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    The role of SMMEs in promoting local economic development : a case study of the Matatiele Local Municipality
    (2023-06) Hoffman, Pholoho Glorius; Jugmohan, Sean; Kudakwashe, Shoniwa
    South Africa continues to have issues with unemployment, poverty, inequality and slow economic growth. As the economy shifted to skills-based employment, one province significantly affected is the Eastern Cape, which faces slow economic growth. The government of this province made the decision to implement a national strategy to reduce unemployment and boost growth and development through small and medium and micro sized businesses (SMMEs). The Matatiele Local Municipality, located within this province, was selected as the study area. Small medium and micro enterprises and municipal stakeholders operating within the Matatiele Local Municipality were interviewed for this study. The methodology used to conduct this study was qualitative, in-depth interviews to gather data. Twelve participants made up the sample, which was drawn from the Matatiele Local municipality, SMMEs and Community members. The Endogenous Growth Theory, which maintains that internal rather than external forces predominantly affect economic growth, was used in this study. The study recommends that the municipality work in collaboration with the SMMEs and locals to revive business confidence. This advice could be carried out by making sure that all information pertaining to SMMEs is conveyed clearly and on time in order to prevent misunderstandings. The municipality also needs to ensure that the support it provides to SMMEs is enough to be sustainable. It is evident from the feedback from local business owners that the municipality needs to increase the budget for Local Economic Development (LED) in order to make sure that SMMEs reap the most benefits.
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    Sustainability : a discourse for local economic growth post-Covid-19 in South Africa
    (Siauliai University, 2022-06-06) Zondo, Robert Walter Dumisani
    South Africa had a number of sustainable policy reforms pre-Covid-19, including the protection of rural producers, consumers and the markets. However, the spread of Covid-19 / novel coronavirus at the beginning of 2020 was fast and dramatic. With an increase in death toll in various countries around the world resulting from different Covid-19 variants, its effect had tremendous impact on the general economy and local communities, most particularly in rural areas. The economic effects were also exacerbated by emergency strategies like lockdowns by various countries around the world. Strategies to turn the situation around in poverty-stricken local communities, but mostly the rural settings, post-Covid19, must be established. This is due to the fact that the rural institutions in South Africa are viewed as having a potential role to play in rural poverty alleviation and sustainable development. The enforcement of local institutions and capacity building as fundamental elements of strategies for rural poverty alleviation becomes necessary. Local economic growth, as a poverty alleviation strategy, is a people-centred process and circumstance specific. Common parameters for such growth include improved health facilities, infrastructure services, sanitation facilities and educational services. Other than the above parameters for local and sustainable development, local communities have vast indigenous knowledge that can be used to facilitate sustainable development. This knowledge is not fully utilised due to a lack of complementary institutions and facilities that enable people to improve productivity and sustainability. It is essential for development practitioners and policy makers to facilitate the dissemination of this local knowledge to enable sharing amongst community members, rather than spend scarce resources in bringing in more new knowledge and information that will not benefit the local community for sustainable development. This study assesses the influence of sustainable development on local economic growth in South Africa. It establishes the suitability of sustainable development as a strategy for local economic growth, post- Covid-19, for South Africa.
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    Sustainable development : local economic growth strategy post- Covid-19 in South Africa
    (Institute of Research Engineers and Doctors, 2020) Zondo, Robert Walter Dumisani
    The local economic challenges facing South Africa, so far, have been addressed by the introduction of policies. Hence, there are major policy reforms that have taken place pre- Covid-19 era, including the protection of rural producers, consumers and the markets. However, the spread of COVID-19 novel coronavirus around in 2020 was fast and dramatic. With the death toll experienced by various countries around the world, the effect had tremendous impact on the general economy and local communities in rural areas (in specific). The economic effects were also exacerbated by emergency strategies (like lockdowns) by different countries around the world. Nonetheless, it has been established that rural institutions are viewed as having a potential role in rural poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Hence, the enforcement of local institutions in rural areas and capacity building as fundamental elements of strategies for rural poverty alleviation are necessary. Local economic growth, as a poverty alleviation strategy, is a people-centred process and circumstance specific. Common parameters for such growth include improved health facilities, infrastructure services, sanitation facilities, and educational services. Other than the above parameters for local and sustainable development, local communities have vast indigenous knowledge that can be used to facilitate sustainable development. This knowledge is not fully utilised due to a lack of complementary institutions and facilities that enable people to improve productivity and sustainability. It is essential for development practitioners and policy makers to facilitate the dissemination of this local knowledge to enable sharing amongst community members, rather than spend scarce resources in bringing in more new knowledge and information that will not benefit the local community for sustainable development. This study assesses the influence of sustainable development on local economic growth in South Africa. It establishes the suitability of sustainable development as a strategy for local economic growth for South Africa.
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    Local economics development : a critique of the African experience
    (Unisa Press, 2012) Reddy, Purshottama; Wallis, Malcolm
    About 30–40 years ago, Local Economic Development (LED) was conceptualised in developing countries and is still gaining momentum in these countries. It has been practised as a development strategy in various forms, more particularly in developed countries. In the African context, LED has been incorporated with local or community development, and these poverty alleviation strategies have focused on social goals over the short term, rather than economic goals that are more broad-based and longer term. Particular emphasis has been placed on survival strategies and remedial measures to address social problems, as opposed to sustainable development over the longer term. Globally, LED strategies seek to enhance economic growth. In the African context, the approach adopted includes the former, but prioritises poverty alleviation and greater inclusion of previously excluded groups. African countries that develop a positive linkage between growth and poverty alleviation are the exception rather than the rule. Only countries that are reasonably well developed, diversified, globally linked and have an urbanised economy would fall into this category; South Africa has managed to bridge this divide and is a rare exception. The African Continent as a whole is experiencing distinct challenges in implementing LED, namely a lack of human resources, and limited financial, institutional and technical capacity. Furthermore, the development environment is not very enabling and this has also proved to be a stumbling block in facilitating LED in many countries.