Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Editorial Comment >> 1-15 July 2006

Editorial Comment

Polarization in the Free State
It is unmistakable for any intelligent observer of the Free State business and general economic scene: The growing polarization between the black-dominated governmental sector and the white dominated business sector. In the province it is, on the one hand, mainly the provincial government departments and municipalities, having to spend taxpayers' money according to fixed governmental policies and programmes. Accordingly, they also run institutions like the FDC, the Tourism Authority, the Premier's Economic Advisory Council and so on. On the other hand, there is the business sector, eking out a living and generating money wherever and however their entrepreneurship might lead them. And less and less the two sides seem to meet and cooperate, let alone synergize. The governmental sector seems to care less and less about how the business sector feels and how they could contribute, while the business sector on their part is minding more and more their own matters, caring less about overall policy objectives or growth targets to be achieved. The biggest losers: The person in the street and the province as a whole. Coherent strategies and a common goal are sadly lacking, with the bottomline that the Free State is underachieving. You see it in its national GDP share, agricultural output, tourism figures, etc. One of the biggest culprits: So - called affirmative action and black economic empowerment, being pushed all the harder, with no end in sight and indiscriminately. Resultantly white and some coloured people are feeling like second class citizens in their fatherland. This is not a political treatise. The Free State Business Bulletin is apolitical. We are a newspaper for business and development in the Free State and from that angle this is our observation. We have tried and are still trying our level best to serve as some bridge between black and white in the province and to this end we have a proud track record. However, as of now, our observation is what it is.

Rooftog by Bloem Lughawe
Die rooftog verlede week van R1,5 miljoen by die Bloemfontein Lughawe – die militêre presisie, die professionaliteit en die kloekmoedigheid waarmee dit uitgevoer is: Wat sê dit vir ons? Saamgelees met ander misdaad in die land soos daagliks in die media gerapporteer word: Sê dit dalk dat magtige misdaadsindikate in die land wortel geskiet het, dat misdaad in SA en in die Vrystaat 'n beroep geword het en dat die SA Polisiediens en ander wetstoepassingsowerhede tot 'n mate geïntegreer geraak het by misdaadsindikate? 'n Donker prentjie, maar dit is die seine wat ontvang word.

Golf tourism
On a positive note, golf tourism as reported on in this edition, is an exciting and highly promising newcomer on the Free State economic stage. It certainly offers tremendous developmental opportunities. May these opportunities be optimally seized and exploited – to the common benefit of the province as a whole. For that, synergy between government and business is needed more than ever before.