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Table 6.21: The strategies for improving and diversifying the economy ofUlundi in 2007
Strategies Frequency Percentage
Cumulative
percental!:e
Infrastructural
development
78
I
28.3
I
28.3
Incentives to attract
Businesses
55 II I
19.9 48.2
Skill development 29 I 10.5 58.7
Encouraging partnership 83 I 30.1 88.8
Promoting adult education 9 I 3.3 92
,
Other I 20
7.2 99.3
i ,
N/A 2 i .7 I 100
i
Total 276 100 I
Although few responses were directed towards adult education as an alternative strategy to
improve the economy of the study area, it has the ability to act as another form of economic
catalyst to Ulundi. Adult education policies (ABET) must be translated into action to mitigate
the gap between policy framing and their actual execution. There still exists loose alignment
regarding interconnectedness, intennunicipal cooperation and participative collaboration
between local municipalities, district municipalities and provincial government department.
Inter-governmental alignment is very crucial to optimise the use of available local resources
for improved local economic development (Buthelezi. Per. Comm .. Tuesday. 06-02-2007d).
Also worth considering are vast unused industrial lands. Anractive industrial incentives like
cheap land and subsidised electricity to draw more industries to Ulundi to take advantage of
the P700, may be a strategic option to diversifY the economy of the area. As a result of the
direct link to Richards Bay, the P700 will open up readily available land in Ulundi as
potential industrial support sites. This may broaden the tax base of the Ulundi Municipality
and offer business prospects from the commercial ribbon development. Ulundi has to some
extent limited infrastructural facilities. In order to make the place more anractive. more
infrastructural facilities like maintaining existing roads and constructing new ones. water and
electricity reticulation must be put in place.
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