EKURHULENI TO TRANSFORM TOWNSHIP ECONOMY TO ECONOMIC ZONES

The City is stepping up its efforts to transform townships into dynamic economic zones through the Township Economy Development Strategy.

This initiative places informal businesses and small enterprises at the heart of local economic development and is designed to provide much-needed infrastructure, financial backing, and regulatory support to the township economy.

During his recent State of the City Address, Executive Mayor Alderman Nkosindiphile Xhakaza reaffirmed the City’s commitment to revitalising township economies by leveraging broader economic imperatives.

These include strengthening entrepreneurship, advancing enterprise development, and formalising informal trading.

“Our Township Economic Development Programme is not isolated, but it is about connecting the dots — entrepreneurship, infrastructure, regularisation of informal businesses, and integrating township-based SMMEs into the formal value chain of our broader economy,” said Mayor Xhakaza.

The Mayor further stressed that for this integration to succeed, the City must align its efforts with critical regulatory frameworks. This includes the regularisation of informal trading zones, streamlining building plan approvals, and optimally applying the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act to support business infrastructure compliance and development in township areas.