Re-thinking the role of regional development funds in South Africa: reflections on international experience

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Date
2010
Authors
Rogerson, Christian
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of the Free State
Abstract
English: In 2010 the national government actively considered the introduction of a regional development fund to support the objectives of regional development in South Africa. Against this backdrop, this article critically reviews the historical application of regional incentives under apartheid and the recent international application of regional development funds. It is argued that a narrow focus on regional incentive funds represents an element of the 'old' paradigm of regional theory and regional development practices. In addressing the widening imbalances that exist in the space economy of contemporary South Africa it is prudent to link the application of 'regional development funds' to the modern paradigm of regional development planning. Within this framework, the regional development fund is no longer simply an enterprise-oriented fund centred on manufacturing. Instead, the regional fund is re-defined as a channel for supporting wider comprehensive interventions across multiple sectors and targeted to build regional competitiveness.
Afrikaans: In 2010 was die bekendstelling van 'n streeksontwikkelingsfonds om die doelwitte van streeksontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika te ondersteun aktief oorweeg deur die nasionale regering. Teen hierdie agtergrond gee hierdie artikel 'n oorsig oor die historiese toepassing van streeksvergoeding onder apartheid en die huidige internasionale toepassing van streeksontwikklingsfondse. Daar word geargumenteer dat 'n klein fokus op streeksvergoedingsfondse 'n element van die 'ou' paradigma van streeksteorie- en streeksontwikklingspraktyke verteenwoordig. In die aanspreek van die wye ongebalanseerdhede wat in die ruimte-ekonomie van kontemporêre Suid-Afrika bestaan, is dit wys om die toepassing van 'streeksontwikklingsfondse' te koppel aan die moderne paradigma van streeksontwikkelingsbeplanning. Binne hierdie raamwerk, is die streeksontwikkelingsfonds nie meer slegs 'n besigheidsgeoriënteerde fonds gesentreerd vir vervaardiging nie. Inteendeel, die streeksfonds is herdefinieer as 'n kanaal om wyer alomvattende ingryping tussen verskeie sektore te ondersteun en word geoormerk om streeksmededinging te bou.
SeSotho: Ka selemo sa 2010 ho kenngwa tshebetsong ha letlole la ntshetsopele la lebatowa ho tshehetsa maikemisetso a ntshetsopele ya lebatowa ho la Afrika Borwa ho ileng ha bewa leihlo haholo ke mmuso wa setjhaba. Tshallong morao ena, pampiri ena e tadima hape ka thata tshe bediso ya dilemo tse fetileng ya ditjhelete tsa dikgothaletso tlasa mmuso wa kgethollo le tshebediso ya lefatshe lohle ya moraonyana tjena ya letlole la ntshetsopele ya lebatowa. Ho na le ngangisano ya hore ha na le tsepamiso e tshesanyane e beilweng ho matlole a kgothaletso a lebatowa a emetseng mokgwa wa kgalekgale wa kopolo ya lebatowa esitana le phethehatso ya ntshetsopele ya lebatowa. Ho buisana ka ho sa lekalekaneng ho batsi ho etsahalang lefapheng la moruo Afrika Borwa ya kejeno ho a hlokeha ho hokela tshebediso ya matlole a ntshetsopele ya lebatowa ho moralo o motjha wa ntshetsopele ya lebatowa. Setshwantshong sena, letlole la ntshetsopele ya lebatowa ha e sa hlole e le letlole la tse shebaneng le tsa kgwebo feela le theilweng hodima tlhahiso. Ho ena le hore ho be jwalo, letlole lena la lebatowa le hlalositswe hape e le motjha wa ho tshehetsa bonamodi bo matla ho mafapha a mangatangata ebile e lebeletswe ho bopa (haha) tlhodiso ya lebatowa.
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Keywords
Regional development, Apartheid
Citation
Rogerson, C. (2010). Re-thinking the role of regional development funds in South Africa: reflections on international experience: scientific article. Town and Regional Planning, (57), 13-24.