Message from Mayor Cllr Zandile Gumede
Twenty two years into our freedom and democracy, the majority of black people are still economically disempowered. They are dissatisfied with the status quo. This is one of the reasons we want to dedicate this term of office to radical economic transformation.
President Jacob Zuma has called on all of us to move from making statements regarding radical economic transformation and to start with practical programmes. The President has said that the role of the state in the economy is to drive transformation. This is why we are implementing the Radical Economic Transformation Framework that will give opportunities to youth, women, disabled, military veterans and rural communities. The level of poverty, rate of service delivery, disruption of projects in communities and a slow pace of economic transformation has always been a concern for us. These, in the main, are caused by lack of meaningful participation of our people in the economic mainstream and it is about to change. This new framework will ensure inclusion of citizens in projects that are taking place at ward level, resulting in the improvement of economic and social wellbeing of the poor communities.
We are accelerating our interventions to achieve economic emancipation and equality for the majority of our citizens. Non-availability of skills, high unemployment rate, poverty and inequality remain a major concern for economic growth. This then demands that we strengthen our partnership with various institutions to promote innovation and identify sectors that have a potential to accelerate economic growth. Through adequate skilling, mentoring and empowerment, our citizens will be able to access opportunities in the sectors that are mainly dominated by the minority. This move will address socio-economic challenges in their area by creating decent employment and greater economic inclusion. Constraints to new entrants in key projects executed by the City will be unblocked, through the provision of adequate support to ensure small businesses are able to compete with big businesses in the mainstream economy. That is why the framework will provide an invaluable platform for merging and established businesses to network and build viable relationships leading to a sustainable economy. This radical transformation is inevitable through better coordinated land use management and spatial development.
That is why we need to invest on strategic infrastructure development to ensure a new built environment and that inclusive spatial landscape emerges. By this we are improving the living standard and quality life for the citizens of eThekwini. As a caring Municipality, we will ensure the effectiveness of this Framework. The City leadership will work with various sectors to provide expertise for the development of new businesses that will create necessary employment and meaningful growth of the City’s economy. In turn, this will gives our local businesses a potential growth to globally competitive businesses which will in turn attract more investors. It is the intention of this Framework to deepen the Municipality’s effort to transform the economy of the City. I invite all stakeholders to work with us to improve the quality of life of the eThekwini citizens.