Current Edition >> Archive Section >> Special Features >> 19 - 15 January 2004
On 28 November 2003 at a glittering gala event in Bloemfontein the winners in a number of small to medium sized business categories for the Free State province were named. This was the culmination of a year-long competition arranged by the FS Dept. of Tourism, Environmental & Economic Affairs to acknowledge, in line with national policy, the province's top business achievers in specific categories according to set criteria.
In order to indicate to the business sector in the Free State what can be aspired to and what can indeed be achieved, the Free State Business Bulletin herewith briefly profiles some of these category winners. Not being about bragging, it is only that in every aspect of life role models are good to have.
Maluti Sandstone (Pty) Ltd.
Turning, with dexterous business acumen, a typical Free State natural resource into a highly profitable product, is how Maluti Sandstone (Pty.) Ltd. can be summed up in a nutshell. This has been done so well, that the company was objectively judged as the co-winner in the category Free State SME Achiever for 2003.
Sandstone bricks, cladding, smooth tiles, interlocking, rivens and decorative products from Free State and Lesotho natural sandstone are being manufactured. With it's factory based at Industria III, Site 64, Factory No. 5A, B and C, Phuthaditjhaba, the company is now in operation for only two years. Notwithstanding it does sell it's products, apart from in the Free State and Lesotho, mostly in Gauteng, but also as far afield as Durban, Cape Town and Walvis Bay.
Natural sandstone is being sourced from miners in the Eastern Free State and Lesotho and then expertedly processed with diamond-cutting blades into a variety of attractive and highly popular products. As such natural sandstone could be regarded as the jewels of the Eastern Free State. The new tollgate at Verkeerdevlei is a prime example of construction from Maluti Sandstone products. Maluti Sandstone is a partnership between Peter Mononela (who handles the mining and supply side), Johan van Biljon (who manages the production process) and Roger Heuschen (responsible for marketing). The total staff complement is 52 employees.
Currently the business runs eight production machines 24 hours a day seven days a week, but is still not coping fully with demand for its products. As for the latter, quality is evidently what turns the scale, because in a recent competition for garden and construction products presented by Gardenworld, Johannesburg, amidst top class competition, Maluti Sandstone won first and second prizes.
Maloti Tourist Information Office
Reviewing the Maloti Tourist Information Office as winner of the Tourism Achiever for the Free State in 2003, it is evident that success rests on the four cornerstones of networking, partnership, synergy and drive. Established in 2000 as a community tourist office serving basically the Mantsopa and the Motheo municipal regions, Maloti Information is also involved in a network of partnership and synergy with inter alia the Mantsopa Municipality, the Motheo District Municipality, the provincial Dept. of Tourism, the national DEAT, the Lesotho Ministry of Tourism, the Maloti Tourism Forum, Thabo Mofutsanyana Tourism, the Ladybrand Chamber of Business, numerous tourism product owners and a host of other tourism roleplayers.
Maloti Tourism Information Office is moreover an instrumental participant in the development of the Maloti Tourism Route extending from Ladybrand right through to Memel, as well as into Lesotho and the Eastern Cape. The office is staffed by three persons, viz. Jan Oberholzer, Jacinta Mariti and Simon Selai, while seven part-time tourist guides and three bird-watching guides have been trained by the office. Maloti Information also serves as an accommodation bureau for the Mantsopa area, while it is working to link-up with inter alia newly-established Motheo tourism routes.
Jan Oberholzer says Maloti Tourism Information Office attributes its prestigious award wholly to teamwork over a wide spectrum.
Remmogo Business Finance
Having been in business since 1998, Remmogo Business Finance has proven it's mettle in the high-risk sector of on-lending to small and micro business. Lack of development finance is generally accepted as one of the main constraints for the emerging business sector in SA. Remmogo is financially backed by Khula Enterprise Finance Limited, a wholly-owned company of the National Dept. of Trade and Industry. Based at 21 Nelson Mandela Drive, Trek Building, Ground floor, Bloemfontein and with head office in Kimberley, Remmogo is making business finance accessible to small and micro entrepreneurs experiencing difficulty in obtaining funds from corporate financial institutions. Remmogo's focus is on going concerns, but start-up businesses are also being financed.
Vision : Remmogo's vision is to build small and micro enterprises into big businesses so as to enable them to become creators of wealth and significant contributors to the economic growth of the Free State and Northern Cape.
Scope : The scope of Remmogo's loans ranges from R6 000 up to R100 000, with repayments between one month and 36 months. Remmogo has during the past five years built an impressive track record on inter alia the number of PDI businesses assisted, female entrepreneurs successfully financed, total number of jobs created and limited number of bad debt written-off.
