Current Edition >> Archive Section >> Special Features >> August 2004
The dynamic interaction in the international currencies market has become an exciting trade of its own. Although often even volatile, it offers ample scope for profitable trading, providing one knows what you are doing.
In this new regular column, professional currency trader Dennis du Plessis of Bloemfontein, will inform readers of the Free State Business Bulletin step by step of the elements and requirements in order to become a successful trader by applying sound principles of technical, fundamental and psychological analyses.
Latest USD/ZAR technical outlook
• Dennis du Plessis, MTI, Bloemfontein
The US dollar has been under tremendous pressure from all the major currencies the last few months and as a result we had a stronger rand and a lot of bearish activity. From a technical point of view the strength of the rand is under suspicion and we believe that the next 3 weeks will determine the rand direction for the rest of the year.
Technical view
The sellers (bears) have been in control for pretty much the biggest part of 2004 but the US/ZAR has reached a crucial support level under R6.0000 with R5.8521 as the lowest support level recently.
Sellers could find further support at the R5.7381 and later the R5.5911 level and a bounce on this level could be the beginning of the great comeback for the buyers also known as the bulls. The buyers would want to establish new highs in the coming weeks seeing that the US Dollar has already started to strengthen against the Pound Sterling and the Euro over the short term. The R6.2743 level would be the bull's first target and the possibility for this to happen was strengthened when the bulls took out the very important level of R6.1100 late last week. Should these levels been taken out R6.0000 resistance level could be seen as the first bullish target in the medium term followed by longer term targets of R7.3000 and higher.
In general we are favouring a weaker Rand in the next month with the possibility of reaching the R7.3000 level in the medium term. The only condition for the last mentioned is that the R5.5911 level must hold seeing that further dips below this level could see the Rand as strong as R5.4000 and stronger.
Traders vocabulary
Resistance: levels where the bulls want to take the market (north).
Support: levels where the bear want to take the market (south).
For more info and training in currency trading, phone
(051) 430 0191.
Die sterkste uitbreiding in Bloemfontein is na sy noordwestekant - eers was dit Westdene en toe Brandwag (wat steeds in 'n proses van ontwikkeling is), maar die ontwikkelingsvuur het reeds oorgespring na Langenhovenpark, wat deesdae 'n ontploffing beleef. Dié is ewe vinnig besig om aan te gaan in Bainsvlei, asook die Groenvlei en Kenilworh hoewegebiede.
Nuwe meenthuise en woonhuise skiet op soos paddastoele, terwyl talle moderne besighede in die areas hul verskyning maak. Die koopkrag is duidelik aanwesig. Ook is daar 'n tendens dat besighede uit die stad na die gebiede aan die westekant verskuif. Verskeie deeltitel-kantoorontwikkelings is ook in aanbou.
Ook meer noord van Bloemfontein, net wes van die N1 pad, word die tweede fase van 'n wild-en natuurlandgoed reeds bemark, terwyl ontwikkelings soos die residensiële Sewe Damme area en die nuwe Northridge Mall ook aan die gang is.
In hierdie fokus 'n oogopslag blik op van die tipe dienste beskikbaar in die Langenhovenpark / Groenvlei gebied.
Not entirely a franchise concept, the ITO Focus Group of companies enables a local service supplier in the human resources field to function with strong network support. As such ITO FOCUS International is an established SA company with 12 years' experience in the field of training and human resource solutions. In obtaining the business rights for the Bloemfontein area, “Batho Pele - People first” was the name which Emmie Pietersen and Belinda Louw decided on for their business within the group.
Consequently the name of their business based in Bloemfontein is ITO Focus Batho Pele, specialising in the development, implementation and management of workable staff solutions, training and development and setting a foundation for further learning. So focused are they on people that Emmie and Belinda were awarded the ITO Focus Business Unit of the year for 2002. In the citation for this award, Pierre du Toit, CEO, ITO Focus International (Pty) Ltd., stated: “Emmie and Belinda ooze success and energy in abundance... a dynamic duo who are rewriting the rules of the game in HR consulting".
