Johannesburg - Economic development should be made meaningful to those who live far away from economic hubs in South Africa, Parliament's select committee on international relations said on Sunday.
"Ordinary people from the most rural districts of our country should experience economic development, through establishing sustainable employment creating projects in their localities," committee chairperson Eddie Makue said in a statement.
"This is the only way South Africa could beat poverty, migration and its associated challenges on the urban landscape."
He said meaningful programmes that empowered citizenry should be implemented in rural towns to cushion against challenges like the migration of skilled rural people.
Makue said the committee would undertake an oversight visit to the Northern Cape and Limpopo, two of the rural provinces in the country. He did not say when this would be done.
"The committee accepts that economic development and rural development will not be easy to achieve, but the work is progressing well under the current administration and that work should continue," he said.
"Parliament is keen in seeing a working and self-reliant South Africa," Makue said.