SECTION 4: LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 4.1 Adoption of LED Strategy
4.10 Joe Gqabi District Municipality GDS
Table 10 below reflects the achievements of the District Municipality and its key stakeholders though only highlights are reflected and not an exhaustive list.
Table 10: GDS progress to date by Joe Gqabi District Municipality Priority
programme
Actions to be taken Progress to date
Fast-track access to suitable housing, health care, public transport, recreation, water and sanitation in support of the Ugie-Maclear Forestry development, and in anticipation of a significant influx of people into the area in anticipation of the 3000+ jobs.
Water and Sanitation is being implemented but there is still a need to still upgrade the PHC.
Housing has been provided but there is still a need for more housing. The land for the PHC had been identified by the Elundini LM Public Works will be informed as they are the ones who will construct the PHC.
Installation and commissioning of water and sanitation to the PG Bison Plant and residential development needs.
Infrastructure to the plant is installed; water and sanitation issues in Ugie will be complete in the new financial year.
Timber cluster
LED strategy for Elundini municipal area. Completed.
Create a dedicated fund for the upgrade and maintenance of tourism infrastructure, and roads.
Being considered in the new budget.
Expedite the revitalization of Aliwal North Spa. Currently DEAT funding is utilized to upgrade Aliwal SPA, for infrastructure upgrade Thina Sinako application is suggested which can include
"public infrastructure"
Establishment and revival of functional tourism institutions such as District, local and community tourism organizations.
LTO's revived but functioning on varying degrees.
DTO established and CTO's operational.
Improve Tourism expertise in municipal institutions. The District’s building capacity : this year on monitoring and evaluation of programmes Develop a District tourism strategy The tourism strategy was completed and adopted
in October 2009.
Improve data management around tourism and undertake research around tourism in the Joe Gqabi District.
database being developed as part of the strategy
Identify and collect information around heritage sites within the District area, and motivate for their declaration as heritage sites.
Completed.
Initiate and prioritize processes that will lead in the identification of issues and opportunities arising from the 2010 World Cup
Work streams established. The District is doing coordination.
Collaborate on destination planning, product development, quality management and marketing the District as a tourism destination.
Forms part of the tourism strategy.
Set targets for mainstreaming in tourism enterprises. Mainstreaming strategy should be implemented this year.
Tourism Cluster
Drive the processes around the amalgamation and possible expansion of provincial parks around the Gariep dam initiative and explore possibilities around the expansion and coordinated development with the adjacent provinces.
Business plan on the table for lake Gariep
Expand support for emerging farmers and household food production through efficient implementation of massive food production programmes, homestead food production and livestock improvement programmes.
District is implementing livestock programme - will be finishing this year. The implementation of massive food and household production programmes implemented by Asgisa-EC and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Agricultural cluster
Increase investment in agricultural infrastructure. The Agricultural Sector Plan has been developed
Establishment of an all encompassing District wide agricultural structure
The District Agricultural forum established and functional, but still having a challenge with the agricultural forums in Local Municipalities, they need to be revived.
Implement SDF, Land Use Planning, Management and Land Care programmes in the District that seek to preserve the natural wealth of the land.
Spatial Development Framework for the District reviewed.
Investigate the Umzimvubu Mega Basin Programme. Elundini and JGDM working together with Mhlontlo and AsgiSA.
Cognizance of environmental issues are taken into account in planning, implementation and monitoring of all programmes
Development of an Environmental Plan has been completed.
Enforce compliance with environmental legislation and by-laws along the lines of best practice.
By laws under review in some municipalities.
Implementation and compliance still a challenge.
Lobby National Government for additional MIG funds. Motivations submitted Enhance capacity local government to plan, project
manage, implement and spend funds effectively and efficiently for water and sanitation service delivery.
Resources obtained to support a process of improve implementation of effective water and sanitation delivery.
Water and Sanitation
water and sanitation backlogs eradication Bucket eradication target achieved, cannot meet the water target 2012. External funding sources are being explored.
Upgrade and refurbish water and sanitation infrastructure
Ensure efficient and effective operations and maintenance of the water and sanitation infrastructure
Maximum budget being given for water and sanitation infrastructure.
facilitate the provision of mass housing programmes and create sustainable human settlements in their areas of jurisdiction
District providing water for housing projects.
implement environmental management systems in their areas of jurisdiction
Reviewing the environmental management plan.
develop by-laws on land management and administration for their areas of jurisdiction and develop systems for the management and expansion of urban area
Planning for middle income housing in the primary and secondary nodes
Water and sanitation being planned for urban expansion
Improvement in health and hygiene among hawkers through training and monitoring.
