Region

Sector

Summary:

The purpose of Local Economic Development (LED) is to build the economic capacity of an area, to improve its economic future and the quality of life for all and to enhance competitiveness, sustainability and growth.

Contact
Mickey Mama

Email
infosa@gan.co.za

Tel
+27 (0) 41 508 7339

About the Cacadu District

The Cacadu district ranks as the third largest economy of the Eastern Cape Province with agriculture dominating the district’s economy. The Cacadu district is the largest of the six district municipalities in the Eastern Cape. Covering 58 243 km² on the western portion of the province, the district surrounds Nelson Mandela Bay and consists of nine local municipal areas namely:

• Camdeboo   (Graaff-Reinet, Aberdeen and Nieu-Bethesda)
• Blue Crane   (Somerset-East, Cookhouse and Pearston)
• Ikwezi   (Jansenville, Klipplaat and Waterford)
• Makana   (Grahamstown, Alicedale and Riebeeck-East)
• Ndlambe   (Port Alfred, Kenton-on-Sea, Bushmans River and Alexandria)
• Sundays River Valley  (Kirkwood, Addo, Paterson)
• Baviaans   (Willowmore and Steytlerville)
• Kouga    (Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp, Hankey and Patensie)
• Kou-Kamma   (Joubertina, Tsitsikamma, Kareedouw, Louterwater)

Local Economic Development in Cacadu

The Local Economic Development Initiative (LEDI) is the result of a partnership established in 2009 between the Cacadu District Municipality (CDM) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).

Generally speaking, the purpose of Local Economic Development (LED) is to build the economic capacity of an area, to improve its economic future and the quality of life for all and to enhance competitiveness, sustainability and growth. It is a process by which public, business and nongovernmental sector partners work collectively to create better conditions for economic growth and employment generation.

LED encompasses a range of disciplines including physical planning, economics and marketing. LED incorporates many local government and private sector functions including environmental planning, business development, infrastructure provision, real estate development and finance. 

LED can be addressed in a number of different manners, for instance by: 

• Ensuring that the local investment climate is functional for local businesses;
• Supporting small and medium sized enterprises;
• Encouraging the formation of new enterprises;
• Attracting external investment (nationally and internationally);
• Investing in physical (hard) infrastructure;
• Investing in soft infrastructure (educational and workforce development, institutional support systems and regulatory issues);
• Supporting informal and newly emerging businesses; and
• Targeting certain disadvantaged groups.

The partnership between CDM and DBSA involves the building of a strong strategic relationship between the municipality, local and regional stakeholders. Ultimately, the outcome is to catalyse an economic turn-around strategy focusing on improving development planning and economic regeneration.

About the funding

The LEDI looks at funding innovative projects/programmes within the Cacadu District, spanning the broad categories of agriculture and tourism. These two industries are currently the dominant economic sectors and offer the most opportunities for development within the District. In addition to the provision of funding, the LEDI offers institutional support and development where necessary.

With a total of R7.8-million allocated for funding, the LEDI currently overseas the development of projects in the areas of:

• Fibre innovation
• Renewable energy
• Agri-tourism strategy and institutional support

Contacts

A number of projects require additional funding, including the Boschberg tourism small business hub (located in Somerset East), chicory beneficiation and aquaculture. Should you be in a position to provide funding or if you require additional information, kindly contact:

MICKEY MAMA - Director; Economic Development

Tel: +27 (0) 41 508 7339
Cell: +27 (0) 82 903 8009
Fax: +27 (0) 86 529 6075
Email: infosa@gan.co.za