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Editorial comments

Chamber transformation

It is very evident from the co-operation agreement signed by the new elected leaders of Nafcoc with SACOB, the AHI and FABCOS on 21 September 2002, that the chamber movement or organized business format in South Africa is undergoing a drastic transformation process, with the explicit aim to bring the SMME sector into the fold. This is also the basic view being expressed by CEO of SACOB Kevin Wakeford in a quite outspoken interview published on this page. This represents also the views of The Business Bulletin, which holds that gone are the days of chamber talk shops and old boys clubs and that it is now about practically helping SMME's to their feet, because it is mainly them that can move this country out of its unemployment morass and stalled economic growth. However, we have to express the warning on the other hand that in order to really blow life into the economy, the game must in all respects be played by first-class citizens on a level field, with merit and quality as the only judging criteria.

Well done, FDC!

It is a need to commend the Free State Development Corporation on what it is achieving. This developmental agency of the Free State province has indeed under the leadership of Mr. Max Makhubalo consolidated itself and at the same time restructured into a leaner, but "meaner", organization. It has on the bottom line turned around a nett annual financial loss into a healthy nett annual profit. While many a provincial department gets castigated in the Free State Legislature for deficient annual reports, the FDC came away clean. The organization also displays a game plan according to which it tackles its developmental duty in the province, while the staff generally shows a commitment not seen often elsewhere. From the side of The Business Bulletin we compliment the FDC on what it is achieving and wish them well in their sparkling new head office.