President Ramaphosa drops in for district development project
The President said government's vision is to translate policy into practice and to overcome the legacy of apartheid spatial planning.
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the South Coast last Friday and met with various stakeholders at the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre, to discuss development and economic growth along a 120km stretch of the coastline between Margate and Port St Johns.
The Ramaphosa-led government has planned to start a District Development Model project, to link provinces to strengthen economic ties between districts.
The President said government’s vision is to translate policy into practice and to overcome the legacy of apartheid spatial planning.
“It is a model aimed at promoting better inter-governmental coordination, planning, budgeting and implementation. The District Development Model puts local government at the centre of our country’s growth and development.”
The President believes that this will create job opportunities, oceans economy, tourism, agriculture, mining, oil and gas development.
He mentioned that the recent local government elections has provided a clear direction of what citizens need and want and he believes that this is going to better people’s lives.
This development is aimed at connecting villages, towns and cities.
The development is along a 120km coastal stretch between Margate and Port St Johns with gateways between Kokstad and Mbizana. Ramaphosa said he is certain that this will attract investors into the area and opportunities for communities.
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Dlamini-Zuma said she hopes that this city will be a safe place for women and children.
“We are expecting economic growth and we want more young people to participate in this development. We want private sectors and young people to be a big part of this,” said Dlamini-Zuma.
This event was attended by ministers, premiers, business forums, municipal officials from both the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
Amongst them was also Gregory Mofokeng, the vice-president of the Black Business Council.
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