Integrity : The CEO of Remmogo, Mr. Hiram Ramage, says that the first prerequisite of a service provider in the enterprise on-lending industry, is unquestionable integrity, honesty and reliability. He himself has been in the industry some 18 years.
Invitation : Mr. Ramage invites existing small and micro enterprises looking for financial and technical assistance to contact him and his staff at their respective offices. His personal cell no. is 082 902 0161. In conclusion, Remmogo thanks all stakeholders, government departments, service providers, clients and staff for their indispensable support.
The National Tourism Conference for 2004 held on 4 and 5 December 2003 at Thaba Nchu Sun, was an illustrious occasion, not only for the attendance by the main dignitaries in the tourism industry in South Africa, but also for the landmark decisions reached at the conference. In the first session, the MEC for Tourism in the Free State, Mr. Sakhiwo Belot, expressed some opening remarks, after which Premier Winkie Direko officially welcomed all dignitaries and delegates. The tone for the conference was set by an input from Mr. Jabu Mabuza of Tsogo Sun Gaming. The keynote address was delivered by Minister for Environmental Affairs and Tourism Valli Moosa.
Next, presentations to the conference were made by Dr. Crispian Olver (DG of the Dept. of Environmental Affairs and Tourism); Ms. Yvonne Johnstone (CEO of the International Marketing Council), speaking on the subject of Branding; Ms. Cheryl Carolus (CEO of South African Tourism), expounding on Global competitiveness; and Mr. Carl Niehaus (Project Manager in the Office of the Presidency tasked with the 10th Anniversary of Democracy in SA).
The conference then broke up in the following five commissions for separate discussions, synergy and reporting back to the full conference again:
• Marketing and branding
• Investing in product development
• Quality tourism experience
• Human resource development
• Transformation and empowerment
On the evening of 4 December the Free State Province hosted the gala dinner. On 5 December each of the commissions reported back to the full conference, after which presentations were made by Ms. Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde (MP and chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee for Environmental Affairs and Tourism); a representative from COSATU on The role of labour in tourism development; and Cllr. Nomsa Dube (chairperson of SALGA) on Driving tourism at local government level.
Finally the conference adopted the Thaba Nchu Partnership for Tourism Growth and Global Competitiveness, under the slogan “One destination gearing up to be globally competitive.”
Below is a resumé of the terms of reference and top composition of the five Commissions who dealt with the five key focus areas around which the deliberations and eventual decisions of the National Tourism Conference 2003 revolved:
Marketing & branding
Terms of reference for discussion, reflection and reporting back:
• Evaluate the progress in the brand alignment between all stakeholders
• Identify gaps, challenges and opportunities
• Develop a clear plan of action to implement the brand position of South Africa as a tourism destination
• Set in motion a clear process and mechanism of aligning all the stakeholders behind Brand South Africa, informed by the tourism Growth Strategy
• The Facilitator was Mr. Moeketsi Mosola (COO: South Africa Tourism), with the presentations made by Mr. Themba Khumalo (Marketing Manager: South African Tourism), Mr. Jabu Mabuza (MD: Tsogo Sun Gaming) and Mr. Kheepe Moremi (MD: International Marketing Council). In its report back to conference, this Commission pointed out the measures of synergisation taking place between the governmental and private sectors, although a lot of room for improvement still remains. February 2004 has been earmarked for stakeholder participation across South Africa, with the marketing and branding launch on 8 May 2004, in conjunction with the IMC.
Investing in product development
Terms of reference for discussion, reflection and reporting back:
• Define the gaps and challenges that currently exist in the tourism product portfolio, in respect of the tourism Growth Strategy, including:
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Attractions
- Other products and services
• Define the priority gaps and challenges
• Develop a process to address these gaps and challenges
• The Facilitator was Mr. Mahandra Naidoo (Chief Director: Dept. of Environmental Affairs and Tourism) with other presentations made by Ms Didi Moyle (Chief Research and Ebusiness Officer: South African Tourism), Mr. Percy Mkhosi (Tourism Specialist), Mr. Kamil Karim (Director: Strategic Marketing Southern Sun) and Ms. Katinka Schumann-Bester (Strategic Business Unit Head: IDC). In its report back to conference, the Commission pointed out especially that a national tourism investment strategy led by DEAT would be in place by March 2004.
