Evaluating the implementation of Local Economic Development: the case of Emfuleni Local Municipality

Abstract

The apartheid legacy left South Africa with a significant need of economic restructuring. The South African government had to transform its economy so as to improve the livelihoods of its communities and mend the gap between the rural and urban communities. This led to the formulation and implementation of the national Local Economic Development policy, for its effective implementation, the South African government realised the significance of the local government and through the Constitution, Act 108 of 1996, it provided the local government with a mandate to play a developmental role. The objective of developmental local government was to assist the national government in transforming the local communities through taking the National Local Economic Development policy to ground levels of the country as a whole. Through developmental local government, the local municipalities are provided with a responsibility to create and implement Local Economic Development Strategies; these strategies must be in line with the guidelines provided in the Local Economic Development Framework. The Local Economic Strategies must provide the municipalities with the direction and approach on how to improve the economic situation within their respective jurisdictions. The Local Economic Initiatives or programmes entailed within these strategies must be based on objectives to provide sustainable development to the local communities, through meaningful job opportunities, skills development, infrastructure improvement, etc.