"It is not rocket science" - Midvaal's take on LED.
Have a look at yesterday's article on LED in Midvaal that was published in BusinessDay. Through efficient services, customer orientation, cutting red tape and seeing the Municipality as facilitator of LED through businesses, rather than creating jobs themselves, they succeeded in attracting a Heineken brewery as a large employer and outcompeted the Gauteng metros. And this is just one example. Click here to read the full article.
What is your take on this? Have they got it right in Midvaal? Is this how municipalities should consider and take up their role as 'LED enablers' and then focus on getting the basics right and let businesses develop and create the jobs? Or - if you don't agree, why not? Why is it maybe not that simple and what should municipalities focus on? Give us your examples and stories.
This is a big discussion and we have heard many opinions and seen examples pointing in the same direction. And if it is not rocket science as most would probably agree, discuss what the barriers are that prevent it from being realised on the ground.
I would suggest that there is a hidden precedent behind the story of Midvaal by Tim Nast and Gavin Lewis, in that Midvaal Local Government facilitated a great partnership deal where all role-players gained different but mutually beneficial outcomes. This facilitation style of management is I believe how all local governments in South Africa could finally get our Constitution working properly along with their respective local economies.
Closing the great divides between the institutions of politics, economics, and local civil society requires the building of a three-way bridge that connects all three. And, as with all bridges, it has to be simultaneously built from all three sides of the divide until they finally meet in the middle. This is where local government fails at the moment: they think they can build this bridge on their own and it ends up as a partial-bridge to nowhere - except down.
As the de facto project managers for Constitutional bridge building, local government should be following Midvaal's example of efficiently enabling all role-players to build their own part of the bridge whilst at the same time providing the essential services and support which will ensure this three-way bridge meets in the middle. A gain-gain-gain scenario like that of Midvaal would surely be the outcome if they did.
Ian Dewar. Botrivier.
“Heineken to build local brewery”, SAinfo website 4 April 2008
Amsterdam-based brewer Heineken has announced that it will build its first local brewery, to the south of Johannesburg, in partnership with spirits company Diageo, mainly to produce and bottle its Heineken and Amstel brands of beer.
The site chosen is in the Sedibeng district of Gauteng province, between the towns of Vereeniging and Alberton.
"The location of the brewery was a difficult decision based on far more than just geology, geography and infrastructure," Heineken regional president for Africa and Middle East Tom de Man said in a statement this week.
"We are also very aware that southern Johannesburg is an area that will benefit enormously from new commercial investment, which will in turn assist and enable social and economic progress in the whole area."
The choice in location has also enabled the company to gain strong support from the government, various development agencies and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Good Day All
This is well said, thumps up for the efforts and good work on Local Economic Development. This approach needs to be explored further and customised to our localities.
In most Municipalities we look at quick wins and this does not do us just, our focus should be placed on sustainability and viability in each and every project we embark on.
Kind Regards
Maphala Mosomane
I acknoledge what ever good things that people do for communities like what Midvaal but I have concern in their way of appraoching things . Firstly in SA we have to acknowledge that local municipalities have similar functions however their situations and material conditions are very unique and therefore it is not correct to come to up with a subjective comparative analyis within this circumstances most in particular in situation where the former regime led by their predecessors created spatial economic imbalances. surely even today in the Midvaal the status quo remains , unless there is enviromental justice and economic equity in that areas I would then buy the story. secondly it is very relevant to highlight that LED coordination in the context of SA particularly with regard to attraction of FDIs . This intiatives are masterminded and approved by line function national departments namely DTI , and DIRCO . These two departments are worth to be appluaded for the good work for their facilitation role regarding the Heineken Factory . To our little undestanding all FDIs are subjected to appraisal by these relevant departments. Thirdly it is important for us all to understand that EPWP projects may come to end due to project milestone but however the physical infrastructure remain in use ona long term besides that beneficiaries/participants of the projects reach their next life with skills certificates in their own possession . I therefore argue with a notion that EPWP does not have an element of sustainability . fourthly , it is important to take note that government intervention on the economy is of priority . this approach has identified the need to accelerate growth through the following , skills training through Setas, recall of scares from abroad(jipsa), attraction of FDI , invention on the 2nd economy and of course support the 1st economy to meet required macro economic patterns.In gauteng eg the City Region concept also tried to make intervention on the capacity of local government in Gauteng to improve its economy and the livelihood of its citizens. 2010 World Cup which Midvaal benefitted from as a Host Camp is one of the classical example of economic injection in South Africa in particular benefitting local municipalities . In conclusion , I believe that midvaal has couple of LED examples to share but let it not be at the expense of other local municipalities .
by Tello- on his personal capacity .