Creating a better world requires teamwork, partnerships and collaboration, as we need an army of companies to work together to build a better world. This statement by Prof Danie Meyer, senior lecturer in the subject group for Economics on the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU), sums up the collaborative prowess of the NWU, the VAAL LED Warriors and the local community of Sharpeville.

The subject group for Economics on the Vanderbijlpark Campus, together with the mentioned collaborative partners, have joined forces to formulate a local economic development plan for the township. Sharpeville will serve as the focus of the pilot project and has been selected due to its iconic international cultural and historical status, its strategic and integrated locality in the Vanderbijlpark region as well as its dynamic and vibrant socio-economic environment.

Professor Meyer explains that the envisioned development plan will be finalised by the honours students in economics with support from lecturers within the subject group, community leaders and other role players such as the various business chambers. The overall development plan will consist of eight sub-plans which includes:

1. Main street precinct development plan.
2. Tourism and marketing development plan.
3. Local crafts and arts development plan.
4. Dhlomo Dam development plan.
5. Service delivery and community facility development plan.
6. Urban agricultural development plan.
7. Small business and job creation plan.
8. Industrial/manufacturing development plan.  

It is expected that the development plan will be completed by the end of April 2017 after which the plan will be presented and workshopped with all relevant stakeholders including local government structures, business organisations and local communities. The workshop is planned for the first week of May 2017 and will take place in Sharpeville. Details will be made available and the public is welcome to be part of this project. For more detail please contact Prof Danie Meyer at daniel.meyer@nwu.ac.za

More about the Vaal LED (Local Economic Development) Warriors

As one of the founding members of the Vaal LED Warriors movement, Prof Meyer explains that the Vaal LED Warriors represents a community group committed towards the revitalisation of the local economy through cooperation, networking and the support of all its members. In short: a group motivated to regenerate the Vanderbijlpark to an economic stable and growing region with a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship, innovation, job creation and sustainability.

Members include business owners, industry representatives, entrepreneurs, community leaders and students.

Prof Danie Meyer.