MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Mossel Bay Municipality leads the way in terms of rural development.
Last week councillors, the municipal manager and senior municipal managers embarked on an intensive public outreach to engage the communities of all 11 outlying rural settlements in the greater Mossel Bay municipal area.
The municipal strategy is to improve the livelihoods of residents of communities such as Friemersheim, Herbertsdale, Buisplaas, Brandwag and others through effective service delivery and by creating conditions for sustainable food security, decent shelter and economic opportunity.
In an effort to unlock the economic potential of smallholder farmers and agriculture, the municipal strategy on rural development focuses on enabling the rural communities to take control of their destiny with the support of government.
The intention is to effectively deal with rural poverty through the optimal use and management of natural resources through coordinated and integrated broad-based agrarian transformation and the strategic investment in economic and social infrastructure that will benefit the rural communities.
It transpired from the various public meetings that Mossel Bay Municipality has the political will and has set itself the task to open up opportunities and act as a facilitator to ensure that rural communities have access to the required resources and facilities that will enable rural development.
The public engagement strives to establish a mutual understanding for the strategy that will strive towards basic services for all, to enhance literacy, education, skills and knowledge, access and create economic opportunities and employment, while nurturing a respect for nature that will impact rural tourism.
The municipal manager, Adv Thys Giliomee, spoke to Herbertsdale residents about the municipal project that has declared War on Water Leaks, and urged their participation in conserving their scarce water resources.
Several potential projects are earmarked for sustainable growth and development with the cooperation of the Department of Agriculture and other departments.
The municipality has done extensive research and situation analyses into the opportunities open to the various communities and has liaised with the relevant government departments for closer cooperation to effectively unlock rural potential.
Public invited
Communities of Herbertsdale, Buisplaas and Vleesbaai have participated enthusiastically in the public engagements.
This week the community of Ruiterbos (28 June) will have the opportunity to share their views with the high-level delegation at the public meetings.
Thereafter Brandwag (2 July), Toekoms (9 July), Jonkersberg (10 July), Sonskynvallei (16 July) and Great Brak River (17 July) will have the opportunity to engage.
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