A New Path for Collaboration
On 31 July 2025, Kagiso Trust hosted a Local Economic Development (LED) Roundtable with leaders from government, business, civil society, and academia to address persistent challenges in building inclusive, sustainable local economies.
The roundtable featured presentations from Prof. Daniel Meyer (University of Johannesburg) on a cutting-edge LED measurement tool, and Sagwata Manyike, (SALGA) on lessons from the Karoo region. Guided by two key questions ‘Who should collaborate to grow local economies, and how can they work together more effectively,’ the session explored systemic barriers and innovative solutions.
Participants highlighted pressing challenges: disjointed governance, under-skilled LED units, infrastructure failures that stall private investment and ineffective business forums. Concerns were raised about councillors lacking technical expertise for complex LED portfolios. Furthermore, the need to align new developments with housing, transport, and utilities.
Proposed solutions included:
- Public–private infrastructure partnerships with incentives for business contributions.
- Professionalising municipal LED leadership roles.
- Integrating spatial and economic planning, backed by infrastructure audits.
- Elevating civil society to bridge trust and knowledge gaps between communities and municipalities.
Andrew Boraine urged the group to co-create a practical section on LED for the upcoming White Paper on Local Government, with input from at least two more sessions in 2025. Insights from these sessions will inform policy, strengthen partnerships, and help translate ideas into pilots, partnerships, and real-world impact.
By uniting practitioners from all sectors, the LED Roundtable reaffirmed that a shared vision and joint action are the cornerstones of successful local economic development.
Bio’s
Facilitator: Andrew Boraine
Is a leading international practitioner in systems change and collaborative governance, with over 40 years shaping South Africa’s political, local government, urban, economic, and sustainability transitions. He has worked hands-on across more than 100 multi-stakeholder processes addressing challenges from housing and youth employment to energy, food security, and social inclusion, helping design and implement partnerships that transform cities and regions.
His ongoing contributions to governance and knowledge systems include involvement in the national review of the White Paper on Local Government and academic appointments at the African Centre for Cities (University of Cape Town) and the Centre for Sustainability Transitions (Stellenbosch University), where he teaches and writes on relational approaches to governance and institutional change.
Speaker: Prof Daniel Meyer
Is a Professor in the College of Business and Economics at the University of Johannesburg and a National Research Foundation (NRF) rated researcher. A Development Economist specialising in regional and local economic development, he has developed innovative tools and indexes for analysing regional economies and linking economic policy to good governance. With over 150 peer-reviewed publications, 60+ international conference presentations including keynote addresses, Prof Meyer has advised on more than 40 regional development strategies for local and provincial governments. His research blends development economics, business, public management, and governance, supported by a global network of research partners.
Download his presentation here.
Speaker: Sagwata Manyike
Is a Local Economic Development (LED) Specialist at the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), where he supports municipalities in driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth. He has extensive experience in rural and regional economic planning, investment facilitation, and policy development, with a strong focus on aligning local government strategies with national development priorities. Manyike’s work involves building municipal capacity, fostering partnerships between government, business, and civil society, and promoting innovative approaches to LED that respond to the unique socio-economic realities of South Africa’s diverse communities.
Download the presentation here.
