1 November 2017
Embargo: For immediate release.
Enquiries:
Cobus Oelofse, CEO, iLembe Chamber of Commerce, ceo@ilembechamber.co.za
Linda Mncube, Manager: Planning and IDP (iDM), Linda.Mncube@ilembe.gov.za

Establishment of the iLembe District Economic Development Facilitation Committee
The iLembe District Municipality and the iLembe Chamber of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 1st of November 2017, resulting in the establishment of the iLembe District Economic Development Facilitation Committee. The MOU was signed by the Mayor of the iLembe District, His Worship Cllr Siduduzo Gumede and the President of the iLembe Chamber, Xolani Gumede. The MOU will pursue the goals and objectives detailed in the Committee’s Terms of Reference approved by the iLembe Intergovernmental Forum on the 7th of September 2017.
The purpose of the iLembe Economic Development Facilitation Committee is to create an institutional platform from which local government, business, organized labour and civil society, as social partners, can promote investment, economic development and the resulting job creation in the iLembe District.

The ensuing guiding principles are:

1. The encouragement and unlocking of development that will lead to economic growth;

2. Providing a platform for improved communication and relations between the public and private sectors;

3. Reducing red tape that delays and/or discourages investment in the iLembe District;

4. Recognize and acknowledge the mandates of local municipalities, especially relating to the technical assessment and approval of development applications;

5. Facilitate the implementation of identified and commonly agreed catalytic projects; and

6. The provision of strategic direction for the development and implementation of policies that encourage the establishment of labour-absorbing industries with the iLembe District.

The primary legislative, regulatory and policy basis for the Economic Development Facilitation Committee is derived from commitments contained in the South African Constitution, which requires municipalities to promote social and economic development and be development oriented.

The White Paper on Local Government highlights its responsibilities aimed at ensuring that economic and social conditions are conducive to the creation of employment opportunities. This includes, amongst others, the provision of enabling infrastructure, simplifying existing procedures, speeding up approval procedures and processes and the introduction of policies aimed at poverty alleviation and enhancing job creation.

According to Mayor Gumede, a clear vision for the local iLembe economy is essential, and a close working partnership with the local business community is thus an imperative to maximizing investment in the district.

Cobus Oelofse, the CEO of the iLembe Chamber, welcomed the institutionalizing of engagement between the social partners within the iLembe District, specifically business and government.
“The importance of these partnership engagements has been established nationally through Nedlac, and provincially through the KZN Economic Council. The establishment of the Economic Development Facilitation Committee must provide the momentum that is so desperately needed by all regional economies across the country, including ours in iLembe.”

Press statement read as follows:

The iLembe Chamber of Commerce and the Umfolozi TVET College signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday, the 15th of June 2017, thereby formalising their private/public sector partnership aimed at optimising the teaching and learning mandates of the two entities.

The MoU, understood to be a first for South Africa, was borne out of the Umfolozi College’s intention to make TVET education more responsive to the needs of all stakeholders, but especially business, thereby ensuring that it makes a meaningful contribution to addressing national socio-economic goals.

The agreement will, amongst others, facilitate and streamline the placement of students from the College, on internships and apprenticeships with Chamber members. The two parties also agreed to collaborate to ensure that the Umfolozi College curricula is adapted to meet industry needs, current and long term, as well as ensuring that course content is more practical and relevant to industry. A further area of collaboration is the entrepreneurial support and development of students and business linkages. The Umfolozi College will also support the Chamber in the education and innovation activities of the Isithebe Business Cluster that was established for the Isithebe Business Park in Mandeni.

The partnership collaboration resulted from a study tour in 2016 to Germany, looking at that country’s renowned dual vocational education and training model. The delegation from the national Department of Higher Education and Training, Umfolozi TVET College and the iLembe Chamber was hosted by the Kreishandwerkerschaft, a trade and business association, for the German districts of Steinfurt and Warendorf. It formed part of this association and the German Government’s “Export of Education” initiative through which they share their know-how abroad.

The iLembe District Municipality and the iLembe Chamber of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 1st of November 2017, resulting in the establishment of the iLembe District Economic Development Facilitation Committee. The MOU was signed by the Mayor of the iLembe District, His Worship Cllr Siduduzo Gumede and the President of the iLembe Chamber, Xolani Gumede. The MOU will pursue the goals and objectives detailed in the Committee’s Terms of Reference approved by the iLembe Intergovernmental Forum on the 7th of September 2017.
The purpose of the iLembe Economic Development Facilitation Committee is to create an institutional platform from which local government, business, organized labour and civil society, as social partners, can promote investment, economic development and the resulting job creation in the iLembe District. The ensuing guiding principles are:

1. The encouragement and unlocking of development that will lead to economic growth;
2. Providing a platform for improved communication and relations between the public and private sectors;
3. Reducing red tape that delays and/or discourages investment in the iLembe District;
4. Recognize and acknowledge the mandates of local municipalities, especially relating to the technical assessment and approval of development applications;
5. Facilitate the implementation of identified and commonly agreed catalytic projects; and
6. The provision of strategic direction for the development and implementation of policies that encourage the establishment of labour absorbing industries with the iLembe District.

The primary legislative, regulatory and policy basis for the Economic Development Facilitation Committee is derived from commitments contained in the South African Constitution, which requires municipalities to promote social and economic development and be development oriented.
The White Paper on Local Government highlights its responsibilities aimed at ensuring that economic and social conditions are conducive to the creation of employment opportunities. This includes, amongst others, the provision of enabling infrastructure, simplifying existing procedures, speeding up approval procedures and processes and the introduction of policies aimed at poverty alleviation and enhancing job creation.

According to Mayor Gumede, a clear vision for the local iLembe economy is essential, and a close working partnership with the local business community is thus an imperative to maximizing investment in the district.

Cobus Oelofse, the CEO of the iLembe Chamber, welcomed the institutionalizing of engagement between the social partners within the iLembe District, specifically business and government.
“The importance of these partnership engagements has been established nationally through Nedlac, and provincially through the KZN Economic Council. The establishment of the Economic Development Facilitation Committee must provide the momentum that is so desperately needed by all regional economies across the country, including ours in iLembe.”