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​​​Economic Growth and Tourism

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Notices​​​

Drakenstein Tourism Development Plan_draft​


 PROSPECTUS​
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​​A City Geared for Growth

Please contact our Development and Investment Desk at:
invest@drakenstein.gov.za​


                                 
​We have established a dedicated, first-stop-shop Development and
Investment Desk to assist potential investors and developers in navigating the municipal processes.

The Desk screens development applications and then coordinates the functions of the relevant municipal departments to fast-track the investment journey.

If you are interested in investing or expanding
your business in Drakenstein, don’t hesitate.​


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​​​DIVISION ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TOURISM


Drakenstein economy overview

​According to Quantec Easydata, the Drakenstein economy was valued at R33.6 billion in 2024, reflecting steady growth from R32.5 billion in 2023 and R30.4 billion in 2022.

Top Contributing Economic Sectors (2024):

• Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, and Business Services: R9.17 billion (27.3%)

• Wholesale, Retail Trade, Catering, and Accommodation: R5.355 billion (15.9%)

• Manufacturing: R5.340 billion (15.8%)

• Community, Social and Personal Services: R3.9 billion (11.6%)

• Transport, Storage and Communication: R2.5 billion (7.6%)

• Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing: R2.5 billion (7.0%)

• General Government Services: R1.9 billion (5.7%)

• Construction: R1.6 billion (5.0%)


Employment Overview (2024):

A total of 111,966 people were employed in Drakenstein in 2024. Employment was distributed as follows:

• Wholesale, Retail Trade, Catering, and Accommodation: 24,603 jobs

• Community, Social and Personal Services: 22,548 jobs

• Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, and Business Services: 18,935 jobs

• Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing: 18,637 jobs


Unemployment Trends:

Narrow Unemployment Rate:

• 2022: 19.9%

• 2023: 17.1%

• 2024: 17.4%


Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15–34):

• 2022: 28.3%

• 2023: 24.8%

• 2024: 25.1%


Economic Growth and Tourism (EGT) division overview

The Economic Growth and Tourism division provides an enabling and conducive economic environment to facilitate sustainable economic empowerment for all communities within Drakenstein through the implementation of economic development projects, programmes and initiatives.

The division is responsible for the implementation of the following projects, programmes and Initiatives to ensure economic growth:

• The promotion of the development of priority sectors which include Agriculture; Informal sector, Manufacturing; Technology; Transport and Logistics

• Facilitate investment promotion in the key sectors to diversify the economy

• Build skills for the future through responding to investor needs and matching skills with jobs

• Facilitate meaningful job creation

• Provide business support for thriving entrepreneurs in both the formal and informal economy

• Growing the Tourism sector as a priority sector in Drakenstein.

Economic Growth sub-section

Drakenstein’s vision is to establish a regionally connected city, a Drakenstein that will create an enabling environment and provide client-centred services facilitating investment, small business development, employment, and skills opportunities which will lead to an equitable and sustainable city.

The Integrated Economic Growth Strategy is one of the municipality’s strategic master plans that outlines how economic excellence, growth and development will be achieved over a twelve year period until 2032. The Economic Growth section is responsible for the following:


Investment Promotion

Investment is a lever for economic growth and therefore one of the key focus areas of this sub-division. The ease of doing business within Drakenstein is facilitated within the Economic Growth section in order to attract and retain investors and ensure that the municipality becomes an investment destination of choice.

 

Small businesses are the cornerstone of the economy and form the backbone of our communities. The section supports small business development through:

• Provision of business advice

• Facilitate access to funding

• Provide entrepreneurship capacity building opportunities;

• Facilitate access to market intelligence

• Process business licenses

 

Informal Trading

An enabled, well-supported and dynamic informal sector plays an important role in the Drakenstein economy. The section is responsible for the procedures of issuing permits, regulating trading spaces, and the roles and responsibilities of the various role players involved in the management of informal traders in Drakenstein.

 

Skills Development

Skills development is a strategic enabler to facilitate sustainable and inclusive economic growth. The section supports capacity building initiatives aimed at improving entrepreneurship and business practices and also facilitates skills development initiatives mainly in the growth sectors of the Drakenstein economy.

 

The Tourism sub-section’s primary responsibilities are tourism planning and strategic co-ordination of specific tourism focus areas which include:

• Tourism Product Development

• Tourism Regulation specifically Tourism signage regulation

• Destination marketing in association with Drakenstein Local Tourism Association

• Events Tourism

• Tourism Infrastructure

• Human Capital Development

• Tourism market intelligence

• Tourism Safety and Support

The section also provides technical assistance to the Drakenstein Local Tourism Association (DLTA) in respect of tourism development, standard setting, regulatory enforcement and the gathering of statistical data. The Drakenstein Local Tourism Association is a not for profit organisation that provides the municipality with destination marketing services which include visitor information services and marketing support.

 

Contact details

Mr Moses Mlangeni

Manager: Economic Growth

Tel:  021 807 4758

 

Inge Frolicks

Tel: 021 807 6492

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Mr Timmy Cloete

Tel: 021 807 4590

 

Informal Trading

Mr Ntobeko Vacu

Economic Growth Officer

Tel: 021 807 4740


Inge Frolicks

Tel: 021 807 6492

 

Ms Chrismare Carse

Senior Tourism Officer

Tel: 021 807 7744

 

Visit our offices at:

Economic Development and Tourism at the 2nd Floor, 1 Market Street, Paarl.



INFORMAL TRADING PERMITS 2025​ RENEWALS SCHEDULE

Any enquiries to be directed to Mr. Vacu at 021 807 4740 | Ntobeko.Vacu@drakenstein.gov.za​

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Documents

 
 
 
 
 
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By-law

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