The Objective of this Theme is the empowerment of citizens to be in control of their local communities through the decentralisation of state administration and authority. The principle of devolution refers to the decentralization of state authority, giving greater decision-making powers to provincial and local authorities in policy, budget and execution. The following net benefits can be realised through a successful process of devolution of power: • Bringing government closer to the people. • People-centred decision-making and development. • Local people will gain from local resources and will have access to local tenders from procurement boards. • Cost-saving as a result of local rather than centralised authority. • Devolution will facilitate the ease of doing business for the informal economy as well as the transition to formalisation as registration and licensing can be done locally and facilitated in a local language.