Urbanisation planned to boost local economy
SA Cabinet aims to ‘close the gaps’ around Richards Bay with human settlement
IDENTIFIED by government as a city still spread out in a ‘typical apartheid spatial pattern’, the SA Cabinet is now determined to unlock land surrounding Richards Bay for human settlement.
Richards Bay and Polokwane have been picked as the two pilot cities where the Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF), approved only two weeks ago by Cabinet, will be implemented.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said the IUDF, spearheaded by Cogta, the World Bank and the City Support Programme of National Treasury, aims to manage urbanisation and fast-track economic development, job creation and improve living conditions.
According to density studies, uMhlathuze’s highest population rate is in eSikhaleni, Empangeni and eNseleni, where the ‘more suburban’ Richards Bay has a much lower populace.
Recently, a meeting was held at the City of uMhlathuze Municipality to discuss hurdles to the plan, attended by representatives of Cogta, the World Bank, National Treasury, the City Development Department, the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone, Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Transnet National Ports Authority.
‘Any issues standing in the way of awakening this sleeping giant (Richards Bay) will be taken up with the Cabinet in coming months,’ said National Cogta Deputy Director Thandeka Kabeni.
‘This framework is at the top of their agenda.
‘It is not one of those plans that will sit on a shelf.’
Stakeholders said a long list of snags crippling city growth and complicating expansion includes the ‘stagnant’ port development, red tape chasing away investors and the City being largely based on environmentally sensitive wetland.
Kabeni said these challenges must all be addressed by the three different spheres of government and a collective effort by all sectors effected, including the private sector.
‘We will need a whole range of tools to fix these different issues for a system that is conducive to growth.
‘Plans by all departments and the municipality must be aligned to provide people with housing, roads and bulk services.
‘We will also tackle the red tape holding back investment.’
