1. Investigating opportunities to enhance Local Economic Development using a
Community-Based planning approach:Case study of KwaNzimakhwe.
Mlonyeni, Inga Sikelela
University of KwaZulu Natal
-Questions for discussion
- Why CBP?
- Different types of developments proposed by Nzimakhwe Location residents and
how they respond to the socioeconomic needs of the community? What are the
development challenges hindering local economic development-social, political
and environmental?
- What is the way forward: Lessons that can be learned from precedent studies and
recommendations thereof?
-Key findings (subject to change as fieldwork continues)
20 of the 24 members of the group (83%) of interviewed participants are not
working, 4 (16%) are employed in domestic work in urban towns, 3 of the 20
(15%) are self employed and 17 (70%) are not employed-involved largely in odd
unsustainable jobs. The views consisting of youth and older, male and females
differ in terms of ideas on economic development and combating unemployment.
-Recommendations
• The adoption or increased consultation of the CBP approach that seeks to more
than just consult communities.
• To capitalize livelihood practices that have potential economic development and
to strategically promote and locate them along future development of mainly N2
and rural nodes
KwaNzimakhwe, Ray Nkonyeni
Municipality, KZN, South Africa
Population: 6218
Type: Case study
Focus group interviews
Development sought out by the community is based on existing resources they use to support themselves as well as an
environment for small businesses. These include: livelihoods in agriculture that support female headed households, those
that don’t work and to fight against malnutrition in households; hand craft work that includes sewing and beadwork, and a
range of small businesses. The younger working age (18-35) still look to entrepreneurship to address socioeconomic issues
whereas the middle to old age look to livelihoods to sustain families.
Identified important investment, specifically roads, that cant be ignored as a way to enhance access and the attractiveness
of the area for outside investment to increase such development. Required support from local government in the form of
information sharing, transparency of communication lines and a more involved role
Identified challenges at ground community level-political, social and environmental.