ECSECC recently commemorated its 30th anniversary with a Thought Leadership Public Dialogue that brought together leading minds from government, labour and development sectors. The event themed "Reimagining Development Futures for the Eastern Cape" reflected on ECSECC’s historic role, present-day challenges, and its path forward in shaping the province's socio-economic landscape.
The dialogue was addressed by Dr. Mvuyo Tom, former Director-General of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, Tanya van Meelis, Head of Policy at COSATU and Simphiwe Khondlo, former CEO of the East London IDZ.
In his remarks Dr. Tom offered a profound historical and philosophical lens on ECSECC's journey. "The past is a rear-view mirror to see what happened, the present we have to confront, and the future we have to envision. The new is born from the womb of the old," said Dr. Tom, urging the province to draw on past lessons as it charts new paths.
Recalling the turbulent early years of South Africa's democracy, Dr. Tom described the fragmentation of the Eastern Cape in 1995 – then composed of six disparate administrations – and the urgent need for a unifying development strategy. ECSECC was born in that context, envisioned by leaders like first democratic-elected Premier Raymond Mhlaba as a platform for inclusive development and strategic partnership between government, civil society, business, and labour.
"Raymond Mhlaba said on his deathbed: 'Don't run faster than the horse you are riding.' That was a call to move with the people – not ahead of them," Dr. Tom reminded attendees.
He emphasised that the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) remains a living framework for transformation, and that ECSECC's consistent role in facilitating integrated planning has been essential in addressing South Africa's "terrible triplets" – poverty, inequality, and unemployment. He highlighted the dangers of economic models that thrive on inequality and called for bold reconstruction of the economy.
Drawing from global best practices, he cited a 2025 Exchange Summit in Rio, which proposed three pillars for exponential societal change:
1. Shared capabilities – which ECSECC already possesses;
2. Co-created ecosystems – involving all sectors of society;
3. Large-scale societal networks – enabling transformative impact.
Dr. Tom closed by urging for exponential, not linear growth, and called ECSECC to lead the charge in diversifying the economy and investing in new industries, green energy, and public-minded innovation. "Let us fetch the future,” Dr. Tom urged, "armed with the wisdom of the past and the courage to confront the present.”
Tanya van Meelis, Head of Policy at COSATU, commended ECSECC for embedding inclusive social dialogue into the province's governance DNA.
"Whatever the problems are, what you have done at ECSECC is phenomenal," she stated. "You have prioritised inclusive growth, job creation, and tackling poverty – but most importantly, you have made dialogue meaningful and effective."
She detailed how ECSECC has:
- Made research accessible and inclusive, incorporating external knowledge alongside its own;
- Supported training for union leaders and capacitated labour to engage strategically;
- Acted as a catalyst in distressed industries by rallying stakeholders toward solutions;
- Maintained a record of institutional integrity, with over 12 clean audits, demonstrating accountability and transparency in development.
Van Meelis also warned of a shrinking space for social dialogue nationally, citing attempts to bypass critical institutions like NEDLAC and decision-making power being shifted to junior representatives. "As we face a cost-of-living crisis, collapsing infrastructure, and rising geopolitical risks, the need for effective social dialogue - and for ECSECC - has never been greater.”
Simphiwe Khondlo, former CEO of the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ), gave a candid and comprehensive account of ECSECC’s instrumental role in rebuilding the Eastern Cape economy. "In 1994, the Eastern Cape inherited a 73% poverty rate - with Transkei at a staggering 92%. The apartheid withdrawal of industrial incentives led to a mass closure of factories. ECSECC emerged as a critical response.”
Kondlo detailed ECSECC's foundational role in:
- Developing the Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP);
- Spearheading the case for the creation of the Coega and East London IDZs;
- Convincing sceptical stakeholders, especially labour, of the IDZ model's value;
- Advocating for the SEZ Act of 2014, which now supports 12 operational SEZs with R31.6 billion in investment and over 28,000 high-value jobs.
"This would not have happened without ECSECC. It led the way in showing that Eastern Cape can lead - not follow,” Khondlo asserted.
He highlighted ECSECC’s role in major infrastructure and catalytic projects, including:
- R1 billion Kei Cuttings Project
- Ugie-Langeni road link
- N2 Toll Road, Msikaba, and Mtentu bridges
- Ntabelanga Dam Project, now part of SIP 19
- R4.2 billion rural investment pipelines through AsgisaSA (EC)
Khondlo advocated for ECSECC to continue facilitating high-impact, multi-sectoral projects, especially those falling between siloed government departments.
In light of global tariff tensions and risks to the automotive and agricultural sectors, he called for:
- Diversifying markets through AfCFTA and BRICS
- Accelerating green hydrogen and renewable energy
- Developing policy and standards to support new industries like biofuels
- Proactively supporting industries in distress - not arriving too late
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