Question NW2793 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

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19 October 2015 - NW2793

Profile picture: Carter, Ms D

Carter, Ms D to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether the Government has initiated rescue plans to revitalise any towns in the country that were experiencing a prolonged economic slump exacerbated by mining, industrial, commercial or agricultural shedding of jobs and therefore regressing to become informal settlements without economic opportunity, amenities or basic services; if not, (a) how many such towns are collapsing and (b) why is there no plan to revitalise them; if so, (i) how many such towns were identified for revitalisation and (ii) what progress has been made in that regard?

Reply:

Government has initiated a rescue plan to revitalise fifteen mining towns in five provinces that were experiencing a prolonged economic slump exacerbated by mining, industrial, commercial or agricultural shedding of jobs. Twelve of labour sending areas in two provinces have also been prioritised for the revitalisation of distressed mining communities.

 

MINING TOWNS

PROVINCE

DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

Limpopo

Sekhukhune

Fetakgomo, Greater Tubatse, Elias Motsoaledi

 

Waterberg

Lephalele

Gauteng

West Rand

Westonaria, Randfontein, Mogale City, Merafong

North West

Bojanala

Rustenburg, Moses Kotane, Madibeng

 

Dr Kenneth Kaunda

Matlosana

Mpumalanga

Nkangala

Emalahleni, Steve Tshwete

Free State

Lejweleputswa

Matjhabeng

Twelve labour sending areas in two provinces have been prioritised for the revitalisation of distressed mining communities.

LABOUR SENDING AREAS

PROVINCE

DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

Eastern Cape

OR Tambo

King Sabata Dalindyebo, Nyandeni, Nquza Hill, Mhlontlo, Port St Johns

 

Alfred Nzo

Mbizana, Ntabankulu

KwaZulu Natal

Zululand

AbaQulusi, eDumbe, Nongoma, Ulundi, uPhongolo

An integrated strategy and Back to Basics Programme was approved by the Inter-Ministerial Committees (IMC), late last year for the different work streams to address the socio economic conditions in mining towns and labour sending areas holistically. Various Programmes are in place and being implemented. The Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG) is coordinating the national departments, provinces and municipalities. The following departments/institutions participate in the work of the Economic Work Stream:

  • The Department of Trade and Industry – overall strategy is to promote Industrial Development through Special Economic Zones and Industrial Parks in Bojanala District Municipality (DM), Greater Tubatse and Lejweleputswa.
  • Economic Development Department through Industrial Development Corporation conducted economic assessments in 6 Districts to assist municipalities attract investment and job opportunities to their regions by creating enabling economic development in West Rand, Sekhukhune, Lejweleputswa, Bojanala, Waterberg and Nkangala.
  • South African Local Government Association (SALGA) – Small Town Regeneration – developed a comprehensive strategy to address the socio economic decline of towns. It is currently working in the following towns across the 9 provinces focusing on Mining and Industrial Towns, Tourism Towns, Transit and Commuter Towns: Lukhanji, Port St Johns, Letsemeng, Matjhabeng, Randfontein, Bela Bela, Emalahleni, Matlosana, Zululand, Umkhanyakude, Madibeng etc.
  • DCoG – Establishment of Business Development Forums to stimulate large scale employment at a local level through private sector driven catalytic business ventures Bojanala DM, Greater Tubatse DM, Matlosana LM and Waterberg DM. Furthermore, the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) in mining towns and labour sending areas has been aligned to respond to Back to Basics priorities.

Progress has been made in diversifying the economies of mining towns by conducting economic assessments to identify investment opportunities in the following Provinces:

In Limpopo, sectoral opportunities in agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, wholesale and retail, and tourism has been identified in Sekhukhune and anticipated to attract investments at De Hoop Dam tourism development, Potlake Nature Reserve, fresh produce market, Tubatse special economic zone, R55 doubling and tarring, De Hoop augmentation, mining sector support businesses, bio diesel production, vegetable processing plant, flag boshielo dam development, Mountain Resort Linked to Drakensburg Escarpment Cluster of Projects and Tsate heritage site.

Sectoral opportunities in Waterberg District Municipality were also identified in agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing and tourism. The envisaged investment attraction include agricultural hubs, logistics hub, opportunities linked to mining expansion in the region, mining product beneficiation opportunities, water sorting plant ( green economy), and tourism projects linked to biosphere and nature reserves.

Gauteng sectoral opportunities in agriculture, tourism, green economy, economic infrastructure, transport and logistics were identified and hope to attract the following investments to West Rand:

  • Establishment of the Food Hubs ( Agro- processing Park)
  • Development of Logistics hub/ Park
  • Development of Township Industrial Parks/ Enterprise Hubs
  • Development of a Municipal Precinct
  • Smart city ( Broad band network)
  • The Lanseria Airport City

Free State’s sectoral opportunities were identified in agriculture, mining, tourism, automotive/transportation and energy, hope to attract the following investments in Lejeleputswa:

  • The Processing Plant (Hides processing plant & Agro-processing)
  • Redevelopment of existing Airport
  • Methane gas extraction

Sectoral opportunities in agriculture and agro processing, mining, chemicals/electronics and automotive, manufacturing and trade and tourism have been identified in the North West Province and anticipated to attract investments into Bojanala District in the following areas:

  • Catalytic Converter manufacturing plants
  • Distribution and Logistics Hub
  • International Convention Centers
  • Traditional Art Gallery and cultural information centre
  • Implementation of Heritage Park
  • Establishment of an incubator network and Development Agency
  • Rural Integrated Energy Centre
  • Lurcene Plant
  • Bio-fuel plant
  • Sisal Farming Project (Pella)
  • Further development of tourism facilities around Sun City node
  • Commercialization of small scale farming and agro-processing
  • Development of tourism facilities at Borakolalo Reserve (Klipvoordam) jointly with Madibeng
  • Upgrading of Phapatso cultural village and establishment of incubator for arts, crafts and cultural industries.
  • Pilot waste collection and recycling

Sectoral opportunities in Mpumalanga have been identified in agriculture, mining, food products, wood products, chemicals, and automotive and hope to attract the following investments into Nkangala District Municipality:

  • A catalytic convertor component manufacturing plant;
  • A truck port/ logistics hub;
  • An agro-processing bio-fuel production facility;
  • An international convention centre;
  • The Moloto corridor rail system;
  • Delmas International Cargo Airport – linked to a Free Trade/ Special Economic Zone.
  • Loskop-Zithabiseni tourism belt development;
  • Rust de Winter tourism development;
  • Kusile Power Station project.

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