Focusing on the policy context for social entrepreneurship in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM), this dissertation examines the processes through which social entrepreneurs participate in the processes of development of the municipality because; social entrepreneurship is increasingly being recognised as a mechanism for creating social and economic value. Social entrepreneurs play a significant role in fulfilling unmet societal needs and in filling gaps, particularly in areas where government and the market fall short. Based on this view, this study raises questions about the integrated policy guiding social entrepreneurship for better development outcomes. It aims to contribute to the body of literature on social entrepreneurship and development by examining the processes through which social entrepreneurs participate in the development of the communities at the local level. Using the Grounded Theory method, this study found that there is no integrated policy on social entrepreneurship in the NMBM and that the deficiency created by the lack of an integrated policy engenders Social Revisioning. The substantive theory of Social Revisioning emerged from the data to explain the processes through which social entrepreneurs participate in the development of communities when there is no integrated policy on social entrepreneurship. In response to the deficiencies in the policy context, differentiated and autonomous entities within and outside of the municipal government step in and support social entrepreneurs to provide services and participate in the processes of development. However, even though Social Revisioning can be used to address the policy deficiencies in social entrepreneurship and development, the differentiations and autonomy that characterise the entities, role players and processes embodied in Social Revisioning prevent cohesion among them and again beg for an integrated policy that will incorporate them.

In South Africa, since 1994 when democratic government came into power, the issue of development was raised as one of the priorities of government. Government promised citizens livelihoods to be improved through quality, effective and efficient services. Rural development was identified as one priorities of government to ensure better life for all the citizens. The issue of rural development was still a challenge in South Africa especially in the Eastern Cape Province. Amahlathi local municipality is not an exception from these challenges. Transformation of rural communities in this area through rural development is very slow. It is quite evident that although rural development was a priority initiative this municipality is still facing challenges. There are factors and constraints inhibiting rural development. The primary objective of this research was to obtain a better understanding of poverty and development in rural areas and also to identify the underlying factors and challenges inhibiting rural development. The study had three objectives. The first objective was to identify factors inhibiting rural development in the Amahlathi Local Municipality; the second objective was to identify the constraints on economic activities in Amahlathi Municipality. The third objective was to ascertain what has been done to address the needs of rural people in Amahlathi Local Municipality by agents of development, such as government and non-governmental organisations. The study employed a qualitative approach for an in-depth understanding and verification. Source of documents included academic and non -academic books, journal articles published and unpublished dissertations, official documents of the government and the magazines and the internet were used as sources of secondary data. The main finding in terms of the research objective is that there a number of factors inhibiting rural development include lack of basic infrastructure, lack of access to markets, low employment, and training and capacity building. Infrastructure such as roads, transport and irrigation is crucial for improving and stabilising the livelihoods of rural households and providing access to markets and key social services in the Amahlathi Municipality. The recommends that a serious interventions by the states should be employed and also has to encourage investment in infrastructure using labour-intensive methods to reduce service backlogs in underserviced areas in Amahlathi. Government has to develop service-improvement programmes that generate income and employment in order to reduce poverty in Amahlathi Municipality. This includes empowerment of people.

The causal relationship between financial development and economic growth is a controversial issue. For developing countries, empirical studies have provided mixed result. This study seeks to empirically explore the relationship and the causal link between financial development and economic growth in two sub-Saharan African countries between 1970 and 2006. The empirical investigation is carried out using time methods and the five most commonly used indicators of financial development in the literature. However, the causal relationship was carried out using two different methods which are the autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing (ARDL) and the vector error correction model (VECM). Using this above methodology the study first found that in both countries there is a positive and long-term relationship between all the indicators of financial development and economic growth which was proxied by the real per capita GDP. With respect to the causality test, the two methods used provide mixed results especially in South Africa. In Cameroon the study found that financial development causes economic growth using the two methods, whereas in South Africa economic growth causes financial development when the VECM method is used, while there is an independence relationship between the two variables in South Africa when using ARDL. / Economics / M.Comm. (Economics)

