Volume II - The Northern Cape Provincial Spatial Development ...

different. The NSDP argues that these diverse and disparate spatial contexts suggest a policy
approach that itself should be differentiated and conducive to the requirements of the different
contexts. Hence, in areas of low or no economic potential, the path of development and
poverty reduction should be through a focus on investment in human and social capital (e.g.
education, training, social welfare, rural development planning, land and agrarian reform,
expansion of agricultural extension services, etc). This means that each individual town
should discover its real development potential and then grow to the maximum of that
development level. It is important to stress that the NSDP does not in any way rule out
investment in small towns per se. What matters is whether an area has the potential to grow
economically in a sustainable way, create jobs and alleviate poverty. If a small town has such
potential there is nothing that precludes such investment (Oranje et al, 2008).
The NSDP is supported by the concept draft of the National Urban Development
Framework (Dept of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, in conjunction with
the Presidency and SA Cities Network, 2009.) The purpose of a national urban development
framework is to provide a common view on how to strengthen the capacity of South Africa’s
towns, cities and city-regions to realise their potential to support shared growth, social
equity, as well as environmental sustainability as key components of our national agenda.
Additional recommendations are also made for the differentiated support required by the
different types of urban settlement, in line with the NSDP.
2.2.2 Northern Cape Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS)
In response to the social and economic development imperatives yielded by an analysis of the
socio-economic profile of the province, the following primary development objectives have
been identified in the Northern Cape PGDS (reviewed in 2010):
• Promoting the growth, diversification and transformation of the provincial economy;
• Reduction of poverty through social development;
• Creating the required levels of human and social capital;
• Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of governance and development institutions;
and
• Enhancing infrastructure for economic growth and social development.
The PGDS cautions that certain sub-sectors of the mining industry in the Northern Cape have
peaked and that downscaling is underway in especially the copper and diamond mining
industries. This results in an urgent need to identify and promote alternative economic
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