THE DTIC HOSTED TOWNSHIP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIALOGUE
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The Township Economy Development came under spotlight during a dialogue hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) virtually on Thursday, 30 June 2022, under the theme, Mapping Township Economy for Opportunities Through Spatial Industrial Development. The dialogue that focuses on rethinking and reviewing the current township industrial initiatives and support mechanisms.
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.
He says it is against the department’s background for mapping of the township economy to become 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 important for government to apply the District Development Model approach to identify existing potential opportunities for support in all 44 district municipalities and eight metros.”
Furthermore he noted that it is imperative for 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.
