10/09/2026
NORTH WEST MOVES TO TURN MUNICIPAL SUPPORT INTO JOBS, INVESTMENT AND CLEANER COMMUNITIES
The North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) is moving decisively to strengthen support to municipalities and ensure that intergovernmental cooperation translates into investment, jobs, local economic development and cleaner communities.
This follows the Provincial-Municipal Engagement (MUNMEC) on Local Economic Development convened by MEC Bitsa Lenkopane with Mayors, MMCs, Municipal Managers and senior officials. The engagement focused on practical interventions that strengthen Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) and give effect to the Premier's directive that DEDECT must support municipalities within its mandate.
FROM REGULATION TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
MEC Lenkopane has challenged DEDECT to ensure that regulation, compliance and economic development work together to benefit communities.
She said, "Every time we regulate or regularise an activity, we must ask: where is the economy in this? How does it benefit our people? Does it create opportunities, attract investment and contribute towards reducing poverty and unemployment?"
DEDECT will strengthen support in local economic development, investment mobilisation, environmental management, waste management, tourism, biodiversity, enterprise development and the waste economy.
MUNICIPAL SUPPORT MUST DELIVER RESULTS
Municipalities requiring assistance will be supported through structured interventions, including MOUs that clearly identify responsibilities, actions, timelines and measurable outcomes. This includes appropriate support contemplated under Section 154 of the Constitution.
The Department will prioritise municipalities facing challenges relating to waste management, environmental compliance, Integrated Waste Management Plans and illegal dumping, including interventions arising from concerns raised by the Human Rights Commission.
MEC Lenkopane said government must move beyond acknowledging problems to demonstrating what has changed on the ground.
TURNING WASTE INTO JOBS
DEDECT will work with municipalities, environmental clubs and communities through to strengthen waste separation, recycling, clean-up programmes, cooperatives and circular-economy initiatives.
The MEC emphasised that environmental activism must also create pathways to skills development, enterprise opportunities and jobs, particularly for young people and women.
INVESTMENT MUST MOVE FROM PIPELINES TO IMPLEMENTATION
Municipalities have been directed to consolidate investment projects into a credible provincial-municipal investment pipeline, clearly showing project readiness, compliance, investment value, potential jobs and outstanding government support.
Moses Kotane Local Municipality has been identified for focused engagement because of its strategic tourism, mining and investment opportunities, while collaboration with Rustenburg and other municipalities will also be strengthened.
ONE PROVINCIAL ECONOMY - 22 MUNICIPALITIES
DEDECT will establish an intervention framework covering all 22 municipalities, while tailoring support to their individual challenges and economic opportunities.
"There cannot be a provincial economy somewhere outside municipality. Investment lands in a municipality. Businesses operate in municipalities. Tourists visit municipalities. Waste is generated and managed in municipalities. Our people look for jobs in municipalities. That is why provincial and local government must work as one," said MEC Lenkopane.
The Department will now focus on implementation-driven IGR, with clear interventions, responsibilities, timelines and measurable outcomes.
"We must be able to return to communities and demonstrate what changed: which investment was unlocked, which business was supported, which jobs were created, which dumping site was addressed and which municipality became cleaner and more capable because government worked together," concluded MEC Lenkopane.
END //
Issued by the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism