KLCBT gives valuable input into the 5-year IDP for Mbombela City

Download formal written input delivered on 24 November 2016:

KLCBT 5 Year IDP Input for Mbombela City – 24 November 2016

The KLCBT was joined by many other private organisations to raise input into the 5 year Integrated Development Plan for Mbombela City.  Consultation continues on Wednesday with Traditional Leaders followed by meetings with all of the 45 wards within the newly amalgamated Mbombela City Local Municipality.

Bulk Water Supply was high on the agenda for the KLCBT, who has been actively lobbying for new bulk reservoirs for quite some time, including a large dam in the De Kaap river system.  Although it is not the municipality’s responsibility to provide dams, Pastor TJ Mare, KLCBT Business Chamber Chairman, requested that they provide for it in their integrated governmental plans, because without water the City cannot hope to attract more investors or more tourists – no business can happen without water.

KLCBT COO, Linda Grimbeek presented the rest of the points which were gathered from input by their members and it was an impressive list which included, a craft market for both Mbombela and Hazyview, which does not necessarily have to be an actual place where crafters work and sell, but perhaps more of a show room where visitors can buy crafts in a safe and clean place with credit card facilities, where they can commission crafts on order and even export to the international market – this may solve many of the issues with hawkers, particularly in Hazyview and on the Kaapsehoop road;  A city tour of Nelspruit could attract visitors if access can be given to view the art in all the government buildings, the station building is renovated and properly presented and if the city centre could have a nice artistic vibe with graffiti art, etc.;  The steam train between Nelspruit and Waterval Boven should start running again, it was and will be a great attraction and will also create interest in the historical centre of Nelspruit;  the Nukain Mabuza garden of stone at Low’s Creek should be restored, properly packaged and relaunched to the tourist market, it is a shame that the site was left to become derelict.  While the KLCBT understands that there are issues with the ownership of the land, they are will to assist to remove stumbling blocks;  An allocation should be made to finance tourism activities in terms of the newly signed Regional Tourism Organisation Framework agreement which facilitates regular and meaningful engagement between government of all levels and private sector tourism organisations, as well as the operating of information centres, tourism marketing and providing basic tools for information and marketing;  KLCBT noted with appreciation that the Municipality will tackle the dangerous traffic conditions on the R40 between Nelspruit and White River, including the dangerous crossings at the University intersection and Karino;  The extension of the hours of public transport will encourage many more businesses to extend their operating hours which will create more employment and will also create a nightlife for Nelspruit which is one of the complaints often received from tourists;  The city should aim to provide free Wi-Fi in the business centre as well as the university sites, the KLCBT noted the planned city centre rejuvenation plans and this should form part of it;  The City should facilitate or fund public transport between all centres within Mbombela City and the Kruger National Park, Mbombela City should capitalise on the close proximity of the Kruger National Park by letting people stay in Mbombela and commute to the Kruger and the other tourism attractions;  The hiking trails and public parks in and around Mbombela City are absolute gems but currently neglected and unsafe, this should be fixed and the public toilets should be repaired as well;  They called for more zones under camera surveillance to increase the safety of all the major centres within Mbombela City as well as the extension and replication of the very successful Tourism Ambassador project in Hazyview which improved the safety of visitors in that area;  The KLCBT would like to call a brainstorming session with stakeholders to create a lucrative township economy and Ms Grimbeek noted that there is no reason why KaNyamazane could not be the next little Soweto;  The City should further develop the world class Geotrail site by getting it registered as a World Heritage Site, building toilets at the lookout point and providing cell phone reception on at least some parts of the trail;  We should aim for better recycling of waste and even sewerage should be recycled at least to grey water which can be used to irrigate parks;  The KLCBT feels strongly about the implementation of renewable energy and appreciated the addition of solar energy in the draft plans;  They further propose the creation of Special Economic Zones which will incentivise investors with tax relief to operate in certain areas.  This has been successfully rolled out elsewhere in the country and the City should apply at DTI to have such zones established, for instance, the city centre, near the airport and in the townships;  On the budget side the KLCBT proposed that instead of providing for a lower collection rate of revenue, the City should rather consider freezing of rates and collect more of the funds.

Grimbeek stated that the KLCBT noted from the presentation the Mbombela has a population increase of 1,3% per annum while the economy grew less than 1% over the past 3 years.  The City and government cannot continue to provide more and more jobs, it has to come from business and tourism, which can only flourish if private sector and government continue to strengthen their relationship and work together, and business can only flourish if we have secure access to water, decent roads, if our public attractions are of world class quality; if we have a safe environment for business and visitors; if government and business procure local as much as possible – every Rand leaving our area is very hard to get back again, and finally if we all act with the highest integrity and not waste the precious resources we have.

Grimbeek noted in closing, “Madam Chair, we have to get these things right and become a world class City, we are not competing against other cities and provinces for investors and tourists – we are completing against the rest of the world.”