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processing. The Municipality may minimize the risk of over-reliance on the government
sector for jobs as it moves into aloe harvesting and processing for export.
Aloe is a common plant that naturally grows under natural climatic conditions in the study
area and its immediate surrounding municipalities like Nongoma, Pongola and Abaqulusi.
This plant has a huge market potential as a result of its inherent medicinal value both locally
and internationally. The study recognizes that little has been done about the aloe plant in
terms of feasibility studies to determine the market and economic spin-offs in its harvesting
and processing to the development ofthe study area. The findings on agricultural and tourism
potentials in this study bear testimony to the relevance ofthe market development strategy in
the proposed model in promoting the growth and development of Ulundi. Job creation in
agriculture through this market development approach is sustainable and presents a better
alternative to the social grants.
Stage 8: Implementation
Following the strategy formulation stage is the stage for implementation. It is important to
note that no matter how good a strategic plan can be, it cannot succeed if it not implemented
properly. The top management leadership of the Ulundi Local Municipality is a necessary
ingredient in the success of this strategy. So too, is a motivated group of middle and lower
level managers to carry out specific plans ofsenior management.
This study notes with great concern the perceptions ofthe majority respondents who indicated
the absence ofthe performance targets since this situation suggests two possible inferences.
The first deduction is that majority of the respondents are not active participants of the lOP
process; and the second possibility is that there is lack of communication between the
municipal management and the residents of the study are on matters such as performance
targets. Based on this finding, the implementation stage ofthe proposed model becomes very
significant to promote pro-growth LED and ensure effective and efficient service delivery in
the study area.
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