Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa August/September 2019 | Page 14

MASTER INVESTOR
Executive Director who really is my long lost twin, an amazing
family and loyal friends,” she said
Some of her biggest achievements include an increased
investment into the city, in a mere three years the Department
of Economic Development went from facilitating R4.4-billion
to over R16-billion.
“If one means success in terms of
happiness then yes I am successful – I
have a job I love that is challenging
but fulfilling, a department with
phenomenally motivated people, an
Executive Director who really is my
long lost twin..”
Another achievement includes the implementation of
Opportunity Centres aimed at training and capacitating
SMMEs and entrepreneurs and all the services offered are free
of charge to citizens. Knott comments of the progress of the
Opportunity Centres, “The progress after a year, with the help
of our private and public sector partners, is exciting with many
businesses being registered and starting to hire people within
their local communities.”
Implementation of the reform action plans have allowed
an ease of doing business for investors, such as implementing
electrical connections, building plan approval and the
registration of property.
Knott explains that you will never please everyone all the
time but democracy plays an important role in determining
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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine
the way forward for all projects. “Interaction with communities
and listening determines whether programs succeed or fail.
Implementing something without such engagement and
taking their views into account ends up in wasted budget
and failed projects. An equal status collaborative approach
in governance is preferred over a top-down-or-a-bottom-up
-philosophy.”
Inner City rejuvenation
Within the next 10 years, the City’s Department of Economic
Development aims to have the city become a construction city
full of new developments and a redevelopment of dilapidated
buildings into liveable and workable spaces.
Knott plans to implement projects that will uplift the
economic state of Johannesburg and provide more job
opportunities for residents. “Opportunity Seekers Database
– a job seekers database that will regulate local employment
within the City and which we plan to open to the private
sector. This system removes the human element and will
prevent corruption in terms of job placements,” explains Knott.
The department plans to implement partnerships with
institutions to revamp the inner city investment roadmap.
Other projects in the pipeline include the incentives policy
which will go forward to council for public participation and
include both financial and non-financial incentives.
Knott expands on the departments plans. “Informal trade
policy to come to council to regulate that economy. A service
provider has been appointed to manage this process over
the next 6 months to ensure fairness and compliance with