Current Edition >> Archive Section >> Special Features >> April 2004
Amongst those present at the first ever Summit for Local Economic Development in the Free State held 11-12 March 2004 at the MUCPP Centre, Mangaung, were Mr. Charlie Pieterson (director communications FNB Free State), Prof. Bennie Anderson (University of the Free State), Mr. Lechesa Tsenoli (MEC for Local Government and Housing) and Mr. Sieg Maier (general manager FNB Free State).
• Johann Dannhauser
Having experienced a spate of violent attacks on their members the past three months, the business community of Westdene, Bloemfontein, by all accounts one of the strongest and fastest growing business areas in the Free State, has been vociferous in their response and demanded a public meeting with the MEC for Safety and Security, Mr Benny Kotsoane, together with his top SAPS brass.
Well, that's what they got at a public meeting held on 15 March 2004 at 18:00 at the Mundene Tennis Clubhouse. Arranged under the auspices of the Westdene Community Policing Forum, the MEC turned up together with Commissioner Moranodi, Gaobepe, Free State Police Chief and a range of other top Free State police officials. The meeting, attended by some 180 businesspeople and residents, was also honored by the presence of the Mayor of Mangaung, Mr Papie Mokoena.
The tone of the meeting was set by the chairperson, Dr Ezra Cilliers, adjudicating that no politics were to be discussed, no racial remarks made and no promotion of any security company to be done. Mr Kotsoane took an open and accommodating, but firm, stance and said that he and his team has come to listen and that if there was any substantiated criticism of the SA Police, they would face it squarely and constructively. He also stated that not only is the Police legally obliged to execute their duties, but also constitutionally bound.
Questions from the floor were dealt with head-on, whilst Commissioner Gaobepe also spoke passionately in response to complaints being leveled, explaining that the Police is there to serve at the best of their abilities and resources.
The general reaction from the audience was notably positive and appreciative and in the end it turned out to be a particularly constructive meeting, with the Police undertaking to enhance security measures in Westdene, whilst the opinion was strongly expressed that it is also up to the community to introduce whatever anti-crime measures they can.
Since then at a subsequent meeting of the Westdene CPF held on 29 March 2004 and attended by some 60 people, the following security companies and private individuals submitted oral proposals of what they offer or would offer as regards provision of community security in Westdene:
• Bloemsec
• Chubb
• Westdene Neighborhood Watch
• Securicor
• Specialized Security Services
• Marco Petrella
The meeting decided that it would remain the choice of each resident and business in the area which, if any, service provider to be used and that to this end each provider must distribute its brief proposal together with costing to each address in Westdene.
It was also resolved at the meeting that car watchers in Westdene should remain, but should be revised and refocused.
The meeting also decided that a technological communication strategy consisting of SMS and email should be devised, as well as a central webpage. Meanwhile sponsors are being sought for more Identicall lines for Westdene to the SAPS.
The next meeting of the Westdene CPF is scheduled for Monday, 19 April 2004, at the Mundene Tennis Club in Reid Street. Enquiries at (051) 430 4911 or at email forum@itcss.co.za.
Werkloosheid is SA se grootste krisis en geen ander land het al ooit so 'n grootskaalse vernietiging van werk beleef in 'n poging om meer mededingend te word soos Suid-Afrika nie," het mnr. Mike Schüssler, ekonoom van Tradek, op 'n onlangse seminaar oor die Suid-Afrikaanse arbeidsmark aangebied deur die vakbond Solidariteit, gesê.
"Die verlies aan werk in Suid-Afrika oortref selfs die hoogtepunt van werkloosheid in Amerika tydens die depressie in die jare dertig. Sedert 1988 het Suid-Afrika meer as 'n miljoen werkgeleenthede ingeboet en vandag soek een uit elke drie mense werk", sê hy. Schüssler beskou die nie-amptelike werkloosheidskoers van 42% as die ware weergawe. Hy reken Suid-Afrika se vermoë om sy mededingendheid te verhoog, inflasie laer te dryf en uitvoer te verhoog, is 'n
wonderwerk in die kleine, maar dit het op die rug van sy werkmag gebeur. Hy sê : "Suid-Afrika het nie naastenby 'n inflasiekrisis nie. Die grootste krisis wat Suid-Afrika in die gesig staar, is werkloosheid. Geen ander land behalwe Zimbabwe het so 'n hoë werkloosheidsyfer soos Suid-Afrika nie. Ek stem saam met pres. Thabo Mbeki dat ons land in twee groepe verdeel is. Ek sien dit net nie aan die hand van ras nie. In Suid-Afrika het ons mense wat werk het en mense wat nie werk het nie."