Praat jy van 'n vrou met 'n vlam in haar binneste en jy ken vir Hester Spies, dan sal haar beeld in jou geestesoog opkom! Dit is hoe, nadat ons haar reeds jare ken, die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin vir Hester Spies van U-Count Eiendomme, Bloemfontein, opsom.
Nadat sy vir 34 jaar by ABSA gewerk het, waar sy veral kommersiële lenings en behuisingsfinansierings gehanteer het, het die entrepreneursdrif in 2001 by Hester die oorhand gekry en het sy, ná deeglike beplanning, U-Count Eiendomme as 'n eiendomsagentskap in Bloemfontein begin. Omdat sy lief is vir mense en haarself graag wil uitleef, asook oor hope ervaring van eiendomsfinansiering beskik, was die eiendomsmark die aangewese plek.
Dit gaan baie goed met U-Count, veral in 'n eiendomsbedryf wat borrel. Benewens Hester as prinsipaal, beskik U-Count oor nog vier voltydse agente. Met hul kantore te Pres. Reitzlaan, Westdene, hanteer hulle die koop en verkoop van alle tipes eiendomme - residensieël en kommersieël asook verhurings en waardasies.
Hester sę vir haar lę die sleutel in persoonlike aandag en konsiderasie. Hulle neem nie so 'n massa eiendomme op hul boeke nie, maar sorg eerder dat hulle 'n eiendom binne die mandaattydperk verkoop. Dit het selfs al gebeur dat Hester 'n eiendom binne 15 minute verkoop het nadat sy dit ingeneem het.
Hester benadruk dit dat sy nie net huise wil verkoop nie, maar ook 'n diens wil lewer wat insluit die oorweging van eienaars of hul verbeterings moet aanbring of eerder verkoop. Bekostigbaarheid by die aankoop van eiendom word ook deeglik met die kliënt bespreek en oorweeg. Sy en haar span het ook verskeie finansieringsopsies by verskillende banke waaruit die beste vir elke geval gekies kan word. Hier kom die ervaring van Hester in die bankwese goed te pas.
Ten slotte sę Hester sy en haar span gee die kliënt in die eiendomsmark net daardie tree voorsprong bo die res.
Corporate identity - the physical appearance of a business as reflected by name, logo, premises, staff conduct, stationery, product packaging, information material, company vehicles, etc. - can make or break a business.
On this page, suppliers available in their respective spheres to assist most ably and professionally a business or an institution in jacking up corporate image to what it should be - and get a step ahead of the competition. Do use these suppliers - all of them have a proven track record.
• Wesley Sotsaka
Ad & Move, Bloemfontein
What is this all about ? Is it in the logo or is it merely about the corporate stationery?
The answers to questions such as these are the subject of many interpretations as formed by different philosophical approaches adopted by advertising and marketing agencies. It should be noted that the corporate image as projected defines the nature of the organisation. Colour, typography, environmental design (website, office deco, newsletter) say a lot about an organisation. For instance, the colour red may symbolise boldness, whilst blue may symbolise subtleness.
On the other hand, a designed corporate image does not guarantee return on investment when the business processes of the organisation cannot back up the image projected. Let us for example assume that Company X has embarked on a comprehensive campaign to polish their image, with well-designed logo and its applications brilliantly executed as well. However, the telephonic reception of this company is not welcoming, the company does not deliver on time and its business processes are just not up to standard. This state of affairs devalues the very corporate image being projected to the public if we maintain that the image is just but a logo and its application.
Companies should therefore strive to improve on their business operations to enhance the experience that their clients have with the brand and in the process add value to their corporate image. It therefore becomes imperative that companies align their corporate image to their business strategy. The best way to do this, is to consult with and utilize professional graphic and communication consultancies able to configure the assets of a client into capabilities and breach the gap between what they are and what they are aspiring to be.
With the right professional help, turn your corporate image into a winning and profiting asset!
Since time immemorial the region which today makes up the Xhariep District, has had an addiction influence on those who have engaged in exploring what is on offer. Xhariep simply gets into one's bloodstream, for it is indeed “an area of unfound diversity” - as the official slogan of the District Municipality aptly runs.
