Creating Skills, Jobs, Income and Dignity
Central to the vision of the Cato Manor Development Project is the generation of a large and vibrant local economy with high levels of participation by local residents. Key components of this vision include:

• a fully multi-sectoral local economy including construction, manufacturing, service industrial, retail services and a small urban agricultural sector;
• a wide diversity of scales of economic activity ranging from the very small one-person businesses to large employers;
• a rich array of economic participation opportunities for local residents, not only as employees but also as owners or part owners in local enterprises.

At full development it is envisaged that some 25 000 to 30 000 individuals will be active in enterprises within Cato Manor and that the economy of Cato Manor will be fully integrated into the economy of the metropolitan area as a whole. To this end, some 172 ha of industrial, commercial and mixed-use land has been earmarked for development.

Key challenges
The implementation of this bold vision begins at the lowest levels of informal activity. Unemployment within the Cato Manor populace is currently estimated at 36%, and skills levels are still alarmingly low, as evidenced by a recently completed survey (see table above). Private sector investment in economic development within Cato Manor needs to be substantially boosted. Prior to 1998, the attention of the Project was focussed on establishing an environment within which economic growth could occur, increasing road linkages, refining planning, improving law and order and dealing with the basic needs of the resident population. In response to these challenges, implementation of the Local Economic Development component of the Project commenced in earnest in 1999, founded on two strategic legs:

• lifting the skills base of the Cato Manor populace to empower them to access and utilise economic opportunities; and
• starting the economic investment ball rolling with a series of ice-breaking projects, whilst ensuring that these projects are replicable by the private sector.

LIFTING THE SKILLS BASE
Basic Business Management Skills
This programme exposes current and emerging entrepreneurs to a two-fold course developed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO): Start Your Own Business (SYB); and Improve Your Business (IYB). The SYB course begins with a feasibility study of the entrepreneur's own business. The IYB then equips entrepreneurs with basic skills to effectively manage and market their enterprises. Over 200 people have benefitted from this programme.
Industrial Skills Training
This programme enables unemployed residents to attend accredited courses and helps facilitate employment in the wage market. Sixty-five people are presently undergoing training.
Multi-Skilling Training Programme
This programme aims to improve the viability of Cato Manor SMME's operating in the construction industry, through the application of sound business, contracting and technical skills. This will lead to the creation of sustainable employment opportunities for home builders, contractors/subcontractors and civil works contractors. Eighty-nine homebuilders, subcontractors and civil engineering trainees have completed the course. Construction Skills Training
This programme trains unskilled residents in block-laying, painting and plastering and assists graduates in accessing job opportunities. From 2000 onwards the course was incorporated into the Multi-Skilling Training Programme.
Urban Agriculture
This programme targets people involved in small-scale vegetable production to form agriculture clubs. Production quality and quantity is maximised through the transference of skills in entrepreneurial management, vegetable production, permaculture and institutional capacity building.

CATALYTIC 'ICE-BREAKING' PROJECTS
The Bellair Centre
Situated on the busy Bellair Road, a new 2 400m2 shopping centre accommodates 40 shops and offices. The facility caters for small and medium-sized retailers. Some 65% of the space has been allocated to local Cato Manor entrepreneurs who will operate a range of retail enterprises from their rented premises. An estimated 120 permanent jobs will be created.

Bellair Market
Situated on the corner of Bellair and Wiggins Roads, this new facility will accommodate 65 traders in a covered market, 26 in individual stalls and 28 pavement traders. Cato Manor micro- entrepreneurs such as chicken, fruit, vegetable and clothing sellers as well as radio and shoe repairs, will now have a central marketplace in which to locate their businesses.
Office Centre
An administrative centre providing up to 2 300 m2 of affordable office accommodation is due to begin construction during 2000. Situated near the Telkom offices in Francois Road, the EU-funded centre will let office space for a range of public service agencies, NGOs and emerging local enterprises.
Entrepreneurial Support Centre
Another important local job creation project is the Cato Manor Entrepreneurial Support Centre (ESC), funded by the EU. It consists of an Incubator Centre which helps small emerging businesses to grow into more mature companies through an intensive programme of business training and support. Fifty small industrial workshops are provided, offering affordable and secure workspace to small manufacturers.
Industrial Parks
Three industrial parks, on Booth Road West, Edwin Swales Drive and a smaller one on Booth Road Central, will yield 20 hectares of industrial development and create more than 3 000 jobs. These industrial parks will cater for established businesses at the higher end of the economic scale and will attract businesses from inside and outside Cato Manor. The main advantages of these sites is their proximity to the economic hub of Durban and to national freeways.
Container Project
A project is underway to locate 30 containers in three container parks within Cato Manor. These containers will be hired out to emerging businesses currently working from their backyards.
Small Business Fair
In order to stimulate the development of Cato Manor's small businesses, a Small Business Fair was held in Cato Manor in which 50 local entrepreneurs and 25 official institutions participated. The aim was to encourage people to open their own small businesses and to market themselves to their community. More than 2000 residents visited the fair and attended business development workshops. The fair will become a regular feature in Cato Manor.