Local Economic Development in the Post-Apartheid South Africa

Abstract

Concerted efforts have been geared towards development in the South African Post-apartheid era at local
level. Studies have shown that local governments have recognized local economic development as a crucial
tool for addressing development-related challenges. The extent to which the municipalities have ingrained the
local economic development goal, however, has received little to no attention. Hence, this paper intends to fill
the missing gap and answers the following questions: what are the key components of economic development
at the local level in the post-apartheid era? To what extent has the local economic development stimulated
growth and development with particular reference to small and medium scale enterprise? What are the
donors’ approaches to local development and their critical challenges? Using the secondary sources of data
collection, this paper reviews current level of economic development at local municipalities in South Africa.
Thereafter, it examines the impact of the municipal government strategies designed to stimulate political and
socio-economic development agenda at the local level in South Africa. This paper identifies strategic planning
and local resources needed to address the local economic development in South Africa.