Ph.D. (Economics) / Until 1946 economists paid little attention to regional development. Economic development was mainly viewed in a national context. Even since the Second World War there remain important differences of opinion among economists on regional development theories. The aim of this study was first of all to make an analysis of the various theories. Secondly the instruments and results of decentralisation policies in Western Europe and Southern Africa during the period 1960 to 1980 were researched and discussed. The third aim was to discuss the term "Export Processing Zone".and to research the application thereof in various countries. Fourthly, the Gross Geographic Product and economically active popUlation of nine regions in Southern Africa were analised. Lastly the regional development strategies including the possible application of Export Processing Zones in Southern Africa were discussed in the light of the urgent need for employment creation - especially for Black workers. In the discussion of various regional development theories mention was made of the important role of technology, productivity, domestic and international price levels in addition to capital and labour for the optimum development of regions. Therefore the process of Cumulative Causation combined with export led development are important factors for a successful development strategy.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The economic construct within South Africa has been in a state of flux during the last decade. The challenge of meeting the demands placed on this economy by the leading industrialised developed economies, whilst developing human capacity that would meet these demands, is of great importance. Developing human capacity through training is regarded as the key building block in this endeavour. Cost implications associated with training are considered a major stumbling block for many organisations where bottom line margins are under continuous threat. Traditionally, many institutions regarded training as an unnecessary evil and the tendency was to spend as little money as possible on this variable overhead. This short-sighted approach, operating within a political framework where the majority of the workers did not enjoy democratic institutions, compounded the training and skills dilemma facing South Africa. Since 1994 all South Africans have been afforded a new political dispensation. The newly elected government, in an attempt to redress past inadequacy, introduced various labour acts that would meet the development needs of that part of the population that was classified as previously disadvantaged. The Skills Development Act provides guidelines on training and development requirements within the various economic sectors, and is therefore of particular importance. This legislation, which implies that organisations spend a certain percentage of their payroll on training, places new financial demands and obligations on organisations, some of which cannot afford it. A positive alternative associated with training cost is the establishment of Export Processing Zones (EPZs). EPZs offer incentives to lure organisations into moving to a demarcated processing zone where relaxed labour practices are enjoyed, low taxes are paid and incentives for training their workforces are offered. In order to test the perception of employers regarding training incentives as a motivation to consider moving to EPZs, a questionnaire was sent to one hundred organisations. Quantitative and qualitative data was obtained by means of processing the responses to these questionnaires to establish the viability of and demand for the establishment of EPZs. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that the development of an EPZ should become a part of the strategic initiative of the South African Department of Trade and Industry whilst ensuring support from other key stakeholders such as the Department of Labour, workers' unions and industrialists. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die ekonomiese konstruk in Suid-Afrika was gedurende die afgelope dekade in 'n toestand van onsekerheid. Die uitdaging om aan die vereistes wat deur die toonaangewende ontwikkelde nywerheidsekonomieë afgedwing word te voldoen, terwyl die menslike kapasiteit terselfdertyd ontwikkel word om aan hierdie vereistes te voldoen, is uiters belangrik. Opleiding word beskou as 'n kern boublok in hierdie strewe om menslike kapasiteit te ontwikkel. Talle maatskappye beskou die koste implikasies wat met opleiding gepaard gaan as 'n reuse struikelblok. Baie instansies het opleiding in die verlede as 'n onnodige euwel beskou en daar was 'n neiging om so min as moontlik aan hierdie veranderlike oorhoofse koste te spandeer. Hierdie kortsigtige benadering het binne 'n politieke raamwerk fungeer waar die meerderheid werkers geen toegang tot demokratiese instellings gehad het nie. Dit het die opleidings- en vaardigheidsdilemma waarmee Suid-Afrika gekonfronteer word, vererger. Alle Suid-Afrikaners geniet egter sedert 1994 'n nuwe politieke bedeling. Ten einde te poog om vroeëre tekortkominge aan te spreek, het die nuut verkose regering verskeie arbeidswetgewings ingestel om aan die ontwikkelingsbehoeftes te voldoen van diegene wat geklassifiseer word as agtergeblewenes. Die Vaardigheidsontwikkelingswetgewing bied riglyne vir opleidings- en ontwikkelingsbehoeftes binne die verskeie ekonomiese sektore en is dus van besondere belang. Hierdie wetgewing bepaal dat 'n maatskappy 'n sekere persentasie van sy betaalrol moet spandeer aan opleiding. Dit plaas addisionele finansiële druk op maatskappye en sommige maatskappye kan dit net eenvoudig nie bekostig nie. Die daarstelling van 'n Uitvoer Verwerkingsone (UVS) is 'n positiewe alternatief wat met opleidingskoste geassosieer kan word. 'n UVS bied insentiewe aan maatskappye om hul te lok om na hierdie afgebakende gebied(e) te beweeg waar verslapte arbeidspraktyke geld, lae belastings betaal word en insentiewe aangebied word vir die opleiding van hul werkersmag. 'n Vraelys is aan een honderd maatskappye gestuur ten einde die persepsies van werkgewers ten opsigte van opleidingsintensiewe as motivering om na 'n UVS te beweeg te toets. Kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe data is bekom deur die verwerking van die antwoorde op die vraelys en daardeur die lewensvatbaarheid van en die behoefte aan die daarstelling van 'n UVS te bepaal. Gebaseer op die bevindinge van hierdie studie word daar aanbeveel dat die ontwikkeling van 'n UVS deel moet vorm van die strategiese inisiatief van die Suid-Afrikaanse Departement van Handel en Nywerheid terwyl die ondersteuning van ander sleutel belanghebbendes soos die Departement van Arbeid, werkersunies en nyweraars verseker word.

