Eastern Cape Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Fikile Xasa, said political stability in municipalities was a pre-requisite for attracting investors to the province.
Commenting on Friday at the end of a three-day Local Economic Development Partnership Summit in East London, MEC Xasa said this would help create jobs and grow the local economy.
In a statement, the MEC said that “the three-day summit was an opportunity wherein key stakeholders from the private and public sectors “shared valuable information for collaboration to counter unemployment, inequality and under development.”
“A solid foundation has been laid for sustainable partnerships to grow the Provincial economy through support to municipalities to perform their functions and manage their own affairs. Above all, we must emphasise that political stability and a sound administration in municipalities is the first steps towards attracting the much-needed investment opportunities,” said Xasa.
He said he would be presenting the Post Summit Implementation Plan to the Executive Council of the Eastern Cape Province for authorisation and implementation in January 2018 after adequate consultation has been done.
“The 30 day payment period by all sector departments and municipalities to sustain Small, Medium and Marco Enterprises, will receive vigorous monitoring in the implementation plan,” said MEC Xasa.
The Executive Director of the Border Kei Chamber of Business Les Holbrook said the summit offered an opportunity to engage and they have emerged with a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders.
“Full marks to Cogta MEC for organising the LED Summit! The value of the Summit will be measured by the implementation of its resolutions,” said Holbrook.
The Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said the highlight of the Summit was the signing of Memorandums of Agreements (MoA) between Mohair South Africa with Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality and COGTA-EC and between COGTA-EC, Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality and the University of Fort Hare.
“The MoA's will provide support to municipalities to accelerate the provision of basic services and infrastructure development, amongst other things,” the Department said.
