,DVA2603
ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 2
DUE DATE: 7TH OF SEPTEMBER 2026
FOR MORE ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSISTANCE
WHATSAPP: 0835994837
, PART A
1. Mention five reasons why local economic development (LED) plans may fail. (5
marks)
Local economic development plans in South African municipalities often fail for several
interconnected reasons linked to the broader challenges of producing and implementing
Integrated Development Plans (IDPs). Many municipalities remain unclear about the
precise meaning of LED and how to put it into practice effectively. Political barriers
frequently interfere with consistent planning and execution. Understaffing within municipal
structures limits the capacity to design and manage LED initiatives properly. Inadequate
financial resources prevent the necessary investments and programmes from being rolled
out. Finally, a shortage of adequate skills among officials, combined with a lack of clear
national government policy direction, insufficient baseline socio-economic data, and poor
coordination between different spheres of government, further undermines successful LED
implementation (UNISA, 2024: p. 76–77).
2. Why is infrastructure crucial for poor urban communities? (5 marks)
Infrastructure forms the foundation of urban development and prosperity for every
community, including the poor. When poor urban residents gain access to affordable
energy, transport, information and communication technology, education, health services,
housing, water, sanitation, and waste removal, they obtain essential assets that reduce
their vulnerability, increase resilience, and help them escape poverty traps. These
improvements create positive spill-over effects across the entire city and surrounding rural
areas. Research shows that extending piped water and sewer networks to poor
communities improves health, protects the environment, and raises productivity. Every
dollar invested in water and sanitation infrastructure can generate between US$4 and
US$34 in benefits. Investments in roads, mass transit systems, and green energy
infrastructure similarly produce economic gains, create jobs, and improve overall welfare for
urban residents (UNISA, 2024: p. 93).
3. What is the economic contribution of waste pickers in South Africa? (5 marks)
ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 2
DUE DATE: 7TH OF SEPTEMBER 2026
FOR MORE ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSISTANCE
WHATSAPP: 0835994837
, PART A
1. Mention five reasons why local economic development (LED) plans may fail. (5
marks)
Local economic development plans in South African municipalities often fail for several
interconnected reasons linked to the broader challenges of producing and implementing
Integrated Development Plans (IDPs). Many municipalities remain unclear about the
precise meaning of LED and how to put it into practice effectively. Political barriers
frequently interfere with consistent planning and execution. Understaffing within municipal
structures limits the capacity to design and manage LED initiatives properly. Inadequate
financial resources prevent the necessary investments and programmes from being rolled
out. Finally, a shortage of adequate skills among officials, combined with a lack of clear
national government policy direction, insufficient baseline socio-economic data, and poor
coordination between different spheres of government, further undermines successful LED
implementation (UNISA, 2024: p. 76–77).
2. Why is infrastructure crucial for poor urban communities? (5 marks)
Infrastructure forms the foundation of urban development and prosperity for every
community, including the poor. When poor urban residents gain access to affordable
energy, transport, information and communication technology, education, health services,
housing, water, sanitation, and waste removal, they obtain essential assets that reduce
their vulnerability, increase resilience, and help them escape poverty traps. These
improvements create positive spill-over effects across the entire city and surrounding rural
areas. Research shows that extending piped water and sewer networks to poor
communities improves health, protects the environment, and raises productivity. Every
dollar invested in water and sanitation infrastructure can generate between US$4 and
US$34 in benefits. Investments in roads, mass transit systems, and green energy
infrastructure similarly produce economic gains, create jobs, and improve overall welfare for
urban residents (UNISA, 2024: p. 93).
3. What is the economic contribution of waste pickers in South Africa? (5 marks)
