Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Editorial Comment >> 16-30 June 2006
Future district municipalities
Lately questions have been raised from various quarters about the desirability, viability and destiny of district municipalities, also with specific reference to the five district municipalities in the Free State.
As to the latter, it follows on reports by the Auditor-general on suspected financial mismanagement at Felize Daba DM (Northern Free State) and alleged financial mismanagement at Lejweleputswa DM (Goldfields) to the extent that the State President has ordered an official forensic investigation. Moreover, up until last year Motheo DM went through a protracted mayoral struggle stranger than fiction, while the financial viability of respectively Thabo Mofutsanyana DM (Eastern Free State) and Xhariep DM (Southern Free State) is being questioned.
Do district municipalities have a meaningful role to play? Yes, they do dispose of LED and tourism promotion sections and some of them can show good results in this regard, but it is also so that oftentimes they have done little if anything to advance SMME's in their areas or establish viable socio-economic projects.
What exactly are the functions of district municipalities over and above local municipalities? Should local municipalities not be empowered more and then district municipalities be done away with ?
Well, what is evidently needed in a regional context in the Free State province, is some developmental agency / body to plan, coordinate and direct economic development in that region, especially as regards tourism, LED, SMME advancement, etc. However, are district municipalities the answer, or are they currently simply standing in the way of meaningful development?
Vexing questions, but circumstances dictate that they need to be answered – and pretty soon.
On the website of the Free State Business Bulletin at www.bulletinonline.co.za you can vote on the simple question: District municipalities – stay or go? We will publish the results in a month's time.
Misdaad - 'n helse probleem
Misdaad in die Vrystaat was nog altyd 'n probleem, maar wat kommerwekkend is, is dat dit die afgelope sowat agt jaar progressief toegeneem het. Skielik egter, die afgelope twee weke het dit soos masels uitgeslaan – en dit in die hart van die hartland, in die middel van Bloemfontein as die hoofstad van sentraal SA.
Dit moet die SA Polisiediens en ander veiligheidsowerhede egter weet: As misdaad in die hoofstad en die provinsie nie dadelik drasties, maar drasties, die nek ingeslaan word nie, sit die Vrystaat met sy grootste enkele probleem tot nog toe in die pad van sosio-ekonomiese vooruitgang vir almal in die provinsie – letterlik 'n helse probleem.
Good news
There are also rays of light – good news – such as the new developmental projects being undertaken in the province, e.g. the Royal Maluti Estate development and the Aldam Estate upgrading reported in this edition and others. These are due to bring some job creation, more and better household income and raising of standard of living.
The Free State Business Bulletin intends to keep its finger on the pulse and keep our readers informed, so that they in turn can make informed decisions. Watch us – and our website at www.bulletinonline.co.za.
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