The small, medium and micro enterprises sector in South Africa is critical in addressing poverty, job creation and social instability inherited by the democratic government. The transformation of the economy has seen various pieces of legislation being enacted in order to promote a favourable environment for the growth of the SMME sector. As such, instruments such as the Industrial Development Zones were put in place to facilitate investment, create jobs and promote exports with one of the main objectives to grow the SMME sector. In this study, the case of the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ) in supporting the growth of the SMME sector in economic growth and addressing socio-economic challenges was analysed. The exploratory qualitative research methodology was used in the study. Structured questionnaires and a semi-structured interview guide were used to collect data from the 49 identified participants and an Executive Management representative from the ELIDZ in order to present the data obtained precisely. The study recommends that an integrated model of SMME growth by the private and public sector be developed in ensuring that there are clear expectations on the determinants of growth for the sector. In addition, the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality must have in place a consolidated database of SMMEs in order for the private and public institutions to elect the SMMEs which can be participants in their SMME development programmes.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is seen as a way to provide the needed capital inflow to stimulate growth in a domestic economy. FDI can also result in increased employment levels, managerial skills and increase in technology. In efforts to attract FDI, host countries have undertaken various policy incentives to attract foreign investors. This study analyses the trends and determinants of inward FDI to South Africa for the period 1975-2005. The study starts by reviewing FDI literature on its determinants and provides the macroeconomic background and FDI related policies undertaken in South Africa. The trend and sectoral analysis provides the actual nature of FDI flows to South Africa. An empirical model linking theoretical and empirical determinants of FDI is estimated using the Johansen cointegration and VECM framework. The study also augments the cointegration framework with impulse response and variance decomposition analyses to complement the long and short run determinants of FDI. Dummy variables are used in each of the estimated FDI models to take into account the possibility of structural breaks. Results show that relative to the size of the economy and to other developing countries, South Africa still receives low levels of inward FDI. Only are few years are exceptional i.e. 1997, 2001 and 2005. From the sectoral distribution, the financial sector is now the major recipient of FDI followed by the mining and manufacturing sectors. The emergence of the financial sector could suggest that FDI motives could have shifted from the natural resource seeking and market seeking to efficiency seeking FDI. The United Kingdom emerges as the major source of FDI to South Africa followed by United States of America and Germany. Empirical analysis indicated that openness, exchange rate and financial development are important long run determinants of FDI. Increased openness and financial development attract FDI while an increase (depreciation) in the exchange rate deters FDI to South Africa. Market size emerges as a short run determinant of FDI although it is declining in importance. Most of the impulse response analysis confirmed the VECM findings. Variance decomposition analysis showed that FDI itself, imports and exchange rate explain a significant amount of the forecast error variance. The influence of market size variable is small and declining over time.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Local Economic Development (LED) in alleviating poverty in Nkonkobe Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, a municipality that is predominantly rural in nature and also stricken by poverty. The research objectives were; to explore the implementation of LED strategies, to assess the degree to which various spheres of government work collaboratively to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in development planning; and to evaluate the extent to which job opportunities have been created as a result of LED practices in the municipality. To achieve these objectives, a qualitative research approach was utilised. The sample was selected using a purposive sampling technique whereby individuals who are directly involved in integrated development planning and LED planning were targeted. Those who met this criterion were considered suitable for providing relevant information regarding the implementation of LED in Nkonkobe Local Municipality. Based on the literature review presented in chapter 2, LED can be perceived as an integrated, multidisciplinary approach that seeks to alleviate poverty through pro-poor economic growth by promoting economic development initiatives in municipalities. Moreover, the legislative framework presented in the same chapter reveals that the South African government has employed various strategies in the implementation of LED in local communities. The study showed that the Nkonkobe Local Municipality LED strategy has limited impact on poverty alleviation due to a myriad of factors which reinforce and interact with each other, thereby limiting development and thus trapping residents in poverty. The findings suggest that there is significant room for a paradigm shift from predominantly pro-growth LED to pro-poor LED, and the need to adopt a comprehensive LED strategy that seeks to include both pro-growth and pro-poor strategies.

