UMGUNGUNDLOVU DISTRICT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN TAB LE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 PURPOSE ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 UMGUNGUNDLOVU DISTRICT ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 PROVINCIAL PLANNING ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.3.1 PROVINCIAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN .............................................................................................................................................................................. 4 1.3.2 THE RATIONALE FOR DEVELOPING THE DISTRICT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN .................................................................................................................... 6 1.3.3 THE UMDM INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PLAN ................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 1.4 UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 1.4.1 A PRODUCTIVE REGION (DISTRICT) ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.4.2 AN INCLUSIVE REGION (DISTRICT) ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.4.3 A SUSTAINABLE REGION (DISTRICT) .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.4.4 EMPOWERMENT AND ERADICATING POVERTY .................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 1.4.5 A WELL-GOVERNED REGION (DISTRICT) .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 2 STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 2.1 DEVELOPMENT VISION ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9 2.2 STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 3 STRATEGIC GOAL 1: ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (JOB CREATION) ......................................................................................................................................... 11 3.1 DEVELOPING AND DIVERSIFYING THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR ................................................................................................................................................................. 11 3.1.1 DIVERSIFICATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF NICHE MARKETS AND AGRI-PROCESSING OPPORTUNITIES..................................... 14 3.1.2 DEVELOPMENT OF EMERGING COMMERCIAL FARMERS .................................................................................................................................................................. 15 3.1.3 PROTECTION AND REHABILITATION OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................................... 16 3.1.4 EXPEDITE LAND CLAIM RESOLUTIONS .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 17 3.1.5 EXPANSION OF IRRIGATION SCHEMES AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY ............................................................................................................................................... 17 3.2 ENHANCE SECTORAL DEVELOPMENT ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 17 3.2.1 ENHANCE VALUE-ADDING WITHIN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR ................................................................................................................................................ 17 3.2.2 DEVELOP, DIVERSIFY AND MARKET THE TOURISM SECTOR TO INCREASE DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VISITORS ................................................................................ 18 3.2.3 IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THE TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS SECTORS ....................................................................................................... 19 3.2.4 FACILITATE THE EXPANSION OF INVESTMENT INTO THE SERVICES SECTOR ..................................................................................................................................... 19 3.2.5 ESTABLISH DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT AGENCY TO DRIVE LED AND INVESTMENT .............................................................................................................................. 19 3.2.6 DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES AND INDUSTRIAL HUBS .......................................................................................................................................... 19 3.2.7 STRENGTHENING THE EXISTING BUSINESS CHAMBER FOR IMPROVED PARTNERSHIPS AND FUNCTIONALITY ................................................................................ 20 3.3 EXPAND GOVERNMENT-LED JOB CREATION PROGRAMMES ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20 3.3.1 SUPPORT ENHANCED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EXTENDED PUBLIC WORK PROGRAMME (EPWP) ............................................................................................... 20 3.3.2 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ACCORD............................................................................................................................................................. 21 3.3.3 FACILITATE EXPANDED ACCESS TO THE JOBS FUND ......................................................................................................................................................................... 22 3.4 PROMOTING SMME AND ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................................................................. 22 3.4.1 FACILITATION OF ACCESS TO MARKETS FOR SMALL ENTERPRISES ................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.4.2 FACILITATION OF ACCESS TO FINANCE FOR SMALL ENTERPRISES .................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.4.3 CAPACITY BUILDING AND MENTORSHIP SUPPORT FOR SMALL ENTERPRISES .................................................................................................................................. 23 3.4.4 IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF B–BBEE ........................................................................................................................................................................ 23 3.4.5 ACCESS TO APPROPRIATELY LOCATED FACILITIES WITH LINKED SERVICES ....................................................................................................................................... 24 3.5 ENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 3.5.1 STRENGHTEN PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR AND RESEARCH AND TERTIATY INSTITUTIONS .................................................................. 25 3.5.2 ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICT INNOVATION HUBS ..........................................................................................................................................................................