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Sekhukhune has a once in a lifetime opportunity to navigate itself out of poverty and into an era of economic prosperity.
The mineral rich region recently had a Special Economic Zone designated in the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Municipality, a decision that has revived hopes that the its mineral endowment could finally drive massive industrialisation that can create much needed jobs.
The government has moved with speed to gazette the SEZ and if the pace is maintained, a rollout of infrastructure that’s needed to enable industrial as well as commercial activities should start soon.
While the establishment of an SEZ is a positive, more will be required to make it a success.
The successful implementation of the project as well as its sustainability are dependent largely on strong political leadership, that is stable, visionary and efficient in implementation.
While South Africa finds itself in a period of coalitions wherein decisions require broader consensus, Sekhukhune is an exception in that the district has, since the dawn of democracy, been under the control of a single political party, the African National Congress with observers projecting the party will remain dominant in Sekhukhune for the longest time to come.
The ANC in Sekhukhune has received much praise for its recent regional conference that was held in Jane Furse with little to no interruption. Some would argue that praising politicians for holding a peaceful meeting is tantamount to thanking fish for swimming but the reality is that the liberation movement ( the dominant party in South Africa) has been plagued by fierce contestation for positions that often escalate to bloody violence and therefore Sekhukhune stands out, at least in the context of ANC politics.
Currently the regional chairperson of the ANC, Minah Bahula is the Executive Mayor of Sekhukhune District Municipality. This essentially means the newly elected Regional Executive Committee has a strong presence in the district municipality as it does in the local municipalities were it is represented by individuals such as Eddie Maila who is the mayor of Fetakgomo-Tubatse Municipality, a key player in the implementation of the SEZ.
This dominance of regional politics by the ANC and its ability to maintain internal stability creates an enabling environment for sound governance and for state-led growth to be pursued.
The ANC REC therefore, cannot be like its counterparts elsewhere in the country who are at times reduced to spectators in governance, speak like outsiders or pressure groups with statements like….”the ANC calls on the municipality to…”. The REC has an opportunity to take decisions and implement them without being held at ransom by coalition partners and or opposition parties which means the party has no excuse but to deliver, not just the SEZ but economic prosperity that has eluded the district for an entire lifetime.
Naturally the dominance of one party is frowned upon in a democratic dispensation but in the case of Sekhukhune, the majority that the ANC enjoys along with the relative stability that it has demonstrate could be good for enabling smooth governance.
In any case, that the party is in charge of the entire district is as a result of the will of the people.
It is against this background that The Reporter argues that the ANC has no excuse but to deliver economic prosperity for the people of Sekhukhune.
Considering that Sekhukhune is more than 13 000 square metres in size with a population of just under 2 million, it is possible to bring meaningful development to the district by tapping into the vast mineral resources, the SEZ and exploring the full potential of its agricultural sector.
While the ANC may be preferred by most residents, some still vote for opposition parties and those too have a role to play in holding the district and all local municipalities to account with the common objective being to radically improve the living conditions of the people of the mighty Sekhukhune lest it has only a colourful history to brag about.
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