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Integrated Planning and Economic Development

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Mr Zolile Duze

Director

Ms Zintle Luhabe
Secretary

DEPARTMENT PORTFOLIO

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTORATE/SECTION(Briefly)

  • To ensure development and implementation of regional economic strategies, viz. CHREDS, CHDM Vision 2030 and DERP in line with IDP of the District.
  • To ensure development and/or review of the sector plans, e.g. Tourism and Heritage Development Plan, Agricultural Development Plan, Forestry Development Plan, SMME Development Plan and Human settlement development Plan.
  • To ensure strategic alignment with NDP, PDP and related plans and strategies.
  • To contribute on the economic development and growth in the district as envisaged in the NDP 2030, To strengthen regional LED and Human Settlement coordination and implementation system​​​​​​​
  • To facilitate the effective implementation of overall economic development and Human settlement programmes and projects, in line with District Development Model.
  • Support local municipalities in the exercise of their powers and the performance of their duties in respect of LED and human settlements development
  • Increasing access to housing and quality living environments through destitute programme.
  • Ensure that municipal building facilities are constructed and maintained systematically and effectively so that meaningful return on investment is realised.

Local Economic Development

The philosophy underpinning the basic understanding in the of the CHDM Council in relation to the economic trajectory of the District is that of “positioning the region in such a way as to maximise the economic potentials offered by its natural endowments and making choices about where to allocate scarce resources to ensure maximum impact so that the region gets the best possible economic leverage to achieve its economic and social objectives”

Housing Function and Main Role-Players

Schedule 4 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, read together with Section 9 of the Housing Act, 107 of 1997, places the housing competency on both the Provincial Administration (co-ordinated by the Provincial Department of Human Settlements) as well as the Local Municipalities. However, the Chris Hani District Municipality, as adhering to the responsibilities as stipulated in the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 117 of 1998, has taken the position to co-ordinate, support and guide the process of housing development within the district area. To further enhance the responsibilities charged against the CHDM, in 2011, the Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements granted the CHDM the status of being a developer for the replacement of temporal housing structures with the construction of permanent houses within the district area as a whole. CHDM has embarked on the process of assisting Local Co-operative clay brick makers in the district in partnership with the Chris Hani Cooperative Development Center with the aim of getting an accredited clay brick that can be used to construct housing projects within the district. The programme has been piloted at Inkwanca Local Municipality and thereafter it will be rollout to other LMs. The service provider Cermalab was appointed through CDC to train cooperatives at Molteno with 14 Members (12 Females, 2 Males and None Youth Members) and Sterkstroom Site with 15 Members (6 Females, 9 Males and None youth members). The Bricks produced during training at Sterkstroom met the required strength of 4MPA and the bricks produced at Molteno did not meet the required strength however the service provider is still on site trying to get the required strength for that site. The main challenge identified at molten was that their soil has shale which makes it difficult to be grinded to make fine aggregates. Hammer mill has been procured to grind the shale with the hope that positive results will be acquired at Molten. As part of the programme CHDM has established both sites for Molteno and Sterkstroom. 4 brick production machinery have been purchased; 1 hammer mill has been purchased; 50 x50m fencing is under erection; 12 x 6m steel sheds have been constructed. CHDM has provided coops with protecting working clothing, rain water tanks etc.

Town Planning Function

Part B of Schedules 4 and 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, places the function of town planning on Local Municipalities. However, in line with the position as taken by the Council of the CHDM of providing hands on support to all its Local Municipalities, and also in adherence to the prescripts of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 117 of 1998, the CHDM has, through its Development Planning Unit of the Integrated Planning and Economic Development Directorate (IPED), made available the position of the town planner with the task of assisting Local Municipalities in the following aspects: Determine the efficiency and consistency of municipal spatial tools, i.e.; SDFs, GIS and LUMS in addressing spatial matters; Identifying and prioritising municipalities requiring urgent assistance particularly those without the services of a town planner; Ensure alignment of SDFs in terms of development, review and implementation; Provide technical support to Local Municipalities in terms of developing credible SDFs; and To keep abreast of legislation and trends as this relates to town planning. Furthermore, the Development Planning Unit has established the District Town Planners Forum whose main objectives are to look at specific town planning issues affecting the function throughout the district. This forum is comprised of town planners/land use and/or spatial planning officials from the CHDM and all its local Municipalities.