The role of the Gauteng Government in implementing township economic development

Abstract

In Gauteng Province, the effective execution of township economic development policy initiatives continues to be a crucial policy concern. The aim of this exploratory study was to determine the extent to which government plays a role in successfully implementing township economic development initiatives and in successfully supporting township businesses' economic development to ensure the success of the township economy. Throughout the inquiry, primary and secondary data sources were explored for the investigation. Semi-structured interviews were utilised to gather data for the study to obtain a thorough knowledge of the experiences of public servants working for state agencies that are accountable for and involved in executing the Act. The research approach employed in the study was qualitative. The study verified that supporting township economic growth is a collaborative, multi-agency endeavour including municipal, provincial, federal, and other government agencies in addition to private partners. The government created a comprehensive incentive and tax package. This implies that rather than being unduly involved in the growth of industries and businesses, the government should concentrate more on creating industrial and economic regulatory policies targeted for township economic development. Even though the report shows that the government is still having difficulty forcing national and international firms to carry out strategic initiatives and undertake policy actions for township development. The interview's results are consistent with the claim that strong partnerships between the public and private sectors as well as community organisations have made integrated strategic planning important for executing township economic development initiatives. The research report makes suggestions for how to better execute TEDA programmes in Gauteng's Ekurhuleni Municipalit