Contestation on the meanings of and their effect on interpretation of the notion of Local Economic Development
Date
2015-03-06
Authors
Mqedlana, Lwandlekazi Vuyokazi
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Abstract
Despite sustained efforts to implement Local Economic Development
(LED) in South Africa, this has not met with the success that was hoped
for. In part, this stems from the diverse conceptualizations and
interpretations of LED. The research report sought to interrogate these
diverse interpretations and meanings with the objective of establishing the
impact that such ‘differences’ might have on the policy and actual
implementation of LED in rural and urban municipalities in South Africa. To
achieve this objective, the project utilized a qualitative survey, focusing on
the cases of the urban-based UMhlathuze Local Municipality and the ruralbased
Richmond Local Municipality.
The study found that the diverse global and national ‘differences’
surrounding LED discourse have impacted significantly on how LED
policies and strategies are implemented in South Africa. This includes a
significant level of confusion regarding the most suitable implementation
strategy. The study concludes that consensus on the definition of LED
and the theoretical framework that informs LED should be reached within
the South African policy context.
Description
Thesis (M.M. (Public and Development Management))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Public and Development Management, 2014.