The first striking feature of the region is its unspoilt vastness - the rolling plains, crumpling to the south into enticing ranges of hills lining the Orange River on its winding way across the sub-continent. This is complemented by a clear sky stretching from horizon to horizon and filled with clean unpolluted air.
This sets the scene for the enormous diversity of the region in terms of natural endowments, animal life and human population. No wonder then that the Xhariep Region today offers so much in terms of historical richness, absorbingly interesting people, a surprisingly brimming tourism industry and huge untapped economic potential.
On this page merely a keyhole glimpse at the Xhariep Region and an open invitation to all who would mean it well for us as residents and our future well-being!
Latest tourism developments
Some of the most exciting tourism developments in SA is taking place in the Xhariep Region, e.g. development concerning Lake Gariep as the largest dam in the country is now known. Lately the subject of tripartite development involving the three provinces of the Free State, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, millions of rands are being pumped into new ventures. For instance, the Gariep Tourist Route is being established right around the dam, while at the town of Gariep Dam a brand-new Tourism Museum as probably the foremost of its kind in SA is to be inaugurated soon.
At Bethulie, the old Bethulie Dam resort is to be completely revamped and extended into a top brand hotel facility, while innovative new developments at the extensive Tussen-die-Riviere Game and Nature Reserve are in the pipeline.
There is a lot more, but space here does not allow us.
Constraints being experienced in Xhariep Tourism
To be ever realistic, we have to dot the following down amongst others :
• Lack of developmental finance. Due to the narrow business sector in the region, the levy income of the District Municipality, as well as the income of the three local municipalities, is severely restricted.
• Infrastructural shortcomings, e.g. the gravel road in poor shape between Bethulie and Springfontein, with no service station between the towns. The same applies to the dirt road between Trompsburg and Jagersfontein. Assistance from Provincial Government is direly needed to upgrade these roads. Another case in point is the urgent need for a water pipeline from Vanderkloof Dam to Jagersfontein and Fauresmith, in order to supply fresh drinking water to the two towns and also to provide water needed for the re-opening of the diamond mine at Jagersfontein.
• Private resorts and bigger private tourism products in the region are not well marketed. In this regard, better co-ordination between private and public sector is required.
• Municipal game camps in the region are not attracting the tourism and hunting attention it should. The most notable are at Reddersburg and Smithfield. Municipalities need to do wider marketing than merely gazetting official notices.
Xhariep tourism strenghts
• Boundless eco-tourism
• Lake Gariep largest dam in SA
• Tussen-die-Riviere Game & Nature Reserve & outdoor activities
• Traversed by three national routes N1, N6 and N8
• Historic town of Philippolis
• Award-winning Landzicht Wine Cellar at Jacobsdal
• Mine hole at Jagersfontein bigger than Kimberley's
• Numerous holiday & game farms, B&B's, guesthouses & other accommodation establishments
• Arts & crafts galore spread all over
• Diamond Mining at Koffiefontein
• Many restored historic battlefields
• Range of annual festivals, sports events and tourist attractions
• Vast unspoilt open spaces
• Huge potential for investment
Particular changes
The challenges in the tourism sector and together with that the potential are as vast as the region itself. What is needed most, is entrepreneurship, investments, innovation and public-private partnerships. To name but a few specific beckoning possibilities :
In eco-tourism development at Lake Gariep there is the potential for fresh water fish breeding of quality and on a scale suitable for exporting, while the current air strip at the town of Gariep Dam needs to be developed as a major link to the outside world.
In the south-western region the development of the envisaged Diamond & Wine Route, straddling towns such as Jagersfontein, Fauresmith, Jacobsdal, Philippolis and Koffiefontein, needs to get off the ground.
In the eastern part of the region much could be achieved if towns like Wepener and Zastron link up much stronger with the existing Maloti Route mainly through the Thabo Mofutsanyana Region and Lesotho.
At Oppermansgronde and Bethanie respectively where local communities were restitutionally awarded their land back, considerable developmental needs and potential exist as regards infrastructure development, partnerships, investment and tourism route linkages. One possibility for instance would be a Cultural historical route linking Bethanie, Boomplaats and Oppermansgronde with wider existing routes.
