Thabazimbi Local Municipality Local Economic Development Strategy
A full review and redevelopment of Thabazimbi Local Municipality's outdated LED strategy under the Anglo American Municipal Capability and Partnership Programme, defining 5 priority sectors and 15 key interventions.
2024 · CSIR (project sponsor) / Thabazimbi Local Municipality (beneficiary) · Local economic development strategy and capacity building · 18 months duration
Key contributors: Annette Engelbrecht, Storm Vezasie
The CSIR, as implementing agent for the Anglo American Municipal Capability and Partnership Programme (MCPP), appointed Cadre Connect (Pty) Ltd to support Thabazimbi Local Municipality in Limpopo with the development of a Local Economic Development (LED) Strategy. The assignment entailed a comprehensive review of the municipality's existing and outdated LED strategy to align it with current economic conditions, policy frameworks and local development priorities.
Cadre followed a participatory approach. Structured workshops and engagements with municipal officials and key stakeholders gathered inputs and promoted shared ownership. The LED framework was co-developed with municipal officials and stakeholders, and Cadre provided targeted technical coaching to strengthen the institutional capacity of the municipality to lead and manage LED processes independently.
The strategy defines seven strategic goals, five priority economic sectors — agriculture and agro-processing, tourism, manufacturing, SMMEs and entrepreneurship, and renewable energy — and fifteen key interventions, from adopting the draft land use scheme to a tourism marketing plan and a comprehensive land audit. The municipality's readiness to attract investment was materially improved.
Key figures: 15 key interventions defined | 5 priority economic sectors | 18-month programme