A study of the Drakenstein Local Municipality's five main urban economic sectors with special reference to the municipality's strategic objectives

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: "The South African Constitution (1996) promotes the improvement of liVing environments andlivelihoods for all constituents by means of a developmental approach to local governance" (IDASA,2005:2). The development role of local government can be understood through the consideration offour basic drivers which includes planning for development, governance and administration,regulation and service delivery. The Drakenstein Local Municipality is committed to ensuresustainable economic growth and development by increasing national and provincialcompetitiveness as well as the reduction of poverty. Key to this process is the retention andexpansion of existing businesses as well as the attraction of new investment. The main focus of thisresearch study is the promotion of business development as it forms part of local economicdevelopment (LED) and is also an integral part of integrated development planning (IDP) at localgovernment level. The introduction of proposed targeted investment incentives is aimed atfacilitating the implementation of the Drakenstein Local Municipality's strategic developmentobjectives. The proposed intervention options should be a special effort to attract investment to thestudy area which will result in a positive spill-over effect in the Drakenstein Local Municipality's localeconomy. Intervention options can be developed in terms of investment incentives that can bringabout job creation, economic development and poverty alleviation in the study area as set out intheir strategic deveiopment objectives.