The transition period post-apartheid in South Africa since 1994 brought a number of changes in policy making process and the initiated programs by the government in all level with the aim of addressing inequality and poverty reduction strategies. In South Africa prior 1994 division in terms of location access to resources and information was meant for the certain group and participation in the Community development matters. The aim of this research study is to seek and find out the impact of the government policy projects, programme (strategies) in the community to poverty reduction and try to identify the reasons for the failure of other project and to what extend is the capacity building in community members in terms of skill development before the implementation of projects for sustainability and viability of those projects. Also is to explore the community participation or involvement in policy making process such as the formulation of Integrated Development Plan .The study attempts to answer community involvement into their own development, their role and impact to fight poverty and other socio-economic challenges that are faced by the community. The research design for the study could be classified as the mixed design which will include qualitative and quantitative approaches. A sample of 30 participants will be drawn from the community unemployed respondents, project employees, those searching for employment, 5 municipality officials from Blue Crane Route, Ward Councillor and projects leaders. On my findings community participation on community development issues must be strengthen for the sake of development .The issue of centralisation of offices for availability of resources to same of the communities makes it difficult to access resources. Lack of skills and training acquired in the job market for artisans, technical and management skills.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2015. / The aim of this study was to determine the extent of constraints to entrepreneurial development in the townships supporting the Cape Town economy, specifically that of Khayelitsha, and to establish whether any government incentives were available to develop this township economy. These small, medium and micro sized businesses face numerous constraints. The vital role of small businesses in stimulating economic activity, in poverty alleviation, and in the raising of living standards, has been widely recognised in most countries. In fact, in several countries, small businesses are used as catalysts to generate economic activities within relatively poor communities. The City of Cape Town has developed economic initiatives to provide assistance to entrepreneurs with recommendations on how innovations should be encouraged to help entrepreneurs in such poor communities as Khayelitsha to start new businesses, and to create jobs. In order to obtain information on the Khayelitsha business community both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. Questionnaires were employed to answer open and closed ended questions dealing with economic activities in the area, as well as interviews with formal and informal business persons. Generally, the findings reveal numerous constraints of trade facing businesses in Khayelitsha including governmental restrictions, lack of a skilled workforce, poor infrastructure, and services delivery. The recommendations made could lead to an improvement in operating conditions as this study argues that the existence of positive business conditions, in terms of social, economic, and personal factors, are necessary for business ventures and entrepreneurs to succeed. However, innovation is essential for small businesses to be able to respond effectively to the changing environment that has been triggered by globalisation forces.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2015. / The Breede Valley region is located in the Cape Winelands District near Cape Town and has been identified as a wine region with vast diversity and distinctiveness. The lack of research in the field of wine and events in the area gave rise to this study. The event industry in this region is relatively unexploited but in recent years has been revealed to be a major catalyst for tourism and economic development. However, for events to act as a catalyst for tourism and economic development, it is important to have an understanding of stakeholders‟ perceptions of the impacts of these events. The research therefore focuses on stakeholders‟ perceptions of the impacts of the Breedekloof Outdoor and Wine Festival (BOWF) hosted in the Breedekloof region in the Breede Valley of the Western Cape Province. Underpinning this study was the understanding that the perceived impacts of the event are pivotal for the future planning, management and sustainability of the event as well as to minimise negative and maximise positive impacts of the BOWF. The study applied a mixed-methods approach, compiling data through survey questionnaires targeting 341 event attendees, 374 residents, 28 established businesses, 8 sponsors and 15 venue owners. Key informant interviews with the event organiser and direct observations with event attendees and residents were used as methods to collect data, using several sampling methods. A spatially based systematic sampling approach was used for the event attendees and residents‟ surveys, purposive sampling for the event organiser, venue owners and sponsors, while census sampling was used for the established businesses. For the purpose of the study, 767 respondents were targeted; only 730 responded. The results demonstrate support of the event among residents from Rawsonville as they perceive the event as beneficial to local businesses in the region. It displays the town and its beauty and does not cause any inconvenience to local lifestyles. However, there were mixed views on inequalities relating to employment opportunities and involvement in the planning and management of the event. Most established businesses, on the other hand, were also not directly involved in the Festival; even though there were opportunities for businesses to optimise profits and engender publicity, most did not use this opportunity to their advantage. The event attendees at the Festival were mostly from the Western Cape, attending the Festival in groups of friends with the large majority spending/planning to spend money at the Festival. / South African Department of Tourism

Local Economic Development has (LED) become essential in the ever changing global economy. It is seen as a sustainable substitute to traditional development approaches in a dynamic global environment characterised by the emergence of local political players and territorial governance. The research investigated to what extent the implementation of Local Economic Development strategies have turn to be necessary and viable in improving the social and economic state of people in lntsika Yethu Local Municipality. The population for the study was council employees, the mayoral committee and councillors of the lntsika Yethu Local Municipality. The study unity was limited to lntsika Yethu Municipal area. Convenience sampling method or theoretical sampling method was used for the sampling purposes. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was gathered through the completion of the questionnaire and through focus group interviews using the same set of questions in the questionnaire.