A new forum has been launched in a strategic initiative to empower municipalities through intergovernmental collaboration and drive inclusive growth and enhance economic prosperity for the Gauteng City Region.

Established by the South African Local Government Association (Salga) Gauteng, in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and the Gauteng Department of Economic Development, the new Gauteng Local Economic Development Forum (GLEDF) is an important milestone in fostering economic growth and attracting investment.

The GLEDF aims to create a conducive environment to attract investments and ensure long-term sustainability and play a pivotal role in fostering economic development, trade and investment in the region.

Salga Gauteng provincial executive committee member councillor Mamohale Fatimah-Zahra Moloi highlighted the significance of a well-articulated local economic development strategy which encourages partnerships between the public, private and civil society sectors to address common economic challenges collaboratively.

“Local government plays a vital role in creating an enabling environment to attract and support prospective investments, ultimately driving inclusive and sustainable socioeconomic development in our cities.”

The forum is valuable as a tool to support the local government sector and its partners across the private, public and community sectors in promoting economic prosperity within municipalities, added Cogta integrated development and spatial planning chief director Diale Lodi, outlining the objectives of the GLEDF.

He further stressed the importance of integrating local economic development within the broader framework of local sustainable development to ensure equitable economic growth that benefits marginalised and impoverished communities.