Business strategic partner of CDM

Capricorn District Municipality (CDM) hosted a mayoral breakfast session for the business sector at a venue in the city last Wednesday. The aim of the event was to provide information regarding the vision and mission of CDM, its role and the municipality’s expectations from business.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Local Economic Development, Sam Selamolela addressed delegates and said that CDM’s mission is to provide quality services in a cost effective and efficient manner through competent people, partnerships, information and knowledge management and in doing so, creating sustainability of economic development in the interest of all stakeholders. “By doing this, we will fulfil our vision of being the home of excellence and opportunities for a better life,” Selamolela said.
Selamolela explained that CDM’s role is to create an enabling environment for business, investment and growth and to provide clear leadership on matters of governance and local economic development. “The provision of cost effective bulk services such as water, electricity and sanitation is a primary function, but more importantly, CDM should work with the business sector to reduce the cost of doing business in the district,” he emphasised.
“In return, we expect from the business sector, as our stakeholders, to do business in a profitable and responsible manner and to contribute to the upliftment of our communities by creating job opportunities and investing in skills. Lastly, we believe, business should contribute to the expansion of the municipal tax base, thus enabling us as government to sustain service delivery and infrastructure,” Selamolela added.
Selamolela briefly reflected on the district’s economy and said that the annual growth of the district during 2017 was 1%, compared to Limpopo’s 1,8% and the national figure of 1,3%. “Capricorn district contributed 28,5% to Limpopo’s economy, compared to Waterberg, Sekhukhune, Mopani and Vhembe’s 20,6%, 12,4%, 21,4% and 17,1% respectively for 2017,” Selamolela said and added that Capricorn has the lowest unemployment rate, being 17,2%, compared to Limpopo and the rest of the country with 19,5% and 27,1% respectively.

Story & photos: BARRY VILJOEN
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