Lekwa Local Municipality 2013/14 - Co-operative Governance and ...

STRATEGIC AREA SIX: CREATION OF A FUNCTIONAL HIERACHYDevelopment needs to be concentrated and directed to specific nodes and that higher densities should beencouraged. Although the SDF, from a larger strategic spatial perspective, aims to guide and direct such futuredevelopment it is still necessary to develop specific development strategies and guidelines to control and directsuch development. This implies that nodes are very important in a sense that the upliftment of rural areas asresidents are mostly reliant on non-motorized transport and have to travel long distances to access basic facilities.First Order Node: Standerton, Second Order Node: Morgenzon, Third Order Node: Thuthukani, Platrand andHolmdene and Fourth Order Node: Hartbeeskuil, the Folly, Val,Node1,2 and 3.STRATEGIC AREA SEVEN: FINANCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITYIn order for the municipality to fulfill its mandate as stipulated in the constitution of the country, there is a need tomaintain financial viability and expand its revenue base in relation to expenditure. This requires robust strategiesto turn around the current predicament and ensure that the municipality is a financial sound position over the nextfive years and beyond.With regard to environmental sustainability, the municipality has ecologically sensitive land that has to beprotected from urban development and those areas include areas such as Firstly; Grootdraai Dam, Wetlands andPans, Rivers and Water courses, Conservative areas and Koppies, Important and Necessary Areas and highlysignificant Areas and Ecological Corridors.Secondly; land that has high agricultural potential and land that is currently used for agriculture was identified tobe protected from urban development.STRATEGIC AREA EIGHT: EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND GOOD GOVERNANCECorruption and poor service delivery undermines the credibility of the state. Poor state credibility leads to ademocratic deficit undermining democracy and investment confidence. A weak local government leads to lowinvestor confidence for both the state and private sector decision. Poor governance leads to poor economicperformance.A well governed municipality means a clear and transparent agenda for long term strategic work is formulated inco-operation with all stakeholders and communicated to all parties affected by the development process. A wellgoverned municipality is dependent on a reciprocal approach by other government spheres and agencies.Increased community feedback and engagement and improved customer reciprocity are other mitigatingmeasures to apply in a democratic and well governed municipality. Going forward the municipality will strive tobecome a well governed municipality.STRATEGIC AREA NINE: BOOSTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND JOB CREATIONThe municipality acknowledges that low economic growth and high unemployment rate are still prevalent andpresent a major challenge. These further translate to relatively high levels of poverty which is widespread withinthe LLM.High dependency ratio (11700 H/H living below poverty lines), Low literacy and education levels, a relatively highGini coefficients or high levels of income inequality, labor dependency ratio, which indicates the number ofpersons that each economically active person has to support, is 3.88 prove some serious treats to the futuredevelopment of the local economy.The main focus of the municipality is placed mainly on the following:111 | P a g e - F i n a l I n t e g r a t e d D e v e l o p m e n t P l a n 2 0 1 3 / 2 0 1 4