Thesis ((MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is experiencing similar problems as those occurring in other developing countries. Such problems include: large scale poverty; unequal regional development; inefficient policies; fragmented transport systems. The list goes on. This is largely due to apartheid policiesthat were implemented. After 1994 a series of new policies and programmes was implemented. Their aim was to eradicate apartheid planning; to provide equal and fair development for everyone and to stimulate and boost the economy. The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) was the first policy of its kind, followed by the Growth, Employment and Redistribution programme (GEAR). The aim of these two policies was to stimulate the economy, especially in areas where there is a need for an economic boost. This ultimately led to programmes such as the Spatial Development Initiative (SDI); Local Economic Development and Export Processing Zones or as they are better known in South Africa, Industrial Development Zones. Programmes or initiative such as these were aimed at boosting the economy, providing employment and utilising resources in a region. This is the shift that has taken place in development planning, from traditional regional policies towards incentive driven policiesthat try to attract investment into under-developed regions. Programmessuch as Industrial Development Zones however have a long history, not all of it positive. These zones have been known as sweatshops and that they use child labour. The largest problem of these zones is that labour legislation is almost non-existent. In 2001 South Africa declared Coega the first Industrial Development Zone in the country. The zone will link to the Spatial Development Initiative programme that was implemented in 1996. An uproar followed when labour organisations such as COSATUlearned that the government is going to use Industrial Development Zones, which are similar to Export ProcessingZones, to stimulate the economy and to solve the problem of unemployment in specific areas of the country. However the labour legislation of South Africa will be applied in the Industrial Development Zones. That just leaves the problem of efficiency and effectiveness. Will these zones really address and solve the employment problems in South Africa? Zones such as those in Mauritius have been a success, but there are cases where the zones did not create employment and more money was spend on putting in the infrastructure and services in the zones, than was made in the zone. Time will be the judge in the case of Coega Industrial Development Zone. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika ondervind basies dieselfde probleme as wat ander onderontwikkelde lande ondervind. Die probleme sluit in: grootskaalse armoede; ongelyke streekontwikkeling; ondoeltreffende beleide. Die probleem spruit grootliks uit die apartheidsbeleide. Na 1994 is daar egter 'n reeks van nuwe beleide en programme geïmplementeer. Die beleide moes apartheidsbeplanning uitwis; moes gelyke ontwikkeling aan almal voorsien en die ekonomie stimuleer. Die Heropbou- en Ontwikkelingsprogram was een van die eerste beleide, en is gevolg deur die "Growth, Employment and Redistribution" program. Die twee beleide se doel was om die ekonomie te stimuleer, veral in gebiede waar daar 'n behoefte aan ekonomiese groei is. Dit het dan ook gelei tot programme soos "Spatial Development Initiatives", "Local Economic Development" and "Export Processing Zones" of soos wat dit in Suid-Afrika bekend staan "Industrial Development Zones". Programme of inisiatiewe soos die se doel is om die ekonomie van 'n streek te versterk, om werksgeleenthede te skep en om gebruik te maak van die hulpbronne in die spesifieke streek. Die programme het 'n groot verandering in ontwikkelingsbeplanning meegebring, vanaf tradisionele streekbeleide tot inisiatief-gedrewe beleide wat poog om beleggings in onderontwikkelde streke te versterk. Programme soos "Industrial Development Zones" het 'n lang geskiedenis, en nie almal is posititief nie. Hierdie sones het 'n algemene naam van "sweatshops" gekry waar kinderarbeid gebruik word. Die grootste probleem van hierdie sones is dat arbeidwetgewing gewoonlik nie toegepas word binne die sones nie. In 2001 is Coega as die eerste "Industrial Development Zone" verklaar in Suid Afrika. Die sone is verbind tot die "Spatial Development Initiative" programme wat geïmplementeerd is in 1996. Dit is egter sterk deur die arbeidsorganisasie COSATU veroordeel, toe hulle hoor dat die regering nou "Industrial Development Zones", wat basies dieselfde is as "Export Processing Zones", gaan gebruik om die ekonomie te stimuleer en die hoë werkloosheid in die land te verminder. Maar, in hierdie sones sal arbeid wetgewing toegepas word. Dit los net die probleem van effektiwiteit en doeltreffendheid. Gaan hierdie sones die werkloosheids probleem van Suid Afrika oplos? Sones soos in Mauritius was suksesvol, maar daar is egter talle ander wat nie werkgeleenthed geskep het nie en die uitgawes wat gemaak is om infrastruktuur en dienste in die sones te voorsien is veel hoër as die profyt wat gemaak is op die einde. Tyd sal leer in die Coega "Industrial Development Zone'.