Western Cape Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism MEC, Dr Ivan Meyer, has emphasised the critical role of local councillors in unlocking economic growth and creating jobs.
Meyer made the remarks during a two-day training workshop on Economic Governance and Local Economic Development held in Paarl on 6 and 7 July 2026.
The workshop formed part of the annual multi-party Seasonal School for Local Councillors, jointly organised by the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the Western Cape Government and the School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University.
More than 100 councillors and mayors from municipalities across the Western Cape attended the programme, which focused on strengthening local government's role in driving sustainable economic growth and create employment opportunities.
A key contributor was Thomas Huber, a member of the Bavarian State Parliament and a long-serving municipal and district councillor, who shared practical insights from Bavaria's local government experience.
Discussions centred on long-term land-use planning, support for entrepreneurship, investment in critical infrastructure and inter-municipal cooperation as key drivers of economic development.
The partnership between Bavaria, the Hanns Seidel Foundation and the Western Cape Government spans more than three decades and continues to facilitate the exchange of best practices in governance, investment attraction and economic development.
Meyer said that unlocking local economies requires leadership and that small, practical actions at the local level can deliver significant economic impact.
“Unlocking local economies requires leadership. Small practical actions at a local level can have a significant economic impact. Councillors are central to creating an enabling environment, driving coordinated action, and ensuring that implementation happens,” Meyer said.
During bilateral engagements with Meyer and Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC Anton Bredell, Huber shared perspectives on reducing bureaucracy, strengthening municipal effectiveness and implementing practical solutions to support economic growth.
The discussions also focused on investment in infrastructure, digitalisation, good governance, energy security and strategic local development as critical enablers of economic growth and job creation.
Bredell said addressing poverty remains the foremost responsibility of public representatives, noting that local councillors, through their ability to influence local legislation and policy, have a critical responsibility to create conditions that support economic growth and job creation.
He urged councillors to use their legislative and policy-making powers to pass legislation and implement measures that enable investment, support business growth and create sustainable employment opportunities.
“The most important role of any public representative is to address the scourge of poverty. Local councillors have the power to influence local legislation and should therefore be pass legislation that enables economic development and job creation. Sustainable employment is the most effective pathway out of poverty,” Bredell said.
Addressing delegates, Huber outlined five key lessons for successful local economic development.
He said municipalities should prioritise long-term planning and policy continuity, strengthen cooperation rather than competing against each other, maximise the use of planning and funding instruments available within the legal framework to stimulate development, build strong support ecosystems for entrepreneurs, and ensure transparent, efficient and accountable governance to attract investment.
Meyer said sustainable economic growth is built on effective partnerships, capable local government and a shared commitment to implementation.
"Economic growth happens where leadership, planning and implementation come together. By empowering councillors with practical knowledge and strengthening collaboration across all spheres of government, we can create an environment where businesses invest, economies grow and more jobs are created," he said. – SAnews.gov.za
