​Last week Tuesday the Gauteng Social Development MEC, Morakane Mosupyoe, engaged with local business people to report back to communities on the passing of the township economic bill during Ntirhisano Programme at Kagisanong Community Hall, Kagiso Extension 3 in the West Rand.
In a meeting with local businesses, Mosupyoe said, “The Gauteng Legislature passed the Township Economic Bill to rebuild the economic geography of the country’s townships and disadvantaged communities. This Bill is a victory because it will ensure the economic development of our townships. In due time, through this Bill, our residents will no longer have to travel long distances to economic hubs within the province for work, but they will work where they live and our townships will also develop in leaps and bounds”, she said.

The Township Economic Development Act was passed to pave the way for province-wide implementation of game-changing interventions aimed at directly benefiting township enterprises. The Township Economic Development Act is a game-changer that should be supported since it facilitates a multi-dimensional way for the Gauteng provincial government (GPG) to change how townships are regulated and governed so that they become areas of employment-creating commercial activities. It is a progressive Act to set up better procurement rules that allow government and contractors to buy from large groups of township-based firms.

Official from the Gauteng Department of Economic Development, Siphiwe Ndlovu, added that the bill will make it easier to license township-based enterprises. Municipalities will release land and un-utilised buildings to allow those who want to conduct businesses and create jobs in our townships to apply for leases from the provincial government for properties where they can start those businesses.

A similar meeting was held at Toekomsrus Hall the following day, a week ago.