Establishment of the iLembe District Economic Development Facilitation Committee

The iLembe District Municipality and the iLembe Chamber of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 1st of November 2017, resulting in the establishment of the iLembe District Economic Development Facilitation Committee. The MOU was signed by the Mayor of the iLembe District, His Worship Cllr Siduduzo Gumede and the President of the iLembe Chamber, Xolani Gumede. The MOU will pursue the goals and objectives detailed in the Committee’s Terms of Reference approved by the iLembe Intergovernmental Forum on the 7th of September 2017.

The purpose of the iLembe Economic Development Facilitation Committee is to create an institutional platform from which local government, business, organised labour and civil society, as social partners, can promote investment, economic development and the resulting job creation in the iLembe District. The ensuing guiding principles are:

1. The encouragement and unlocking of development that will lead to economic growth.

2. Providing a platform for improved communication and relations between the public
and private sectors.

3. Reducing red tape that delays   and/or discourages investment   in the iLembe District.

4. Recognise and acknowledge the mandates of local municipalities, especially relating to the technical    assessment and approval of development applications.

5. Facilitate the implementation of identified and commonly agreed catalytic projects.

6. The provision of strategic direction for the development and implementation of policies that encourage the establishment of labour absorbing industries with the iLembe District.

The primary legislative, regulatory and policy basis for the Economic Development Facilitation Committee is derived from commitments contained in the South African Constitution, which requires municipalities to promote social and economic development and be development oriented.

The White Paper on Local Government highlights its responsibilities, aimed at ensuring that economic and social conditions are conducive to the creation of employment opportunities. This includes, amongst others, the provision of enabling infrastructure, simplifying existing procedures, speeding up approval procedures and processes and the introduction of policies aimed at poverty alleviation and enhancing job creation. 

According to Mayor Gumede, a clear vision for the local iLembe economy is essential, and a close working partnership with the local business community is thus an imperative to maximising investment in the district.
Cobus Oelofse, the CEO of the iLembe Chamber, welcomed the institutionalising of engagement between the social partners within the iLembe District, specifically business and government.

“The importance of these partnership engagements has been established nationally through Nedlac, and provincially through the KZN Economic Council. The establishment of the Economic Development Facilitation Committee must provide the momentum that is so desperately needed by all regional economies across the country, including ours in iLembe.”
      
Enquiries:
Cobus Oelofse
CEO, iLembe Chamber of Commerce
ceo@ilembechamber.co.za

Linda Mncube
Manager: Planning and IDP (iDM)
Linda.Mncube@ilembe.gov.za
www.ilembechamber.co.za/

L-R: President of the iLembe Chamber, Xolani Gumede and the Mayor of the iLembe District, His Worship Cllr Siduduzo Gumede