By Nangamso Mabindla
7 March 2007

A burgeoning population placing stress on the city's resources, including jobs and housing is just one of the challenges facing Buffalo City.

To tackle the local socio-economic challenges, and build a better future for the City's citizens, the local government policy makers, lead by the Executive Mayor Zintle Peter and councillor John Badenhorst, have come up with a comprehensive development strategy.

The City Development Strategy sets in place the policies and plans for the City's economic growth over the next 20 to 30 years.

Long term, multi-decade plans were gaining popularity globally, according to Badenhorst. "[There has been a] remarkable turn-around in many cities through conscious and planned government intervention, very often brought about through inspired political leadership," he said.

Buffalo City, like other South African cities, has an Integrated Development Plan (IDP), a comprehensive five-year plan that covers every aspects of the City from the provision of services to the maintenance and development of infrastructure, from economic plans to social upliftment projects. The different aspects of the over-arching plan are kept up-to-date through discussions with ratepayers and other local stakeholders.

"A city development plan will give the IDP a strategic direction that goes beyond the five-year electoral term of each successive group of politicians by creating a compelling vision of the future," Badenhorst said.

"An integral part of the CDS tool is that it pulls everyone with a stake and interest in the city, from business to rate payers, together to prioritise and act together on a joint agenda."

Recent statistics have shown that occupants in informal settlements increased by 50 percent between 1996 and 2004, while educated youngsters were leaving the city for other provinces. More than 20 percent of the city's inhabitants had no basic water services and that, due to budget constraints, road maintenance was under pressure.

Statistics also show that, in the private sector, there were currently 10 000 fewer jobs than a decade ago.

With the city's strongest economic sector, the automobile industry, also facing challenges because of an uncertain future, the CDS would provide appropriate guidelines and solutions.

"The CDS process the municipality has been involved in since 2006 has included a detailed process of research, as well as discovery, through workshops with all economic stakeholders," Badenhorst added.

In 2006 the City and its partners announced a R5-billion plan to expand the East London port. The plan would enable the City to attract exporters and cater for fourth generation vessels.

In addition, the Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) announced it would invest about R60-million and expand the East London airport, while the East London Industrial Development Zone also announced seven new investors.

All these developments are in line with the CDS.

To continue with its long-term plan, the City has invited stakeholders including local businesses, state-owned enterprises, and local and provincial development agencies to a CDS conference in East London on Tuesday March 13.

"This is a time for all concerned about their future and that of their children to give some hard thought to the questions: what will it take to get Buffalo City's economy moving? What will it take to [uplift the people of] Buffalo City: improving opportunities, educational levels, health?

"What will take for the people of Buffalo City to see the future and smile?" asked Badenhorst.