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Editorial Comment

Why lowering in standards?
It is unmistakably evident almost everywhere in South Africa - an undeniable general trend - the lowering of standards in South Africa. And we are viewing it merely from an economic and business point of view. Whilst there is much to be grateful for, one of the facts is that at 20 000 murders per year - more than what have died in the entire Israeli - Palestinian conflict - SA has the highest murder rate in the world and the highest this country has ever had.
There are also currently more unemployed people in this country than ever before, while more than a million skilled South Africans are eking out a living abroad rather in their country of birth.
Just now, the CEO of the JSE, Mr. Russell Loubser has remarked in a public speech that SA is being classified as an “emerging market” , meaning in present-day international jargon that we are a third class country not being seriously considered by international investors of name.
Closer to home, we have witnessed the past couple of months the spate of crime in Westdene, Bloemfontein, placing a damper on one of the fastest growing business districts in the Free State. Meanwhile in Bloemfontein one sees the gradual but sure demise of the CBD of Bloemfontein, evidently creeping towards the developing western part. So now people in Westdene, for instance, are facing a choice : Are they going to simply endure the hardships coming over them, or are they going to combat the menace, or are they moving out to better and safer (for the time being) pastures?
This background raises questions locally, but also in national context: Why this seemingly gradual lowering of standards and what to do about it ? The answers to these we leave to our readers - there are sure to be a variety of opinions. Write to us and say what you think. Do remember though, that we are on the economic / business / developmental wicket and not in politics.
From our side, we say : Stand and turn the tide. This is also in line with this edition's front page story. If we stick to the side of the light, we are on the winning side, for eventually light will triumph over darkness.

Free State Economy Lacks Kick-Start
So much has already been said and written about kick-starting the Free State economy, going in recent memory way back to 1997 when with great fanfare the first Free State Economic Summit was held. The general consensus at the time was that a comprehensive plan was needed to move the Free State economy tangibly ahead.
Since then little transpired, but we have had the Free State Development Plan as initiated by the Office of the Premier, while currently the Premier's Economic Advisory Council is busy with deliberations and planning. In October 2003 the FS Dept. of Tourism, Environmental and Economic Affairs launched a Provincial Growth and Development Strategy, later said to be worked out at various meetings in 2004. Of the latter, however, very little has been evident up to now.
There are also other efforts and roleplayers, but the upshot at this stage is that the Free State is struggling at an economic growth rate of an estimated 1%, unemployment in the province has probably never been as high and there is not a single developmental project that looks like igniting the economic scene.
There is of course also the positive side, with e.g. the retail and services sector in Bloemfontein showing surprising growth, the potential of the Gariep Lake project, promising developmental initiatives in the Goldfields region, individual tourism developments in the Eastern Free State, new projects by the Sasol Group at Sasolburg, etc. However, on the whole one is missing that kick-start that would really put the Free State economy in gear and move it forward to tangible benefit across the board in the province.
Such kick-starting developments one sees in other provinces, like North West (Klerksdorp, the Platinum Highway, etc.), Limpopo, Mpumalanga, not to even speak of Gauteng, KZN and the Western Cape.
What's wrong with us and where does the problem lie ?