The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, is calling for bold partnerships, innovation, and inclusive growth to transform historically marginalised coastal regions into vibrant economic hubs.
The Minister was delivering a keynote address at the strategic Pre-Investment Summit engagement on the Eastern Seaboard Development (ESD) corridor on Thursday.
“This summit is a defining moment to unlock the Eastern Seaboard’s immense potential. Through integrated planning, catalytic projects, and community participation, we will build a climate-smart, digitally connected, and socially inclusive South Africa,” he said at the gathering at Dan’s Country Lodge in Umthatha, Eastern Cape.
The Minister outlined several measures aimed at streamlining and advancing the goals of the ESD initiative.
These measures include the establishment of a special-purpose vehicle and an investment facilitation task team to simplify approvals and accelerate deal-making.
In addition, there will be a focus on advancing key projects in areas such as transport, renewable energy, industrial parks, and coastal tourism.
Furthermore, the initiative emphasises the importance of ensuring community ownership and actively engaging traditional leaders in economic development.
It is also aligned with the National Development Plan 2030, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and the District Development Model.
In addition, CoGTA Deputy Minister, Dr Dickson Masemola, highlighted the necessity of unified leadership to ensure that the Eastern Seaboard does not become a “dream deferred.”
He called for inclusive economic approaches that prioritise social conditions over extractive models and advocated for the integration of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges to equip young people with skills for key sectors such as tourism, the ocean economy, agriculture, and renewable energy.
The KwaZulu-Natal CoGTA MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, showcased catalytic projects in his province, including wind farms in uMzimkhulu, hydropower in Greater Kokstad, the Kokstad interchange, road upgrades, and small craft harbours in Port Shepstone and Hibberdene.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has committed to aligning provincial planning with ESD priorities and fast-tracking key infrastructure projects, including the N2 Wild Coast Highway, Mtentu and Msikaba bridges, as well as renewable energy initiatives.
He reinforced the importance of integrated regional planning to unlock economic potential and create sustainable jobs across the Eastern Seaboard corridor.
The Deputy Chairperson of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Nkosi Langa Mavuso, advocated for traditional leadership as active economic partners in the development process.
He emphasised that all initiatives must respect land rights and strengthen social cohesion, ensuring that development benefits communities equitably.
Key actions
CoGTA Deputy Minister, Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, detailed the next steps to make the ESD corridor a reality, including mobilising resources through innovative financing models, ensuring political stability and policy certainty, and streamlining agencies to cut red tape.
He stressed the importance of land tenure reform, integrated spatial planning with traditional leadership, and investment in roads, water, energy, and sanitation as economic infrastructure.
Key actions include forming an investment task team, packaging catalytic projects for private sector engagement, and aligning agencies to deliver efficient, decisive action today that will define the region’s future.
The ESD corridor presents a unique opportunity to invest in transformative projects that will reshape South Africa’s coastal economy.
Investors are invited to partner with government and communities to unlock opportunities in renewable energy, logistics, agro-processing, tourism, and the ocean economy. – SAnews.gov.za
