VEREENIGING.- The The Sedibeng District Municipality (SDM), in partnership with the Department of Cooperative Governance, recently hosted a stakeholder engagement workshop at the Vaal Teknorama Museum in Duncanville.

This, the municipality said, was meant to shape the area’s new Local Economic Development Strategy (LED).

The gathering allowed local participants to review the findings of the Sedibeng District Situational Analysis and help guide the future direction of the regional economy.

Key presentations during the programme came from the Gauteng Department of Economic Development, focusing on modernising the economy and innovation, and the Vaal Special Economic Zone (SEZ) regarding re-industrialisation.

Attendees joined working sessions to focus on economic priorities, project readiness, and implementation plans.

These discussions aimed to create a shared vision, identify priority sectors, and rank projects based on how quickly they can be carried out.

Its true value depends entirely on whether it leads to sustainable businesses and job creation.

Speaking at the event, Acting Municipal Manager Atwell Sijadu said, “It’s important that we do not get married to our past ideas. We need to remain flexible in our solution-finding and open to new ways of tackling old problems if we are to build an economy that truly works for Sedibeng’s residents.”

Echoing these thoughts, Klippies Kritzinger of the Vaal Business Chamber (VBC) said that while the session was well-run and attended, “Its true value depends entirely on whether it leads to sustainable businesses and job creation.”