Bhisho plans R300m boom for EC towns

bhisho plans r300m boom for ec towns

bhisho is launching a r300 million plan to breathe new life into eastern cape towns – and is hoping a public-private investment will increase the cash injection to r1billion.

the department of public works has identified 11 rural towns for economic revitalisation as part of their drive to promote provincial rural development.

rural development has been identified by the ruling party as a key focus area for the new administration.

the r300m has already been set aside this financial year to revitalise alice, port st johns, mount ayliff, mount frere, cofimvaba, cala and somerset east, mnandi and kwanojoli.

senior regional manager in the department of public works pumezo lupuwana said the amount could go up to r1bn when the rural town revitalisation programme is fully implemented.


the department has already formed a partnership with the nkonkobe local municipality and amathole district municipality to do a land audit to identify development areas.

a land survey, carried out with the help of town planning consultancy metroplan, had identified the economic priorities for the nkonkobe local municipality, said lupuwana.

he listed methods used to transform alice from a run- down town by:

* developing integrated social housing between low and medium cost housing;

* setting up of local small- medium sized enterprises and co-operatives to run bed and breakfast, guest houses and hotels;

* short-term leasing of the department of public works’ properties for staff and student accommodation;

* creating a tourism and heritage corridor; and

* developing and letting of farming land for commercial agricultural production and agro-processing.

acting head of the department of public works bongani gxilishe told the portfolio committee on public works last week they have identified a number of dilapidated or poorly maintained state buildings in rural towns that could be used for the revitalisation programme.

“most of the run-down buildings, for instance, in mthatha are superfluous assets from government departments that will need to be disposed of in accordance with set and agreed principles.

“preference will be given to local residents and for promotion of local black empowerment.”

gxilishe also said the revitalisation programme will be linked to the broader provincial growth and development plan and the rural development strategy.

the success of this programme comes at a time when the anc and its alliance partners cosatu and the south african communist party met at the university of fort hare to discuss how the anc-led provincial government can better co-ordinate such initiatives.

director-general for the national department of rural development and land reform thozi gwanya said they wanted to ensure that they made rural communities economically vibrant and sustainable.

gwanya said they had identified a pilot site in mhlontlo local municipality (qumbu) where they would roll-out a comprehensive rural development programme funded to the tune of r50.5m. “with the help of the provincial government we will ensure there is improved economic infrastructure, social infrastructure and institution infrastructure in the area.”

gwanya said they had identified the most deprived ward in the or tambo district municipality where the poorest households would be offered support.