Strategic planning for local economic development: A case of Nkomazi local municipality, South Africa

Strategic planning plays a critical role in helping regions and municipalities achieve sustainable local economic growth. It gives local government and development partners a clear vision and practical roadmap for activities. This paper explores the strategic objectives of Nkomazi Local Municipality with the aim to identify the gaps in the strategic planning framework and provide suggestions for Improvement. This study employed a qualitative case study design, analysing official documents, including the Nkomazi IDP (2022–2027), MEC review comments, and relevant policy frameworks. The integration of multiple data sources such as IDP, SWOT analysis, KPAs, and strategic objectives provide a comprehensive overview. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify patterns, gaps, and opportunities in the strategic planning framework. The analysis reveals that Nkomazi Local Municipality has made important strides in shaping its strategic direction, but further progress will depend on continued focus in several key areas like economic diversification and skills development. The SWOT analysis shows that Nkomazi has considerable strengths and opportunities, from its fertile land and a strategic location to supportive governance structures and planned investments like the SEZ. However, it also faces serious weaknesses and threats which include human capacity gaps, financial constraints, service backlogs, and socio-economic challenges like unemployment and rapid population growth. To build a more resilient local economy, the municipality should consider placing more focus on long-term infrastructure and service delivery; incorporating the District Disaster Management Plan to strengthen the municipal ability to respond to environmental threats. Ultimately, fostering an effective strategic planning will help Nkomazi realise its vision of empowered communities enjoying quality services, inclusive economic growth, and contributing to broader regional development goals for Mpumalanga Province and entire South Africa. The policy implications of this study suggest that local governments must prioritize collaborative efforts with stakeholders at all levels.