Durban unveils ‘champion’ plan

Durban needs a “champion”, a city official who has the authority to “get things done”, members of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry feel.

This was revealed in the chamber’s business vision for the economic development of Durban – a pro-active blueprint for the private sector – which was unveiled on Monday.

The 70-page vision, believed to be the first of its kind in the country, points out that it is the slow-moving public sector which determined the pace of infrastructural considerations connected to development.

“The identify of a ‘champion’, a person with the authority to keep things moving, is advisable. Departmentalism within the municipality needs to be over-ridden by the facilitation of a senior official who has the authority to get things done,” the vision says.

It also calls for the appointment of a dedicated precinct manager for the beachfront, the aggressive implementation of the Point, the acceleration of catalytic projects like the Dube Tradeport, the aerotropolis, the dugout port and the city’s back-of-port plan.

Also on the wish list is zero tolerance policing, the establishment of an adequately-resourced investment promotion agency and the establishment of a jobs centre for post-school vocational education and training, and an employment promotion agency which would launch projects for work experience and internships.

Guests at the unveiling were also told that Durban businesses did not do enough to make the economy work or to make the city a better place.

Akash Singh, the chamber president, who said this, added that while it was incorrect to say that they were not supportive of projects, they could do a lot more.

Vowed

And Andrew Layman, the chief executive of the chamber, who launched the vision with Singh, said that “mobilisation of the business community was a meaningful challenge which we intend to face head-on”.

Singh had vowed to unveil the vision within 100 days of taking over the presidency, and Monday marked day 92.

The 2 750-member companies of the chamber were consulted as well as 14 chamber committees.

The chamber will use the goals outlined in the vision to influence its daily work, and want the chief executives and captains of industry to make the vision part of their planning, to turn what Singh described as an “ideal world” envisaged in the plan into reality.

The vision stated that Durban lagged behind Cape Town in popular appeal and behind Johannesburg in economic liveliness.

“The danger is that Durban residents accept these as the natural state of things and do not actively aspire to competing and overtaking.

“If we are to do so, we require a clear vision, a vibrant strategy to achieve it, public/private sector commitment to common goals and a much more dynamic participative business community.”

The goals are the increased investment in the city’s economy, the creation of meaningful employment, the rejuvenation of the inner city and a crime- and- grime-free city.

Other aims are the promotion and development of a small business sector, the provision of adequate infrastructure, the building of an iconic reputation as a green city, institutional partnership and the alignment of skills development and education to the needs of economic growth.

On the issue of tourism, the chamber was disappointed at the number of international visitors Durban attracted.

The chamber called for the urgent registration of Durban Tourism as a separate entity, governed by an independent board, enabling the private sector to participate in the marketing and promotional strategies as well as contributing towards the costs.

The chamber also wants:

- More meaningful discussions between business and the city, particularly on the municipal budget.

- The introduction of a civic service programme offering young people occupation in an orderly environment.

- Incentives for businesses to take on interns and trainees

- The development of small industry hubs.

- The establishment of a truck stop hub in the back-of-port area.

- The development of cultural hubs, along the lines of “Little India” or “Zulu Street”’ with themed restaurants, food markets, clothing stores and cultural attractions.

- The creation of an event by which Durban will become known internationally.

- A review of the informal trading policy.

- An efficient call centre to report infrastructure breakdown and urban decay.

- Improved efficiency and effectiveness of the enforcement of municipal laws and by-laws.