In the contemporary era there is an urgent global need for enhanced place-based economic development strategies. One essential element of these strategies is planning for Local Economic Development (LED). In South Africa Local Economic Development issues have galvanised widespread attention from government, NGOs, scholars and practitioners. National government acknowledges that LED is the strategic enabler for national economic and development objectives and in particular of South Africa' ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 12:24:04

Over the past few decades, the levels of unemployment have been rising and reached a peak in 2019 in South Africa of 29%. To reduce these high levels of unemployment, the key economic sectors need to play a pivotal role in job creation. Therefore, the study on which this article is based analysed the impact of key economic sectors on employment creation on a regional level in a developing region in South Africa, namely, the Capricorn District Municipal region in Limpopo Province. The objectiv ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 12:20:52

Local Economic Development (LED) aspires to build the economic capacity of a local territory and improve the economic future and quality of life of community members. The purpose of the study on which this article is based was to determine the perceived contribution of township enterprises (TEs), known as community-based enterprises (CBEs), on LED in Mabopane, Northern Gauteng, following a survey design and developing recommendations for Local Economic Development. A total of 741 respondents, ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 12:15:58

For an economy to succeed, tourism is one of the most important economic sectors, and the sector needs to be competitive to grow. Although the significance of tourism destination competitiveness (TDC) has been analysed in previous studies, it has not progressed into an empirical measurement instrument. According to the World Bank (2016), the tourism sector has a significant influence on the international economy and regional economies. This study investigated possible determinants of regional ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 12:12:35

Shebeens are commonly associated with violence, risky sexual behaviour and crime. However, the positive economic impact of shebeens on local communities is understood to a lesser degree. Using the Tshepo500000 cross-sectional dataset collected in 2017 by ResearchGO at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), this article investigates the economic contribution of shebeens in Soweto, South Africa. Findings suggest that informal businesses, shebeens in particular, improve the economic wellbeing of o ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 12:09:26

South Africa has a high youth unemployment rate. Small businesses are a crucial component of Local Economic Development (LED) initiatives because they have the ability to create jobs, dependent on local sources of raw materials, skills, niche markets, subcontracting to larger firms and have the ability to create jobs. The aim of this article is to discuss the research that was conducted to determine the capacity-building options for the youth-owned businesses in Mabopane Township to be includ ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 12:06:36

the present era, which seeks the global development agenda driven by the Sustainable Development Goals, a plethora of developments are taking place. A comprehensive assessment of the socioeconomic status of Ikageleng village was conducted in the North-West province, South Africa, in order to profile the rural community using a participatory approach. The study on which this article is based revealed the villagers' potential towards coping strategies, along with the region's abundant y ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 12:03:56

The National Development Plan (NDP) recognises the relevance of the informal sector and its value, and estimates that the sector will create about two million new jobs by 2030. Although few empirical studies have been conducted on informal trading in the past, the Quarterly Labour Force Survey conducted by Statistics South Africa portrays a relatively bleak future for the South African economy. This projection is based on the current and bothersome unemployment rate of more than 27%, along wi ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 12:01:00

Local government is mandated by the Constitution to play a leading role in promoting social and economic development. Local Economic Development (LED) is everybody's business, including the local populace, local business and government. In developing countries such as South Africa, LED is seen as a vehicle for driving solutions to improve the three social challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. This article used a qualitative approach in determining the role of local governmen ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 11:57:53

In South Africa, Local Economic Development (LED) has not fully produced the desired results because of the inability of local municipalities to drive LED, even with the establishment of economic development agencies, especially in small rural towns. The development of small rural towns through the informal economy is also key to the implementation of the goals of South Africa's developmental local government agenda. This proposition was tested using the case of Mtubatuba, a small rural t ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 11:54:42

South Africa is a state facing numerous socioeconomic challenges ranging from poor service delivery for vulnerable communities to racial inequality in financial and educational domains. Notwithstanding these and other problems to be discussed here, it is important to note that there have been some successes by the African National Congress (ANC)-led government in the form of bulk water provision, tentative social security protection measures and hybrid policies such as Broad Based Black Econo ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 11:51:08

Delays and disruptions in the completion of large road construction projects in South Africa have been a trend in recent times. These delays have impacted negatively on Local Economic Development initiatives directed at reducing poverty and the ever-escalating levels of unemployment. This article examines the causes of such disruptions in Local Economic Development (LED) projects through the lens of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide in order to determine whethe ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 11:48:27

The introduction of Local Economic Development after the attainment of freedom in 1994 was meant to improve the socioeconomic challenges in local municipalities. It is unfortunate that after two decades these socioeconomic problems still persist. Despite the existence of these socioeconomic problems (unemployment, absolute poverty and stagnant economic growth), the researcher contends that trade exports are supposed to improve local development. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investig ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 11:45:05

There have been numerous challenges impeding efforts of black women to establish, grow and sustain their small and medium businesses in South Africa. This sector is male dominated and yet females, especially black women, are predominant in the South African economically active population. If meaningful success is to be achieved, it is imperative for both public and private sectors to formulate and implement sustainable policies and strategies to stimulate, grow and sustain black women-owned b ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 11:42:45

The quest to ensure local development and the empowerment of local people has seen countries in the developing world invest considerable amounts of resources to ensure that such become realisable. South Africa is confronted by issues of inequality and a high rate of unemployment and, as a result, great emphasis has been placed on Local Economic Development (LED) as a catalyst for the eradication of poverty. The high rate of poverty in South Africa has been a consequence of both unemployment a ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 11:40:07

As economic development practice in South Africa shifts from local to Regional Economic Development (RED), stakeholders involved in projects have become more diverse and operate across different sectors and areas of jurisdiction. The complexity of stakeholder relations in this broader context needs to be given further consideration if RED is to be practised successfully. This article engages with the implementation of RED by unpacking the governance mechanisms of the Durban Aerotropolis throu ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 11:37:00

Section 152 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (hereafter referred to as the 1996 Constitution) makes provision for municipalities to work with other relevant stakeholders within their jurisdiction in matters of local government. Further, the section indicates that municipalities must ensure that they promote social and economic development to create business and employment opportunities for the local populace. One of the strategies used by municipalities to enhance the ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 11:33:14

The role of the higher education sector in fostering economic development has been understated or even not acknowledged by many. In the past, these institutions were regarded as elitist institutions of privilege, disconnected from societal needs and economic endeavours that are aimed at economic development. Internships are one type of role played by these institutions in improving not only the economy of a country, but also that of local communities making a strong argument that these instit ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 11:30:51

Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) are a significant component of Local Economic Development. By incorporating science, technology and innovation (STI) in the study of SMMEs, this article seeks to improve our understanding of their performance and their contribution to Local Economic Development. Typically, the objective in this article is to analyse the challenges of SMME development with specific regard to science, technology and innovation. On the basis of insights drawn from the ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 11:22:07

The Arts and Cultural Sector of the South African economy is one of South Africa's greatest treasures and an important component of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). It is through the EPWP that significant capital is invested in work opportunities within the Arts and Cultural Sector of the South African economy. Many well-recognised international artists originate from South Africa, which gives the country a leading advantage in tourism, trade and various other opportunities. Th ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 11:17:51

The Centre for Local Economic Development (CENLED) at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) is celebrating its 10th year since it was founded in 2008. As part of this celebration, this special issue of the Journal of Public Administration (JOPA) was conceptualised as a way of further contributing to scholarly discourse regarding the nature and modalities of Local Economic Development (LED) dynamics and its institutionalisation. Essentially, it is generally believed that municipalities are the f ...

Read More

2021-Jun-28 11:14:30