Local Economic Development (LED) challenges facing the Local Government in the Limpopo Province : the case of Motumo Trading Post in the Molemole Local Municipality of the Capricorn District Municipality

Abstract

The study focused on the Local Economic Development (LED) challenges facing the local government in Limpopo Province. The specific study area was Motumo Trading Post located in Molemole Local Municipality. Molemole Local Municipality is one of the five municipalities in the Capricorn District Municipality. The study was qualitative in nature and included some elements of quantitative research in the form of numbers, graphs and tables and concentrated on the functionality of the Motumo Trading Post project. The respondents in this study were the community members of Matoks (known as Botlokwa in Sepedi), the Councillors of Molemole Municipality, managers of both Molemole local Municipality and Capricorn District Municipality, the traditional leaders and mayors of Molemole Local Municipality and Capricorn District Municipality. The study indicates that the local government, through municipalities is faced with challenges of bringing about economic growth to the poor people, especially in rural areas, through local economic development projects. The findings in this study indicate that Motumo Trading Post, which is a government initiative to improve the standard of living of Matoks community, has had no impact since its completion. The community of Matoks did not benefit from the project and the plans by the municipalities were not realised. The study also shows that not enough was done to involve the stakeholders in the planning and development of the project.