The Township Economy Development will come under spotlight during a dialogue hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) under the theme, Mapping Township Economy for Opportunities Through Spatial Industrial Development. The dialogue will focus on rethinking and reviewing the current township industrial initiatives and support mechanisms, including District Development Model, Special Economic Zones and Industrial Parks, and will take place virtually tomorrow, Thursday, 30 June 2022 at 9:00.
According to the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Fikile Majola South Africa’s townships still experience poor investment, overpopulation, poor infrastructure, high levels of unemployment, deepening poverty and isolation from mainstream economic centres.
“It is against this background that the mapping of the township economy becomes essential, with a particular aim to identify industrial and related economic opportunities that can be supported by the dtic, its entities and strategic partners. It is therefore important for government to apply the District Development Model approach to identify existing or potential economic or industrial opportunities for support, following a comprehensive mapping exercise,” says Majola.
He adds that the key objectives for mapping township economies and identifying opportunities for support include consideration of the characteristics of a typical township economy, establishment of current support mechanisms for the township economy, identification of critical challenges inhibiting or hampering economic development, with an emphasis on industrial development in townships, and the establishment of key industrial and related economic opportunities for support in all the 44 district municipalities and eight metros.
“While government is making efforts to transform townships through many initiatives and policy interventions, impactful results of these interventions have been minimal,” says Majola.
He notes that it is imperative that initiatives of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provincial governments, aimed at developing the township economy through the Township Economic Bill and Township and Rural Economy Revitalisation Strategy, respectively, be replicated across provinces to the level where each district has a dedicated plan for its township communities.
To join the conversation, click on the link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YWUxOTBjZDUtM2EyOS00ZTM0LWE4OTgtODJmMDQ4YTIxODI2%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2265bb5da6-80f4-46a8-a104-842c82f8acce%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2296a7844c-4b69-48a0-88a0-75cfd4e6fe34%22%7d
Enquiries:
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
Mobile: 079 5083 457
WhatsApp: 074 2998 512
E-mail: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
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