Ethekwini Mayor Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda has clearly articulated his expectations and implored the newly launch EThekwini Economic Council (EEC) to work swiftly at a sector level to develop broad based action plans. The EEC launched at the iNkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre today, 09 September is a significant milestone in the City’s journey towards a broad social compact that will confront the challenges that impact the growth of the City’s economy.
It serves as a platform seeking to unleash the economic potential of the City and to find solutions to socio-economic challenge.
“We also view this as a space for us to collectively respond to challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality which are a permanent in the South African socio-economic landscape,” he added.
The Council is purposed to provide expert and cross-sectoral advice to the City Leadership on economic development, investment promotion and ensuring that there is an enabling environment for business within the City.
Working in collaboration with the City Planning Commission (CPC), EThekwini Economic Council will ensure strategic alignment to the Economic Development Strategic Framework, Economic Development Policy and other Economic Development Research work.
“We are a government that is committed to genuine consultation with all stakeholders, hence today we are entering in a social compact between government, organised labour, business, academia, Traditional Leadership, Interfaith and civil society as a commitment to grow the city’s economy and build a better life for all,” said Mayor Kaunda.
One of the first tasks of the Council will be to give guidance in the implementation of the post-COVID-19 Pandemic Economic Recovery Strategy and the Radical Socio-Economic Transformation Programme.
Kaunda referred to the budget policy statement that was tabled in May this year, outlining the immediate interventions needed to drive socio-economic recovery.
Some of these include the following:
- Increasing manufacturing capacity of local industries;
- A minimum of 30% percentage of the city’s procurement spend must be utilized to establish a sustainable social solidarity economy driven by social enterprises;
- Introduce Infrastructure Procurement Reforms to drive Emerging Contractor Development Programmes;
- Implement an aggressive Oceans Economy Business Strategy;
- Establish a BBBEE Council to monitor the implementation, performance and enforcement of Sector BBBEE Charters in the Metro;
- Establish an Enterprise and Supplier Development Fund to drive value chain beneficiation, support the informal & township economy, SMME and Social Enterprise Development;
- Implement a skills revolution master plan and syndicate Skills Development Funds across government, private sector and donors focusing on the skills for the future;
- Align key economic sectors to higher education institutions to create specialized centres of excellence in the production of skills for the new economy;
- Collaboration with the Government Warehouse Platform to support the local informal, township and rural economy;
- Align the Implementation of Agri Parks Programme with rural economic development initiatives;
- Develop appropriate stimulus packages focused on reducing the cost of doing business for destressed sectors such as tourism sector and manufacturing;
- Implement aggressive Energy Reforms driven by Renewable Energy;
- Utilize the Green Economy to create jobs and support Social Enterprises.
The Mayor emphasised both the monitoring the implementation of interventions as being essential to boost the economy, reduce job losses and ultimately lead to an increase in investment as well as revenue generation.
In March 2020, a call for nomination to serve on EThekwini Economic Council was advertised in the KZN mainstream media. Through this public process, a number of nominations were received, to serve on the Council. The Municipality further embarked on a process of engaging with key role players in the City, Business Units and Clusters to identify other critical key players to augment the Council structure.
Kaunda applauded the members of the Council for accepting their respective nominations and said that it had shown that they are patriots and have demonstrated their commitment to their city and the country.
EThekwini Economic Council will be made up of the core Council structure chaired by the eThekwini Mayor, Cllr Kaunda and the Sector Workstreams.
The core Council comprises of a maximum of two candidates representing each Sector. This Council structure will convene quarterly.
The Workstreams for each Sector will comprise of a maximum five nominated members and relevant Departmental officials and Cluster members. All nominated candidates will serve in the Workstreams for the various sectors, as per their skill and expertise.
EThekwini Economic Council members’ composition is diverse in both gender and race group, ensuring the forum is ideally representative of all who live in South Africa and its business community.
Kaunda commended the key partnerships that have been developed through initiatives such as Team Durban and Shape Durban and is certain that the EEC will build on all the work done thus far and takes it further to put in place systems to deliver on the City’s promise for a better life for all.
“We are confident that together, we will rebuild an economy that places people at the centre of our recovery strategies,” said the Mayor.
A full list of the nominated council can be found on www.durban.gov.za
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