Economic Development Annual Report

Annual Report 2023/2024 Mpumalanga: Department of Economic Development and Tourism - Vote 6

received an increased number of consumer complaints ranging from second hand motor vehicles, installation of tombstone challenges, instalment agreement challenges, financial services and complaints on quality of goods and services in the informal sector. Moreover, two Consumer Courts are in the process of being established in the province and this initiative will contribute positively to the speedy resolution of consumer cases thus ensuring timeous redress on behalf of consumers. Consumer Education: The preceding financial years have seen the Consumer Protection Office undertake specific projects with identified audiences including youth, elderly persons, women, and persons with disabilities in the province. These programmes have been conducted through national and local radio stations, workshops, roadshows and exhibitions. A total of 531 awareness programs were conducted during the period under review. Market surveillance inspections were conducted in Gert Sibande, Nkangala and Ehlanzeni District Municipalities, and non compliant goods confiscated in collaboration with national regulators such as National Consumer Commission (NCC), National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) inspectors, SAPS, Motor Industry Ombud of South Africa (MIOSA) and Environmental Health Inspectors from respective Districts. Furthermore, recent and emerging technological changes, trading methods, patterns and agreements have brought, and will continue to bring, new benefits, opportunities and challenges to the market for consumer goods and services within the country. In response to the challenges highlighted above, the Department continues to ensure that consumer protection legislation provides the framework to promoting fair trade and strengthening consumer rights and responsibilities. Business Regulation: To ensure fair and ethical business practices that contribute towards growth and upliftment of citizens and grow the second economy, two (2) sets of legislation (Mpumalanga Gambling Act (No. 5 of 1995), and the Mpumalanga Liquor Licensing Act (No. 5 of 2006) were reviewed in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator (MER) during the period under review. The Department also assessed 17 local Municipalities to establish their status of the street trading bylaws in-line with the Mpumalanga Businesses Act (No. 2 of 1996) which is currently under review but subject to finalisation of the review of the National Business Act. The program provides continuous capacity building and oversight support to Municipalities on the implementation of street trading bylaws. Informal Policy Development: The informal economy is not a marginal add on, but continues to be a priority issue for the Department. Extensive consultative processes with relevant stakeholders using the District Development model have been finalised. This is also subsequent to a number of extended workshops also held with the informal sector forums across the District. The development of the Provincial Informal Sector Policy is now awaiting consolidation and validation, a process, which will be followed by final approval, and launching of the Informal Sector Policy for the Province. We further contributed to the Department’s outcome in terms of an Inclusive, Diversified and Growing the Economy, as well as the strategic priorities of Government, especially Priority 2: Economic Transformation and Job Creation. The following achievements can be highlighted: • Provision of credible, accurate and quality research reports for evidence-based economic planning and decision making in the Province. Reports such as the PERO (Provincial Economic Review and Outlook) document, the SERO (Socio-Economic Review and Outlook), and relevant economic research reports on key economic sectors/ industries, mining and tourism for example, e-based business survey report and Socio-Economic Profiles (SEPs) of all 20 Municipalities were produced. • Central point in the Province of credible, accurate and quality socio-economic data/information for planning, policy and even budget purposes. • The important work of the Mpumalanga Green Energy Cluster Agency representing academia, industry, and government (a special purpose vehicle to drive the implementation of the green economy development plan.

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