The art & crafts industry in the region needs to be elevated and marketed.
Hunting, game viewing, gliding and other outdoor activities, as well as more and better accommo-dation facilities, pose developmental challenges of their own.
For more information on the Xhariep Region, or any enquiries concerning it, the Executive Mayor of Xhariep District Municipality, Mr. Teboho Mofokeng and his team, in particular Mr. Percy Pitso as Director for LED and Tourism, stand ready to be of service at the contact particulars
below.
The well-watered Northern Free State region with its rustic, rural atmosphere offers ideal weekend leisure or stopovers - truly breakaway time par excellence!
Vast water surfaces and outdoor orientated conservancies offers weekend getaways in a class of its own. Activities for visitors in the area include boating, water skiing, river rafting, fly-fishing, angling, hiking, mountain biking, horse riding and game viewing.
Even several scientific lion breeding projects exist in the area, while hunting opportunities are available within a well-structured industry.
The battlefield at Vegkop in Heilbron and various battlefields in the Koppies and Kroonstad region offer absorbing pastimes.
Parys on the Vaal has developed over a number of years into a real tourism paradise with interesting small shops and knick-knack corners - not to mention antique furniture. Local art of high quality is available in many art galleries along the main road.
There are a number of exquisite restaurants, while as in the rest of the region several outstanding guesthouses offer accommodation to serve from up-market to basic self-catering needs for visitors. Lunch at Phatuma Hotel in Tumahole Township offers for instance an authentic township lunch - Ms. Molala at tel: 056 817 7900/083 967 0716.
The Vredefort Structure in the Vredefort/Parys area is recognised worldwide as the oldest and biggest meteorite impact site in the world and was caused by a giant meteorite of approximately 10km in diameter, hitting the earth 2000 million years ago at the spot where the small rural town of Vredefort is situated today. The inner rim of the Dome stretches over 42 km with at least three rings extending outwards.
Nestled in the hills of the Vredefort Dome is the Thwane Bush Camp, a luxury safari style tented camp offering breathtaking views of the Dome and the Vaal River. Here you will find the highest point on the Steenkampsberg in this geographical phenomenon where visitors can actually get a centrifugal view on the topographic ridges and deep ravines of the Dome. Other Game farms in the area are Chazen Game Lodge and Savannah Game Lodge and River Retreat.
This year the Vaal Development Forum has taken the initiative to organize the Dome Adventure Festival at Parys from 15 - 17 October 2004. With the main venue of the Festival at the Pary Showgrounds where a new undercover arena of some 4 500m˛ is now being completed, the Festival will also focus on the many types of outdoor activities being presented in the Dome region. One of the main items is the Crater Cruise for mountain bikers, which with an expected 3 500 participants could become the Argus of mountain biking. Exhibition stalls for the Festival can be rented. Enquiries to Mark Pieterse (056) 811 5573 or 082 494 7092.
“Gallery 88” at Sasolburg displays exceptional local and national artwork, featuring famous names such as Pieter van der Westhuizen, Phillip Badenhorst, Sarie Sanders, Michačl Heyns and George Boys. The Cat's Cafe at Gallery 88 is famous for its pecan pie, quiche and light lunches.
The Vaal Dam, known as the Highveld's island sea, is the yachting mecca for its landlocked neighbours. The biggest inland regatta in South Africa, “Around the Island Race”, is held on the Vaal Dam annually in January.
With four yacht clubs, boat chandlers, boat builders and repair yards, Deneysville on the banks of Vaal Dam is the home of yachting enthusiasts. There is also a chartered yacht service for up to 25 persons per trip. More info from Deneysville Information tel (016) 371 2036/7.
A rich cultural-historical inheritance is reflected in impressive sandstone buildings throughout the region, e.g. in the Kroonstad, Frankfort and Heilbron region. Enjoy a pleasant mid-morning tea with home-baked delicatessen at Fraaihuis Nursery and Tea Garden in Pearce Street, Heilbron.
