THE Gauteng provincial government has called on residents to comment on the Gauteng Township Economic Development Bill now under discussion, the ANC Caucus in the Provincial Legislature announced on Thursday.
The caucus said the provincial government has a clear mandate to put in place an enabling Legislature framework to develop and boost township economy.
“Many people in the townships are employed in the Second economy as the township economy is often referred, which overlaps to what is referred to as the informal economy,” said the party’s chief whip Mzi Khumalo.
“The nature of the jobs in the second economy are mostly survivalist in nature.”
He said the bill seeks to provide a regulatory framework to enable people in townships to establish viable and sustainable businesses in their communities.
The bill further aims to promote the diversification of the economy through regulation of participation of township based enterprises in certain sectors.
“Investment in local economy is vital for sustainability, Caucus welcomes the establishment of specific procurement rules and support to enable procurement of goods and services from township based enterprises,” said Khumalo.
“We welcome the initiative by the ANC-led government to address a historical imbalance of economic underdevelopment and marginalisation of previously disadvantaged communities.”
Khumalo said the township economic development should be seen as a bold and decisive intervention to bring much needed investment to communities that continue to face economic deprivation and exclusion.
“As a people- centred administration, we urge the people of Gauteng to make their inputs on the gazetted Bill,” he said.
“The public participation process allows for interested parties to articulate their views, we urge all interested parties to use the opportunity to engage on this important matter, the public participation process closes on 30 July 2021.”
- Inside Politics
