The signing of the Township Economy Development Act into law by Gauteng Premier David Makhura has been hailed by the province as a breakthrough in the development of its township economy. According to Gauteng Economic Development MEC Parks Tau, other provinces have been inspired by the law and were looking at developing their own legislation to boost townships.
“I do think that there is an appetite by other provinces to develop similar legislation, and ensure dedicated and focused attention in those areas that historically were marginalised,” he told Vutivi News. The MEC said that the aim of the Act was to ensure development. “It is particularly designed to ensure that we can achieve redress from the impact of apartheid policies on black people and black townships in Gauteng, and this redress is achieved through the set of interventions that the Act directs should be made,” Tau said. “The first is access to funding, which directs that we should create a financing facility for township-based enterprises.