It can be done in six months

Without a decisive national strategy, any attempt to grow any local economy, will be extremely difficult. We desperately need to address the growing elephant in the room. Policy uncertainty. Are we communist, socialist or capitalist? Is policy the New Growth Path. The National Democratic Revolution or the acceptable National Development Plan. Trying to appease the Tripartheid Alliance has only chased foreign investment away and in no way assisted local confidence.

Other desperately needed macro interventions are, we have to have a reliable electricity supply. Break the Eskom monopoly and promote independent renewable technology suppliers,  to bolster the electricity grid.

Our labour policies must balance the protection of workers’ rights with the need to build flexibility in the labour market so that businesses find it easier to create jobs. Currently, we end up protecting the employed at the expense of the unemployed.

Now we can try to address the micro aspects of Roodepoort’ economy. The DA would immediately introduce a dedicated Roodepoort (Region c) Economic Development Department. We believe that in order to grow a local economy it is obvious we would need a  dedicated team. They would meet regularly with business and labour organisation and institutions like Unisa, to formulate and drive a local economic policy that promotes local businesses and identifies  specific niche markets for the area. Something this crucial, the ANC run Joburg has failed to implement, even after numerous calls by the DA to do so.

The DA would also take steps to introduce tax incentives for business mentors and skills training. We would introduce one stop opportunity centres where government support in the way of advice (access to Jozi-at-Work programmes), business registration and training could be found. This would be for all citizens, not only the connected and card carrying members. We would streamline the process to acquiring funding and establish a red tape reduction unit to help small business deal with archaic and obstructive regulations. We would establish small labour desks throughout Roodepoort, where the local unemployed would register. They would be assisted in compiling CV’s, getting security clearance and helped with job opportunities with local home owners or businesses. We would formalise the informal litter pickers and actively promote urban farming on unutilised land.

Lastly we will gear massive tracts of municipal owned land and buildings to assist small and medium businesses for example; The DA will immediately sell the Roodepoort Rugby Club land, which is zoned industrial. Create more than 100 new factories and thousands of new jobs. The approximately R120 million income from the land sale would provide funding for desperately needed RDP units. This would immediately eradicate  the current growing homeless on the property.  Across the road, we will revamp the vacant old Hamberg municipal workshops, into a small business hive. Here new businesses will be able to access cheap industrial space.

These are a just few basic interventions that a DA run Joburg would implement within six months of taking over Roodepoort.  Something the ANC could not do in 20 years.