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Editorial Comment

State of the Province
This ole province of us where we have to stake out a living - what is the current state of affairs? How far would we be from target if we map out the following four points?:
• Service delivering and economic development where it counts most - at local government level - is limping rather badly. Too little SMME development, a growing number of people jobless and foodless, the quality of drinking water sometimes questionable, basic infrastructure all too often not up to standard. Truly time for the Provincial Government to intervene decisively.
• The business sector is mostly thriving - look at the sales, the shoppers, the cars being driven and the volatility of the housing market. Often boom times - but while the rich gets richer, the poor gets poorer.
Economic development in the Free State comes mostly from the private sector and while the provincial government mostly exercises sound financial administration and spends what should be spent, creating, especially through procurement, opportunities for the business sector, there is too little viable developmental programmes from provincial or central government. An exception is the FDC, which does have results to show.
• The Free State is not comparing well with other provinces, especially the medium-sized ones. Of course we are no match for Gauteng, KZN and the Western Cape (which should not necessarily be so), but if one watches news reports about exciting developments happening in North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, you wonder about the Free State. Of course one would not trade the Free State, but you tend to get a little jealous.
What it points to, is a need for (a) strong centralized leadership, (b) better synergy between the public and private sectors and (c) pride to be a Free Stater.

Harmony bod vir Gold Fields
Die aanbod wat Harmony Gold vir Gold Fields gemaak het, is 'n verdere kulminasie op die suksesleer wat mnr. Bernard Swanepoel en sy uithalerspan steeds besig is om te klim. Met die omdraaisuksesse wat hulle al met sukkelende goudmyne gehad het en met hulle uitbreidende internasionale belange is hierdie briljante mense oppad om die voorste goudmyngroep in die wêreld op te bou. Al wat jammer is, is dat duisende werksgeleenthede dalk in die slag kan bly, maar 'n onderskeid moet getref word tussen besigheidswinsgewendheid en kunsmatige maatskaplike kriteria.

Goudveld munisipaliteite erg problematies
Terwyl daar op die Vrystaatse Goudveld 'n sterk beweging is om die streek deur gediversifeerde ekonomiese ontwikkeling aan eie skoenrieme te laat optrek, lyk dit of die twee munisipaliteite Matjhabeng en Ljeweleputswa die inwoners in die steek laat. Soveel klagtes van munisipale wanbestuur, nie-lewering van noodsaaklike dienste, oplopende munisipale skuld, ens., is nog selde bymekaar gesien.