Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Editorial Comment >> July 2004

Editorial Comment

Bloem CBD renewal
The past 10 years, especially the past five years, have seen the gradual degeneration of the CBD of Bloemfontein up to the present point of almost decay. Some 85% of businesses have taken flight to the western parts of the city, leaving many buildings dilapidated, with Hoffman Square a sight for sore eyes.
While the rejuvenation of the Bloemfontein CBD forms part of the just launched Mangaung Economic Development Strategy, we are of the opinion that the Bloem CBD renewal should be fast-tracked. That is if the Municipal Council gets its ducks in a row as fast as an implementable plan is concerned. Businesses needs to be lured back and new investors has to be gotten to put money where their mouth is.
The CBD of Bloemfontein needs to stand the capital of the Free State proud and set a worthy example, while 2010 and all that it entails, is just around the corner.
It has been noted lately that the City of Johannesburg has done most extensive studies on urban renewal and is now implementing plans big time for their city centre. The same with Cape Town. Surely Bloemfontein can learn a lot from these two leading cities in South Africa and need not necessarily invent the wheel again.
It is also being noted that the Mangaung Council is short-circuiting procedures to clear the way for new business development at Preller Square, but the same urgency and drive is not happening vis-à-vis the CBD. We believe the latter has the potential - it only needs the necessary applied will.
Would it not be a dream come true and a major victory for the new Free State and South Africa if the Bloem CBD rises to its former and even better glory?!

"Black economic empowerment"
Black economic empowerment is a term being defined in various ways and being utilized to impact in a major way on the SA economy and society. While we would in principle support “black economic empowerment”, we have the following qualifications:

• It should not be used in the popular definition of including “Africans, Coloureds and Indians”, thus infering a simple homogenous grouping. The practical diversity of SA society should be acknowledged.

• It should not be at the expense of white South Africans. Whilst it could be accepted that in, bona fide black economic empowerment, whites are not included, the latter should not be discriminated against and be relegated to second class citizens in the country of their birth.

• Whilst we are all aware of the legacy of our past, all were not sin and there were good things too. Whatever the merit, the fact is that with the advent of the new dispensation in 1994, it was agreed at the Codesa negotiations that the new South Africa would offer equal opportunities to all its citizens. That is in line with the Freedom Charter and it is contained in the current Constitution of SA.

If we treasure the concept of freedom as we should, we should also allow the freedom of choice, within the bounds of the law, which would mean that forced integration is as out as forced segregation. The key lies in acknowledgement that before God we are all equal and that in salvation for eternal life colour plays no role. As for the dispensation on this side of the grave, including the current economic and social set-up in SA and in the Free State, Jesus laid down the golden rule: “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”

Motheo saga
As the saga around the municipal manager post of the Motheo District Municipality touches upon development and business where it inevitably also involves the Free State Business Bulletin, a word about one of the candidates, Mr. LD Tsotetsi: We have dealt with him since his service at the Dept. of Local Government & Housing years ago and got to know him as an official with sharp intelligence, an excellent grasp of local government matters and of integrity - the kind of modern technocrat so needed in the current SA.