Quality tourism experience
Terms of reference for discussion, reflection and reporting back:
• Identify the quality issues and challenges that we face relative to the chosen consumer segments and customers
• Identify the priority issues and challenges
• Define the drivers of these issues and challenges
• Identify the interventions that are necessary to improve quality standards
• The Facilitator was Dr. Salifou Siddo (CEO Tourism Grading Council of SA), with presentations made by Mr. Glenn Phillips (Director : Marketing and Tourism - South African National Parks) Ms. Anisha Archary (Vice President SAA Customer Services) and Ms. Roshene Singh (Domestic Marketing Manager South African Tourism). In its report back the Commission emphasized the importance of grading tourism products, using a “carrot & stick” approach rather than making it legally compulsory.
Human resource development
Terms of reference for discussion, reflection and reporting back:
• Identify the key human resource gaps, with regard to the tourism Growth Strategy
• Identify the priority gaps
• Identify the current constraints which are blocking progress in human development, including institutional mechanisms
• Identify a process to address the critical blockages
• The Facilitator was Ms. Gail McCann (CEO Southern Africa Tourism Services Association), with presentations by Mr. Sam Marotoba (Chief Director Department of Labour), Mr. Mike Tsotetsi (Acting CEO Tourism Hospitality, Sports, Education and Training Authority), Dr. Namahi Magau (Director of Human Capital Services SABC) and Mr. Adrian Gardiner (Chairman Mantis Collection). In its report back, the commission strongly advanced black empowerment in the tourism industry as a means of human resources development and in this respect proposes a scorecard and time frames approach.
Transformation and empowerment
Terms of reference for discussion, reflection and reporting back:
• Assess the progress that we have made in respect of transformation and empowerment
• Identify the key interventions that need to be undertaken to further transformation and empowerment
• Consider the work being undertaken in a partnership between DEAT and the TBCSA to develop a broad based empowerment scorecard
• Develop a way forward in respect of this work, and the promotion of broad based BEE in the tourism industry
• The Facilitator was Dr. Tanya Abrahamse (CEO Tourism Business Council of SA), with presentations made by Mr. Vuyo Jack (CEO Empowerdex), Ms. Thembeka Nkamba-Van Wyk (MD Talking Beads), Dr. Alistair Ruiters (DG of DTI), Mr. Mannie Hirsch (Director Gestalt) and Mr. Tim Anderson (Programme Director Tourism Enterprise Programme).
Although situated in the strong agro-producing Northern Free State, Koppies has as yet not grown beyond a small town. It is situated approximitly 60 km from Parys, 45 km from Vredefort, 70 km from Sasolburg, 55 km from Kroonstad, 11 km from the N1 and 45 km from Heilbron. As such, one of the biggest strengths of Koppies is its excellent location, especially by virtue of its proximity to the Vaal Triangle and Gauteng. In this respect the town is extremely well-connected through road and rail - for instance only 75 minutes' drive from Sandton.
Yet Koppies has all the attributes of a rural setting. The number of inhabitants of Koppies proper is about 1 200 and that of adjacent Kwakwatsi township 30 000. In the new local government dispensation Koppies has been linked together with the towns of Parys, Vredefort, Heilbron and Edenville under the Municipal Council of Ngwathe. As of late, deficient municipal co-ordination, insufficient development funds, absence of real local economic development and job losses amongst farm workers, have led to stagnation of economic development at Koppies.
It is against this background that some residents at Koppies/Kwakwatsi established the Vuka! Action Group Initiative. This page provides a glance at what Vuka! entails, what the people of Koppies are doing, planning and offering and what a remarkable investment spot Koppies constitutes.
Inviting Matthews Phosa
In their drive to obtain the best possible input in Koppies as regards the development of their local economic potential, the Vuka! Action Group held a gala banquet on 11 December 2003 with Dr. Matthews Phosa, national Vice president of the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (AHI), as guest speaker. The occasion was also in celebration of the election of Dr. Phosa in his new AHI capacity, with him, making his debut public speech in this respect. The function was also presented with the aim of raising funds for various community based projects to the benefit of the entire community, as such indicative of the desire of the community to pull itself up by it's own boot straps.
In his speech, Dr. Phosa inter alia stated the following:
Money has no colour. The business principles on the road to success are the same for black and white. “Business is business”.
It is much better to combine strength and to co-operate, than to stand apart and work against each other.
BEE is necessary, because it builds a strong black middle class, which creates stability, but care should be taken to avoid discrimination in reverse. Government and the private sector should reach out and co-operate and not function in isolation.
The gala banquet was also attended by Ms. Hettienne von Abo (Free State president of the AHI, from Bothaville), Mr. Tom Letsoenyo (mayor of Ngwathe Municipality), Prof. Piet Moolman (Potch University Small Business Bureau), and other dignataries and roleplayers.
