Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to host the Eastern Seaboard Development Imbizo
The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) together with the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), will host a 2-Day Eastern Seaboard Development Imbizo on 29 and 30 March in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape respectively.
The Imbizo will be led by Minister in the Presidency, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane (DWYPD) and the Minister of COGTA Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
In KwaZulu-Natal, on 29 March 2022, the Ministers will be joined by Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Sihle Zikalala. In the Eastern Cape on 30 March 2022, the Ministers will be joined by the Premier of the Eastern Cape, Mr Oscar Mabuyane.
In both provinces, MECs, Mayors and Councillors will also be in attendance at the Imbizo.
The key objective of the Imbizo is to explore the inclusion of women, youth and persons with disabilities in the Development of the Eastern Seaboard which straddles the two provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. The envisaged involvement and participation will be in various sectors like oceans economy, agriculture, infrastructure, IT and tourism.
The Imbizo will also facilitate access to information which will enable all targeted beneficiaries to take advantage of opportunities availed by these major developments.
The Eastern Seaboard Development is a broad and multifaceted vision, to develop a new smart city and to bring in new developments across KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
The Eastern Seaboard Development launched by President Ramaphosa on 12 November 2021 is a District Development Model flagship project which aims to connect developmental opportunities across the four district municipalities of the two provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape. This means effectively transcending multiple district spaces in favour of multiple polycentric nodes of development.
All women, youth or persons with disabilities owned businesses operating in the below sectors who wish to participate in this Imbizo to make contact with the department on:
Sectors include:
- Tourism, with an emphasis on oceans, adventure, nature and cultural tourism.
- The Oceans and marine economy, maritime (with a craft harbour), aquaculture as well as energy and resources.
- Agriculture, with a strong leaning towards indigenous knowledge and the hemp heritage as well as the full value of agriculture.
- Infrastructure which is inclusive of basic and human settlement related as well as integrated transport infrastructure and ICT.
Members of the media are invited as follows:
KwaZulu-Natal:
Date: 29 March 2022
Time: 09:00
Venue: The Great Kokstad Youth Centre, Kokstad, Harry Gwala District, KwaZulu-Natal
Eastern Cape:
Date: 30 March 2022
Time: 09:00
Venue: Dan’s Country Lodge, OR Tambo District Municipality, Mthatha, Eastern Cape
Media enquiries:
Shalen Gajadhar
Cell: 060 979 4235
Ms Siya Xolelwa Dwesini
Tel: 081 030 910
Mr Lungi Mtshali
Cell: 082 088 5960
