Partnerships are essential for local economic development (LED), Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Sicelo Shiceka said on Monday.

"It is critical that a collaborative approach is applied for LED ... no organisation or person exists in isolation," he told a local government business network summit in Johannesburg, according to a copy of his speech sent to Sapa.

Provincial governments, municipalities, state-owned entities and civil society had to join forces to work on behalf of continued growth and prosperity of local economies.

The "misaligned" planning that existed between national, provincial and local government had to be addressed.

"The integrated development plans and local economic development strategies of municipalities must reflect the priorities of the entire public sector, including those of public entities and local business."

There was unco-ordinated planning, implementation and oversight in both local and provincial government.

"Over the next five years, provincial governments will receive dedicated support... to ensure that alignment of plans across the two spheres becomes a reality."

It was critical that each municipality and provincial government had a dedicated unit focusing on local economic development and its implementation.

"The barriers to development must be broken for the benefit of our people, and the prosperity of our country.

"Having this in mind, it becomes essential that officials within a municipality, provincial government departments, both political heads and administrative officials, have the required skills and expertise to engage business, establish partnerships and understand LED both locally and globally."

Sapa

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