The Riemland Wine Route in the Heilbron district is an innovative and entertaining product situated within two registered concervancies with excellent accommo-dation. Here you can experience a touch of well-known Western Cape wines in true Free State tradition. Five up-market Cape Cellars are Boland and Môreson Wines trading as Francolin Creek Cellar, Swartland trading as Stadlerheim Cellar, Simonsig Cellar and
Van Loveren Wines trading as Goedehoop Cellars. All the cellars are accommodated in historical old sandstone buildings, renovated to meet all requirements for wine stocking. The wine route covers approximately 80km and can easily be visited during either a day visit or a weekend visit.
Accommodation within both conservancies are available at Goedehoop and Creek Francolin Guesthouses, the luxurious Moratuwa Lodge, and rustic and bush camps and overnight huts on hiking trails. Both conservancies also offer other eco-tourism experiences for weekend or day visitors.
In the Frankfort District the Siesta Guest Farm, 10km outside Frankfort on the R26 is a 4-star SAT accredited facility that will certainly enhance your stay in this beautiful rural countryside. Visit Namahadi Arts and Culture Center in Frankfort for real cultural and traditional gear and authentic traditional beadwork and clay pots. The owner, Mr. Nelson Nxayi, can be contacted at 084 750 0065.
Although the Northern Free State became known as an industrial region with the establishment of Sasolburg, it remains an attractive, tranquil and rustic region. During the summer months sprawling sunflowers and the pastel colours of vast cosmos fields around mealie, wheat and grain lands is a true feast for the eye and food for the soul!
While of course you can pick and choose the way you wish to breakaway to the Northern Free State, there are also a number of self-drive routes, enabling you to cover many sites in one excursion, depending on your needs. For more information on this and others, contact the Tourism Office at the particulars below.
Crafts in the Northern FS
• FRANKFORT NAMAHADI ARTS AND CRAFTS
Nelson Nxayi 084 750 0065
Bead-work, Grass Mats, Thebetha (African Dress) and Clay pots
• VILLIERS QALABOTJHA YOUTH PROJECT
Fusi 072 108 0071
Beads & Wire
• HEILBRON PHIRITONA ARTS & CRAFTS
Zweli Yawa 072 959 1512 058 852 2396
Artist
Timothy Poho 084 678 0788
Sculpters, Wiring and Sign Writing
David/Abel v. Jaarsveld 082 320 5516
Garden Pots, Ornaments, Birds Beds
Estina van Vuuren 058 853 0059
Flowers with leaves
• EDENVILLE NGWATHE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT FORUM
Mr Hlobo 056 631 0462
Grass Mats, Bead, Leather Shoes & Leather Hats
• KOPPIES KWAKWATSI VUKA SENZELE
Jenny 084 878 5018
Beads, Leather bags, Bed Side Lamps
• SASOLBURG- ZAMDELA ARTS CENTRE
Azania 016 974 9108
Beads, Paintings and African Dresses
• DENEYSVILLE REFENG KGOTSO
Basadi Matlafalang Anna Tsotetsi 016 371 1441
Sewing, Beadwork and Thethane
Tebile Molefe 082 725 2451
Wiring
Tiisanang Community Project 084 812 4239
School Uniform, Sewing, Curtains etc.
Mirriam Motsweneng 073 420 2471
Claypots and brooms
Developmental challenges
Despite the tourism industry in the Northern Free State being vibrant, much remains to be achieved and that in itself poses an immense challenge. Within this context, some of the specific challenges are the following :
• A visitors facility appropriately placed at the Dome, possibly near Vredefort, to explain the Dome set-up, needs to be designed and erected. This is a project of magnitude beyond the financial capacity of the District Municipality.
• The Tourism Office of the District Municipality has designed the concept of a training centre for township tourism, but due to financial constraint has not yet been able to implement. Meanwhile the Eastern Cape and Limpopo has already implemented such centres.
• A business plan that includes tourism promotion in an innovative way into local economic development has been drafted by the District Municipality with Australian foreign support and is now in a process of finalisation.
Nestled against the majestic Drakensberg and Maluti mountain ranges, the region of Thabo Mofutsanyana today represents one of the leading tourism destinations in South Africa.
