In a significant move to boost economic development and investment in the region, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, will lead the Eastern Seaboard Development Ministerial Engagement on October 8, 2024. This high-level meeting will bring together Premiers Oscar Mabuyane and Thami Ntuli of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, respectively, along with traditional leaders, MECs, mayors, and councillors from four districts: Ugu, Harry Gwala, OR Tambo, and Alfred Nzo.
The Eastern Seaboard Regional Development, declared a strategic area in June 2022, spans across 17 local municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. With its Regional Spatial Development Framework in place, the region is poised for investment and growth ¹.
Key Objectives of the Ministerial Engagement:
- Review Progress: Assess the current status of the Eastern Seaboard programme.
- Future Plans: Agree on plans for moving forward with the programme’s implementation.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Foster traditional leadership participation and awareness-raising among all stakeholders.
Launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2021, the Eastern Seaboard Development aims to leverage the region’s untapped potential to stimulate economic growth and improve livelihoods. As a flagship project under the District Development Model, it seeks to integrate urban and rural development, driving spatially referenced transformation ¹.
Media Invitation:
Members of the media are invited to cover the Ministerial engagement:
- Date: 08 October 2024
- Time: 09:00 – 14:00
- Venue: Wild Coast Sun, Port Edward
This critical meeting promises to accelerate economic development and investment in the region, and the media’s presence will provide valuable visibility to the initiative’s progress.