Teenwoordig by die gala banket te Koppies op 11 Desember 2003 ter ere van dr. Matthews Phosa, nasionale vise-president van die Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut: Dr. Phosa (links) met me. Hettiënne von Abo (Vrystaatse president van die AHI) en mnr. Tony de Gouveia (voorsitter van die Koppies Kamer van Koophandel).
Koppies entrepreneurs
Soos gewoonlik, is dit ook te Koppies entrepreneurs wat die verskil maak, al is dit relatief klein en al is daar nog soveel om the doen. Hierdie blad oor Koppies en die potensiaal en voordele wat die dorp en distrik vir onder andere besoekers en beleggers inhou, word moontlik gemaak deur die sakelui wat hierin adverteer. Elkeen van hulle - 'n entrepreneur in eie reg - het iets om u, die leser, te bied. Kyk mooi wat hulle aanbied en ondersteun hulle gerus, tot wedersydse voordeel. Dit is hoe die wiel van vooruitgang gedraai word.
Vuka!
Adding action to the realisation that they would only be helped if they help themselves, a group of concerned Koppies/Kwakwatsi citizens established the Vuka! Action Group Initiative, on 16 January 2003 stretching across racial, cultural and socio-economic lines having as main aim to make local economic development (LED) work. "Vuka!" being the Zulu phrase for "wake up!"
Four local residents in particular are playing key roles in the Vuka! Initiative, viz. Jenny Valsechhi, Tony de Gouveia, Hans Buka and Milton Seabi-Buka. The following development projects have been identified for 2003/2004:
• Esther Bell Robinson Park Village Green
• “Gorgeous Garden” Competition Koppies & Kwakwatsi
• “Best Business” Competition Koppies & Kwakwatsi
• “Koop Koppies” Competition Koppies & Kwakwatsi
• The Lace Making School
• Local Services Directly
• Koppies Dam Raising of Dam Wall & Silting Solution
• Petition in support of Development Projects for Koppies/Kwakwatsi
• “The Best Christmas Shop Window” Competition
• Jazz Festival
• Clean up Koppies & Kwakwatsi Campaign
• Koppies Bumper Sticker & Slogan Competition
• Entrepreneur's Business Opportunities Exhibition
• Resuscitation of Public Sporting Facilities
• “Tour de Koppies” Mountain Bike Race
• Edible Community Gardens - Kwakwatsi & Koppies
• Sustainable Organic Vegetable & Herb Gardening Projects
• Craft Markets - Village Green
• Guiness Book of Records: 15 Churches in a 2 kilometre street Kwakwatsi
• Adopt-a-church Advertising campaign for Paint and Hardware Companies
• Gala Banquet
• Carols by Candlelight
• A tourism drive has been put on hold in preference of getting basic LED in place first. Koppies has definite tourism protential, but at present this is not top of Vuka!'s priority list.
For more info on the Vuka! Initiative, the following persons can be contacted :
- Tony de Gouveia (chairman Koppies Chamber of Commerce 082) 413 1740
- Jenny Valsecchi (spokesperson Vuka ! Action Initiative Group) 084 878 5018
- Hans Buka (spokesperson Vuka ! Action Initiative Group) 083 769 1249
- Milton Seabi-Buka (Kwakwatsi Young Entrepreneurs Forum) 084 878 5018.
The meeting place where it happens
The Chatroom Communication Café in Koppies is a striking example of the pioneering enterprising spirit being entertained by the residents of Koppies. What appears to be just another cosy coffee shop, is actually an innovative combination of concepts supplying in a variety of the town's needs. Apart from the fact that the restaurant and coffee shop forms a social hub in town, the Café also boasts a business centre with boardroom facilities. The centre furthermore offers general administrative services to businesspeople and farmers, such as binding and laminating of documents, research and drawing up of business plans, etc. Internet facilities are to be the next development.
The Chatroom takes a genuine interest in the well-being of the community. The furniture was made by a resident of Kwakwatsi (the local township) while the person who made the chair covers was trained in needlework especially for this task by Jenny Valsecchi, owner and manager of e Chatroom. The Café also serves as venue for the weekly meetings of Vuka!, the local community development program, of which Jenny is a founding member. She says there are a lot of people in Kwakwatsi that would rather volunteer to be part of something productive, than to be idle in unemployment, of which the rate is estimated at 82%. To address this, the Café is developing an arts and crafts workshop, where people can aquire useful new skills, while only paying for the cost of material.
The atmosphere of The Chatroom Communication Café is uniquely conducive to unforced and comfortable meeting and interacting between people of various backgrounds and cultures and is truly well worth a visit, not only because of the menu (which even includes seafood dishes reflecting Jenny's Italian roots), but also to meet a cross-section of the people of Koppies and to gauge the new spirit of hope prevalent in the surroundings.
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