Rarely would one find such scenic beauty, modern infrastructure and facilities, exciting tourism products, tranquil environs, high grain and livestock productions, a wealth of cultural heritage and proximity to other fast developing centres in SA, as in the Thabo Mofutsanyana region.
Against the backdrop of its natural attributes, together with its well-developed hospitality sector and a population making up more than a quarter of that of the province, the tourism industry in the region is blooming. Progressing to the level where the focus is increasingly on a sophisticated range of outdoor activities being offered, such as quad biking trails, etc.
Latest developments
• In the quest of lengthening as far as possible the staying time of tourists in the region, a sharp rise in the development of accommodation options and outdoor facilities is evident.
• As part of this drive, accommodation facilities at the popular Basotho Cultural Village in Qwaqwa have just been created in the form of 24 chalets, making the village a fully functional holiday destination. With funding sourced from the Poverty Relief Fund, this development does not only provide for the tourist, but also has come with substantial local job opportunities, right from the outset to the operational stage of the project.
• At Clarens the first golf estate in the Free State, consisting of luxury residential units laid around an 18-hole golf course, is to be developed at a total cost of more than R250 million. Some 200 upmarket residential units is to be developed, creating in the process some 800 jobs.
• As such the new estate seems set to impact in a major way on the further development of Clarens, as a strong growth point. Besides the probability that the current population of Clarens can increase crusiably in the near future, the extention of shopping and business amenities such as supermarket facilities and professional services seem inevitable.
• Golden Gate Highlands National Park has been amalgamated with the Qwaqwa National Park creating a 33 640 ha national park managed by SA National Parks. R37,3 million is being spent to upgrade the new unit, with a further R24 million budgeted over the next three years. Amongst others a new luxurious rest camp, Mountain Retreat, is being built, which at 2 200 m, altitude would be the highest rest camp in South Africa.
• Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality has budgeted in the current financial year to do amongst others :
• Identifying and restoration of heritage sites
• Upgrading of tourism signage
• Upgrading of the tourist information centres within the district boundaries
• The District Municipality has also received a commitment from the Poverty Relief Fund for support in developments such as :
• New hiking routes
• Erecting accommodation facilities at Metsi Matsho (Swartwater) Dam
• A feasibility study on a cable way up Sentinel Peak (this study will be funded by DBSA)
• The District Municipality has developed additional tourism brochures and information material for the region, while some local tourism bodies, such as at Ficksburg, Clocolan and Fouriesburg, have also produced tourism brochures for their areas.
These are unfortunately all we are allowed to list here - the proverbial tip of the iceberg!
Tourism strengths
The uniqueness mentioned above is further strengthened by features such as :
• Excellent geographical location - lying in the heart of SA, we are easily within reach from all sides.
• A wonderful climate conducive for sports tourism.
• Particular richness in cultural tourism, including the cultural village, rock art, Anglo-Boer War memorials and battlefields, etc.
Some other salient features :
• The massive Sterkfontein Dam outside Harrismith, so strong that it feeds the Vaal Dam, is ideal for all types of watersports.
• The bird watching mecca of Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve near Memel is a wetland with RANSAR status and is surrounded with private game and holiday farms.
• In wider context, Thabo Mofutsanyana has an integral link with the transfrontier eco-park currently being developed in tandem with Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape province. This includes the breath-taking Lesotho Highlands Water Project and the exquisite Maluti Tourist Route.
Challenges faced
As regard challenges being faced in the Thabo Mofutsanyana region, there is still a lot of work to be done by both the local and the district municipalities, as they are entrusted with the function of developing, promoting and marketing tourism.
More specific challenges :
• Transformation of the industry to enable black people to access and take part in the tourism business through interventions and skills development.
• Transformation of the industry to accommodate female entrepreneurs in the core business of the tourism industry.
• To successfully implement the projects budget for the Integrated Development Plans of the respective municipalities.
• To brand the region and market it so as to continuously increase visitors volumes.
• To propel the domestic market to travel to this region in ever-increasing numbers.
