Agriculture, Economic Develop-ment and Tourism
With reference to the Township Action Plan (TAP) flagship initiative launched under the Western Cape Government’s Growth for Jobs (G4J) Strategy, and noting the selection of the Mossel Bay Municipality, specifically the KwaNonqaba township area, as the primary provincial pilot site:
- (a) What is the status of the KwaNonqaba Township Action Plan (TAP) Pilot Project and (b) what project milestones have been successfully achieved since its inception;
- what total financial budget has been allocated by his Department specifically to support the KwaNonqaba TAP Pilot Project for the (a) 2025/26 and (b) 2026/27 financial years;
- what is the breakdown of the funds listed in question (2) above regarding allocations dedicated to (a) infrastructure upgrades (such as trading spaces or digital access) versus (b) direct financial support for township-based SMMEs;
- what (a) economic development models or (b) public–private partnerships are cur-rently being trialled in this pilot project to structurally mitigate the key barriers to entry identified for township operators;
- what monitoring framework is his Department utilising to evaluate the economic impact of the KwaNonqaba Pilot Project;
- whether his Department has a timeline for rolling out the TAP framework to other townships across the province; if so, what are the relevant details?
- (a) The completed ‘inception phase’ delivered an approved methodology and partnership agreements between DEDAT, DEA&DP, WCEDP and Mossel Bay Municipality. A ‘situational analysis’ stage has started gathering data on the study area. The procurement process is underway to bring on board the specialists to assist with community engagement and economic analysis. This will inform an evidence-led strategy and plan for the study area. In parallel, the project has started to identify planned and current initiatives in the area that can be pursued in the short term. An implementation framework which will include medium and longer-term projects and initiatives will form part of the final action plan.
(b) (i) G4J TAP Project Steering Committee (G4J TAP PSC) established in August 2025.
(ii) Mossel Bay TAP Technical Working Group (TWG) established.
(iii) Project methodology approved by the G4J TAP PSC.
(iv) Mossel Bay Council resolved to support the TAP initiative in the proposed study area.
(v) Introductory meeting held with the study area Ward Councillors and Ward Committees.
(vi) EDP-led Businesses Engagement, Workshop and Report.
- (i) Provincial Treasury allocated R3 000 000,00 earmarked funding in the 2025/2026 to DEA&DP for the general TAP initiative. Of this R2 700 000 has been realigned to the 2026/2027 financial year, of which currently R1 850 000 is budgeted for the Mossel Bay TAP for plan development.
(ii) DEDAT allocated R470 000,00 in 2025/2026 for operational costs (meetings, travel, catering and other disbursements). R300 000 of this was realigned to the 2026/2027 financial year.
(iii) To support some TAP implementation in the Mossel Bay pilot study area in the short term, DEA&DP has allocated R1 000 000,00 of RSEP 2026/2027 grant funding to Mossel Bay which is transferable at the start of the new municipal financial year.
3. (i) All TAP-specific baseline and earmarked funds are currently allocated towards planning activity i.e., to develop an ‘Action Plan’ based on gathered evidence and community input.
(ii) R1 000 000,00 of RSEP grant funding (earmarked funding through DEA&DP) is committed to supporting project preparation for prioritised ‘quick-win’ projects. RSEP funding applies only to infrastructure upgrades and not SMME financial support.
4. The primary goal of the TAP initiative is to develop a pragmatic action-oriented and integrated model for economic development in townships. The application of such models in the piloting stage (i.e. across two pilot TAPs) must be based on a clear understanding of place-specific needs, constraints, and opportunities, developed through careful analysis and meaningful consultation. Potential development models and partnerships appropriate for the Mossel Bay TAP will be identified through the current plan development and will inform the implementation plan.
5. The monitoring framework will be prepared as part of the final Implementation Plan.
6. The pilot TAPs will inform the development of the framework for the roll out to other townships across the province. The framework will essentially be a set of guidelines for developing and implementing township action plans and will be informed by the lessons learnt in the pilot TAPs. The currently forecast is to complete the second pilot TAP by December 2027 and to have a framework for township action planning ready by March 2028.
