Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and provincial MECs have welcomed the gazetting of the Eastern Seaboard as a unitary region by Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza.
Dlamini Zuma recently convened and led a hybrid COGTA Ministers and Members of Executive Councils Meeting (MINMEC) meeting in Mpumalanga. The MINMEC deliberated on a range of issues affecting local governance and traditional leadership.
The meeting received an update on the plans and progress on implementation with regards to the Eastern Seaboard since its launch on 11 November 2021 by President Ramaphosa.
The Eastern Seaboard project is aimed at connecting the villages, towns and cities of the Wild Coast Corridor – which comprises unique ecological zones and tourism routes – with provincial, national and continental economies through transportation infrastructure and information technology.
The development is along a 120 kilometre coastal stretch between Margate and Port St Johns, with supporting gateways between Kokstad and Mbizana.
The Eastern Seaboard development is a broad and multifaceted vision to develop a new smart city and to bring in new developments across KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
The Eastern Seaboard is a District Development Model (DDM) flagship project, which aims to connect developmental opportunities across the four district municipalities of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces.
COGTA spokesperson, Lungi Mtshali, said the MINMEC noted and welcomed progress made thus far with regards to the Eastern Seaboard.
“The meeting recommended the involvement of all communities, the prioritisation of SMMEs and cooperatives. These should be encouraged and supported also through training and skulking, especially targeting the youth.
“We need to look at comparative advantages like tourism, the ocean economy, and supporting SMMEs to get licences to participate in the development.
“The feature of the new city must reflect the demographics of our country, hence the importance of skills, which is the second fastest equaliser,” he said.
The MINMEC also received a report on the allocation of funds for flooding incidents.
“The meeting urged for continued work to bring relief and assist the affected communities,” Mtshali said.
MINMEC also received a presentation from the Department of Traditional Affairs on the formula to determine the number of Khoi-San council members. It was updated on the legal constitution of the Houses of Traditional Leaders.
The meeting was also informed that the reconstitution of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders will be held on 31 October 2022 in Pretoria. – SAnews.gov.za
