Minister Gugile Nkwinti, on Thursday 22 October 2015 addressed the inaugural South African Local Government Association (SALGA) Small Town’s Conference in Bloemfontein on the role of small towns in Rural Economy Transformation. The conference was aimed at tackling the challenges hampering the economic potential of small towns in South Africa.
The Minister told the gathering that South Africa cannot continue to be a country where its citizens can only realize their potentials in BIG cities or where the small rural towns are consigned to harbouring the less educated with inferior infrastructure and fewer opportunities.
He added that the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) is a key tool in the arsenal to fight the historic injustice in the uneven spatial development of our country. Spatial Justice he said must underpin all planning and that hope and dignity which are central to full citizenship must be restored.
“Only through inclusive planning can we eradicate the odious ‘first’ and ‘second’ economy dichotomy resulting in the unnecessary and fiscally unsustainable burden imposed on the urban space” the minister continued. Hence he said, SPLUMA enjoins all spheres of government to develop and implement an all-inclusive planning system.
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is establishing Agri-parks in each of the 44 Districts to create the necessary market infrastructure and related social services in historically neglected areas.
Minister Nkwinti added that it is intended that, with time, out of some of these Agri-parks would spring out rural towns and self-sustaining Agri-villages. This year, the department has budgeted two billion rands for this Programme; and, this will escalate over the next ten years.
The Minister concluded by telling the delegates at the conference that by 2030, South Africa must experience more integrated, vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural-urban communities with rural markets, enterprises and industries, supported by requisite logistics, social and economic infrastructure, development finance institutions and, or, credit facilities.
Enquiries:
Linda Page
Cell: 083 460 4482
Email: Linda.Page@drdlr.gov.za
