LANGA BUSINESS

Langa Quarter Pilot Project to Boost Small Business Growth

by philip | May 8, 2015 | News

The newly approved land use rights allow for small business opportunities, such as restaurants and guest houses, in the Langa Quarter Precinct.

City of Cape Town has informed residents of the good news that the proactive land use application was approved for the Langa Quarter Precinct. The newly approved land use rights allow for small business opportunities, such as restaurants and guest houses, in the Langa Quarter Precinct.

This milestone results from the successfully piloted approach by the City and a non-profit organisation, iKhaya le Langa, who proactively tried to widen the scope of permitted zoning scheme activities by applying for approvals on behalf of land owners in the precinct. This innovative approach will create enabling opportunities and could have far reaching implications for small business development and job creation.

The precinct is home to the Langa Quarter Initiative – a responsible tourism project driven by iKhaya le Langa. This organisation aims to offer tourists a mixture of jazz, heritage, arts, culture and food in one of the oldest suburbs in Cape Town.

‘Many of the small businesses envisioned as part of this responsible tourism initiative cannot be accommodated under the existing land use rights. The City recognises the potential of this initiative as well as the aspirations of a range of small businesses in the area. We therefore want to assist in addressing potential regulatory barriers as an incentive for these businesses to grow and for the area to further build on its attraction as a heritage-based tourism destination,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Environmental and Spatial Planning, Councillor Johan van der Merwe.

‘As an opportunity city, we believe that this application will expand small business opportunities and drive job creation in the precinct. The link between land use rights and access to finance is often overlooked. Without land use clearance, you cannot obtain the relevant licences which are required for certain types of business loan.

‘Given the land use approval which is now in place, the businesses within the Langa Quarter have the potential to be fully legalised, which offers an opportunity for corporates to get involved with iKhaya le Langa’s Langa Quarter Initiative through enterprise development investment. This process, which aligns with the City’s densification policy, deepens our understanding of the potential that spatial planning has to inspire job creation and civic opportunity,’ said Councillor Van der Merwe.

Councillor Van der Merwe thanked the community for welcoming the initiative.

‘Without the community’s support, this would not have been possible. The City is making every effort to ensure that more job opportunities are being afforded, and with the Langa Quarter Precinct being legally compliant to permit heritage-based tourism, it will create employment opportunities, and in turn empower the community with new skills. This pilot is a sterling example of how vital it is for government to partner with the private and public sector to create an enabling environment for business growth and job creation. The City will continue to look for such opportunities and invest accordingly,’ said Councillor Van der Merwe.