Programme underway.
Enforcement of by-laws to create a conducive trading environment for the retail sector.
Municipal Health services are currently implementing bylaws that relate to health and hygiene.
Municipal Service upgrading
Improve capacity among municipalities to enforce by- laws.
Little progress as yet, EHPs trained as peace officers.
Increase the number of Thusong (Multi Purpose) Service Centres in the District.
Included in the communications plan.
Support the local media in the dissemination of information.
Budget suggested for the new year to increase use of local media.
Prioritize road infrastructure as the basis for economic growth.
Included in the roads plan.
Access and linkages
Participate in the District roads forum as coordinated by the JGDM.
Underway.
Remain organized, increase their representation, improve their lobbying skills, and undertake their own fundraising.
District structures still functioning to varying extents.
Issues of vulnerable groups are integrated or mainstreamed into their programmes.
Mainstreaming strategy should be implemented this year.
Integrate and mainstream HIV and AIDS in all programmes.
Should be part of the mainstreaming plan.
Develop a District multi-sectoral plan for HIV and AIDS Strategic plan for the next 5 years in place.
Develop and implement workplace HIV and AIDS programmes, and extend these into the community where the employees live.
EAP planned in the budget and in the organogram.
EAP activities in place.
Implement the labour-intensive Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in rolling out the priority projects and programmes in this agreement.
DM implementing: contractors on water and sanitation projects
Develop a coordinated EPWP programme Limited information from all sectors.
Social safety net
Intensify skills development and skills transfers within the EPWP.
Limited information from all sectors.
Develop a cooperative development and support strategy.
Sourced funds from Thina Sinako for a strategy to be undertaken by the cooperatives organization.
National LED strategy emphasizes the use of cooperatives so further development is needed.
Promote cooperatives as a form of enterprise in the District and agree to procure goods and services from cooperatives where possible.
Strategy should deal with this.
Developing and strengthening disaster risk management and mainstreaming disaster risk assessment into strategic development programmes.
Workshops held around disaster management to improve understanding. Framework plan being updated.
All stakeholders agree to participate in Disaster Management Forums
Poor attendance at meetings at present.
Strengthening the District and local municipality IDPs, Capacity is being provided: training and funding.
Improving the operation of the IGR structure in the District area.
Structures nearly all established.
Implement a pilot community-based planning process for planning and IDP development at local municipal and ward level
Implemented.
Strengthening public participation in all matters of municipal planning and governance through training of ward Councillors and officials and strengthening community capacity.
Ward committee functioning funding is provided.
Public participation funding is suggested and budgeted for
Revised Local Economic Development (LED) Strategy Programme underway.
Fill section 57 posts and critical service delivery posts by July 2007.
Review municipal organograms in line with powers and function and objectives of this agreement.
Accelerate the implementation of workplace skills plans within the public service.
All underway.
Arrange economic development training for the representatives of all stakeholders to further understanding of economic development within the District.
Have engaged Thina Sinako to assist and the IDT.
Develop a skills retention strategy for the Joe Gqabi District.
The Strategy was adopted by Council in March 2011
Identify and agree on the skills needed for growth and development across the priority sectors in the District.
Finalize a District skills development plan,
Establish a District Skills Development Co-coordinating forum
Facilitate learner ships in the identified sectors Increase investment within public and private sector in apprenticeships, internships, and skills programmes.
Skills plan completed, forum established, alignment to NSF and JIPSA established, PPPs participating in programme.
Engage the higher education sector and Thina Sinako around research, knowledge management, and best practice in growth and development.
Engaged ECSECC and Thina Sinako, and tender out for best practice recording.
Local procurement of goods and services. Must be in the review of the SCM policy and LED strategy.
Develop and implement a supply chain management and procurement policy that targets local contractors and
Must be in the review of the SCM policy and LED strategy.
Implement national economic empowerment Sector Charters targets and agree to adhere to the principles of Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment.
Used in the SCM policy.
Improve registration of businesses operating in the District and ensure payment of taxes and levies through use of local government by-laws.
MHS has a database and is able to certify businesses -- the payment of this is still an issue.
Expand business affiliation networks to all sectors in business, resulting in municipal wide and then District wide business structures
District in process of engaging key role players about the matter
Implement the principles of Batho Pele and zero- tolerance of corruption, characterized by the desire to provide quality services.
Workshops with municipal officials on Batho Pele undertaken.
Implementing the national LED guidelines. District activities in line with the policy.
Governance and administration
Promote the creation of sustainable decent jobs. SCM and HR practices in place.