The Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED), South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the Economic Development Partnership (EDP) invites you to join a webinar on 11 November 2026, 09h00. This webinar will explore what a more integrated, whole-of-municipality approach to LED could mean for South African municipalities and metros.
Local Economic Development (LED) has been a feature of South Africa's local government system for more than 20 years. Yet despite sustained policy attention and investment, it is often treated as a stand-alone municipal function, implemented through isolated projects and programmes. Evidence suggests that this approach has generally produced limited and uneven economic outcomes. As municipalities enter a new political and administrative cycle following the 2026 local government elections, renewed attention is being given to how local government can better support inclusive economic development.
The revised White Paper on Local Government points towards a broader understanding of LED, one that recognises economic development as an outcome of the municipality's entire operating system rather than the responsibility of a single unit or department. Reliable infrastructure and service delivery, effective spatial planning, land-use management, mobility, safety, urban management, procurement and infrastructure maintenance all shape the conditions in which local economies can thrive. This raises an important question: how can municipalities move from delivering LED projects to building ecosystems that enable inclusive economic development?
Abstract based directly on original source.
View all Events