformation."