Abstract:
The purpose of this article is to locate and examine the effi cacy of the implementation
of the policy on local economic development within the context of the sphere of local
government in South Africa. The sphere of local government is currently faced with
numerous challenges and bottlenecks that stem from high poverty and unemployment
rates, shortage of skills required to propel local economic development, lack of
administrative capacity and ineffective implementation of policies.
The article further examines the alignment or lack thereof between national and,
provincial government development policy frameworks in relation to the policy
on local economic development implemented in the sphere of local government.
The Emakhazeni local municipality is used as a case study. Pertinent and plausible
strategies with a view to address the challenges facing the implementation of the
policy are elucidated and explored in the article.
