Parker, Gail, DeniseCosta, King2024-03-162024-03-162021-11-04https://doi.org/10.31730/osf.io/q5wx4https://africarxiv.ubuntunet.net/handle/1/701https://doi.org/10.60763/africarxiv/657https://doi.org/10.60763/africarxiv/657https://doi.org/10.60763/africarxiv/657Since the advent of South Africa’s democracy, there have been many pressing questions; one of which has been: ‘to what extent has the newly found political and civil freedoms, which is guaranteed for all South Africans, translated into an a more economically-viable life?’ This research investigated whether local economic development (LED) interventions necessarily improve the livelihoods of poor communities. The methods used were hinged upon the interpretivist paradigm, using literature as a basis of enquiry. Furthermore, semi-structured interviews with target groups (eg. project beneficiaries, government officials, municipal manager, town mayor, etc) were conducted, followed by focus group-style interviews with key stakeholders. The study found that sound economic development vision may thrive if linked to the following: clear policy guidance, institutional capacity building, intersectoral collaboration, political will and real empowerment.Economic activityEmpowerment initiativeIntersectoral collaborationLocal economic developmentPolicy guidance