Economic Development and Tourism

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The objective of the LED is to develop and coordinate a vibrant economic development system that seeks to promote employment creation; the building of economic sectors, SMME development and vibrant economic institutions; leveraging on comparative advantages to build local competitive advantages and using knowledge as an economic generator in the local economy.

The district’s main focus is enhancing competitiveness, increasing sustainable growth and ensuring that economic growth is inclusive, therefore the LED unit was realigned as follows;

It is also our great pleasure to announce that we have successfully retained the approval of our Remote Piloted Aircraft Operating Certificate from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We remain the only local municipality in South Africa to achieve the feat to date. The municipality is therefore licenced to legally operate its fleet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) commonly known as Drones. We are planning to provide services to various clients within both the public and private sector.

i. Business Development Services

ii. Trade Development Services

Siyathuthuka Program

Siyathuthuka is the district flagship program implemented through EPWP wherein work opportunities are created to unemployed youth and also provides business mentorship to local small businesses and Cooperatives. The program is supported through EPWP.

Economic Sectors

The key sectors that drive the economy of the District are:

Manufacturing

The manufacturing sector is the major contributor to both the district and provincial Gross Value Added. Mining products, electricity generation; and petrochemicals manufacturing dominate the sector. There is general consensus however that the growth of the GSDM economy as a whole, the Govan Mbeki municipality in particular, is highly dependent on the development trajectory of the SASOL in Secunda.

Mining

Mining activity in the Gert Sibande District, and more specifically the Govan Mbeki (Secunda) Local Municipality, is one of the main contributors to the Province’s GVA. Coal and gold are the most important mining products, with electricity generation, petrochemical and metallurgical production, and industrial and domestic applications dominating the local consumption of coal.

Energy Generation and Supply

The District has Four out of 10 operational coal-fired power stations in Mpumalanga namely, Tutuka, Camden, Majuba and Grootvlei. As such coal fired power generation is a major industry in Gert Sibande and these power stations are located in close proximity to the coal mines due to the high cost associated with the transportation of coal.

Agriculture

Gert Sibande features the largest agricultural sector, with strong services centres like Standerton, Ermelo, Bethal and Piet Retief. Agricultural products produced within the District include maize, sunflower, grain, sorghum, wheat, mutton (cattle and sheep), dairy and wool. In total 23% of the District’s land surface is under cultivation, of which approximately 80% constitutes commercial dry land under grains.

Forestry

Forests and plantations which covers some 9.73% of the District’s total land surface. Forestry activities primarily consist of pine, eucalyptus and wattle plantations. Wood from the plantations is primarily used in the production of structural timber for housing, and the manufacturing of joinery packaging such as pallets, boxes and cable drums.

Tourism

GSDM boosts huge natural resources which includes wetland; historical sites and heritage and liberation routes. The district offers various tourism attractions, which includes the Nooitgedacht Dam Nature Reserve, Songimvelo Game Reserve, numerous Anglo-Boer War battlefield sites, stone ruins dating back to 1500BC at places such as Legoya near Ermelo and the historical towns of Chrissiesmeer, and Wakkerstroom. For more information on tourism and the great outdoors, follow the link.