Seen overall, the main development challenge facing the Eastern Free State / Thabo Mofutsanyana District is how to create a sustainable livelihood and job opportunities for the majority of the population in the region. This represents the core focus of the Local Economic Development program of the District Municipality - a focus of which tourism promotion forms a central part.
Events for Tourism Month
In a full program for September 2004, participation by the District Municipality in the Getaway Show at Randburg and Heritage Day and Tourism Month celebrations at the Basotho Cultural Village, feature prominently.
Other festivities are to be hosted by the local municipalities.
We can only conclude with the Sesotho saying : “Tlo bone !” Come and see !
It's no question. Apart from having Bloemfontein as the capital of the province, the Motheo District in many ways reverberates the heartbeat of the Free State. And nowhere is it more evident than in the pulsating tourism industry in the region.
This page can only serve to provide a quick bird's eye-view - there is so much more to tell and to experience. As such, however, this quick glance reflects also some of the challenges remaining to be tackled.
Latest developments
Covering an area which stretches from Ventersburg in the south, to Hoopstad in the north and Boshof in the west and including the pulsating Goldfields of the Free State, the Lejweleputswa region offers a wide variety of tourism jewels - some already glittering and some waiting to be discovered.
Existing jewels
Amongst the existing jewels are the following :
• The Phakisa Race-way between Welkom and Theunissen - worldrenowned for its MotoGP races and other motor-racing events. Currently involved in financial restructuring, the asset has great investment potential, as well as the potential to become the centrifugal force for secondary tourism hub development around it, such as accommodation facilities, entertainment venues, game viewing, arts & crafts displays, etc.
• The recently opened Flamingo Casino at Welkom is an attraction in itself.
• Jewellery manufacturing from gold beneficiation at the Jewellery School in Virginia.
• Guided gold mine underground tours at Welkom and Virginia.
• Tikwe Lodge Resort & Conference Centre at Virginia.
• Aventura Aldam Resort & Conference Centre, with the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve, at Allemanskraal Dam in the Ventersburg district.
• The Goldfields Wine Cellar at Theunissen.
• The Goldfields Tourism Route starting at Welkom.
• The Anglo Boer War Cemeteries at Brandfort, including different sites of Boer, African and British graveyards.
• The Winnie Mandela House at Brandfort.
• The Winburg Voortrekker Monument.
• The 1956 Women's Pass Resistance Site next to the old Magistrate Court in Winburg.
• The Arts & Crafts Route and Tavern Tours in Welkom.
• Excellent nature reserves, such as Sandveld, Willem Pretorius, Rustfontein, Soetdoring, Erfenis Dam.
• Many private game farms and nature reserves, often offering a host of additional outdoor activities.
• The salt pans at Soutpan.
• Numerous exquisite B&B's, hotels, restaurants, etc.
These are merely some of the main ones - there's lots more !
Jewels to be discovered
Jewels to be discovered include the following possibilities :
• An extensive waterfront development on the banks of the Sand River at Virginia
• A fully-fledged tourism centre at Welkom
• Further developments around the Phakisa Race-way
• An underground wine cellar at St. Helena
• A community-run game project at Boshof
• Opportunities for investment and development in the accommodation, conferencing and tour operating sectors
Plus much more waiting to be explored !
Further developing steps
Lejweleputswa District Municipality, as part of its Regional Tourism Branding Programme, is currently inviting Service Providers to submit their proposals for the development and printing of Tourism Information Material. Proposals should indicate amongst others :
• Research, development and printing of a generic tourism brochure
• Development of a Tourism CD and a Website
• Development of two Outdoor Pull-up Screens and two Indoor Pull-up Screens for the Tourism Division
• All costs involved in the research, development and printing of the above- mentioned products.
Tourism Month
As to Tourism Month 2004, the District Municipality is co-operating with all five local municipalities in its region, as well as the Department of Tourism, Environmental & Economic Affairs, to compile a program of events. Detail is to be provided through the media.
Join the drive !
The District Municipality invites all stakeholders in the private and public sectors as well as specifically all investors and entrepreneurs, to join them in the drive towards maximum development of the tourism jewels of Lejweleputswa.
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