Schüssler sê ekonomiese groei is van primêre belang om werk te skep in Suid-Afrika. "Die regering moet begin om soos 'n onderneming op te tree en sy gewig te gooi agter Suid-Afrika se uitvoer-inisiatief. Dit moet ook meer hulpbronne instoot en die belastingstelsel vriendeliker maak vir werkskeppingdoeleindes," meen hy.
The black empowerment financial services charter (FSC) will have a marked effect on the domestic financial sector and is set to change the face of banking and business opportunities as we know it. The charter is divided into six main areas: Human resource development, procurement and enterprise development, access to financial services, empowerment financing, ownership and control and corporate social investment.
The six areas will affect all companies in one form or another. For instance, provided that charters have been implemented in certain industries (which will be reviewed by the Charter Council in 2005), financial institutions will have to use their procurement budgets to support and promote BEE accredited companies. By the year 2008 and 2014, financial institutions have to spend respectively 50% and 70% of their procurement budgets on BEE accredited companies. Financial institutions also have to foster new and develop existing BEE accredited companies, through active skills transfer, secondment of staff, infrastructure support and joint ventures with these BEE companies. Clearly, the accreditation is advantageous and is likely to have direct implications on both the welfare and survival of companies in the future.
The sooner companies realise that BEE accreditation is vital to their long term success, the sooner results will be seen that validate the enforcement of the BEE initiatives. On a practical level, this will require companies to re-focus and re-align their business strategies with the requirements of being accredited. Not becoming a BEE accredited institution could have a tangible effect on both bottomline earnings and possibly market perceptions of not being a supporter of black economic empowerment.
In an economic and political environment as unique and driven for change as that of South Africa, supporting black economic empowerment will be in the best interests of all parties concerned and will contribute favourably to an industry representative of all cultures and races.
By Johan Coetzee, Dept. of Economics, Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences, University of the Free State.
Before joining the UFS, Mr. Coetzee served with Nedbank for six years, the last part of which until December 2003 was as corporate credit manager overseeing a bank portfolio of about 300 European Banks.
The elevator to success does not work! You must climb the steps one by one. In present times we often experience that more and more people try the easy road to success. Unfortunately these people's main purpose is to receive the most out of life but to put back the least therein. They are what you call “grabbers” of life. Such an inclination inevitably leads to compromise, a harmful disapproval of any kind of hard work and to dishonesty.
Nothing that is worthwhile in life comes easily. You must bring by devotion, sacrifices, time and talents your share in life by doing your best.
However, as a Christian, in order to achieve success in your profession, always ask yourself : “Am I also as successful as partner in my marriage, as parent of my children, in my other relationships, in my service to my church and in the community? Do I work and live dependent on God and do I honor Him as supplier of all my needs?” Only then can you experience joy in your work.
To achieve God's holy purpose in this world, Jesus Christ, our perfect example worked long and hard. He did it with tough perseverance and against bitter hatred and cunning stealth. There were times when even his friends forsook Him. Nevertheless He persevered solely because there was so much at stake.
Because of his faithfulness till the end, He conquered the world. No matter what you undertake, do it to the best of your ability. Assisted through the power of the Holy Spirit, you can acquire life in all it's fullness. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…… It is the Lord Christ you are serving”. (Col 3 : 23, 24)
Back to Main || About Webmaster || Disclaimer || Back
This site is best viewed at 800x600 pixels. This site was optimized for IE 5.5 or higher.
Copyright © 2002 Web D-Zign Inc. All rights reserved.
