The Ditsobotla Local Municipality in Lichtenburg in the North West has conceded that its outdated 2016 Local Economic Development (LED) strategy, must be reviewed and reformed. The municipality is expected to review the strategy which is unable to bolster the local economy, create viable business and investment opportunities for the town. The review will be held during a three-day workshop which starts on Tuesday in Lichtenburg in conjunction with other stakeholders. Speaking on YouFM Newshour, Mayor Molefe Morutse said that the local economy has a potential of growing and benefitting all its people.
“If you look at our municipality, we have a bigger economy compared to other local municipalities within the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, because we have three mines producing cement, the National office of NWK and we are leading in terms of agricultural activities. The strategy will be reviewed in pursuit of improving the municipal business climate, taking into cognizance the prevalent level of disinvestments and the gloomy economy in the municipal jurisdiction,” said Morutse.
The mayor is optimistic that the reviewed strategy, if implemented correctly, will leverage resources for unlocking opportunities for entrepreneurship, Small Micro Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) and inclusive growth and development within the municipality for the benefit of communities.
“Our people will continue to get job opportunities from this big companies operating within our municipality, and business owners will continue to benefit as well including working in farms in general,” explained the mayor.
Morutse bemoaned the 2021 decision of a dairy production company, Clover, to disinvest from the municipality, leaving nearly 300 workers unemployed.
“The company raised issues of lack of service delivery like bad roads leading to their factories, shortage of water supply and unreliable electricity supply. But we have since tried to resolve the issues by stabilising the services to these companies and the people of Ditsobotla in general. These companies have even met recently to contribute to a computer lab building at the Taletso TVET College in Ditsobotla to help students with necessary tools to study and improve their studies,” remarked Morutse.
He committed his administration to work harder to return Ditsobotla to its former glory, to pave a way for the municipality to attract and retain investment within the municipal area.The municipality has also committed to strengthening collaboration between the public and private sector, non-governmental organizations, and civil society, for the benefit of local communities.
The workshop will be attended by the South African Local Government Association, Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality Mayor Khumalo Molefe, MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Oageng Molapisi, and MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation & Tourism, Bitsa Lenkopane.
