Current Edition >> Archive Section >> Special Features >> May 2005

Free State overlooked in development initiatives?

More often than not, the Free State is overlooked in major development initiatives.The Free State Business Bulletin conducted a quick survey among a few roleplayers, to find out what their opinion is.
It seems as if the Free State has been overlooked again with the following development initiative targeting other “underserved” provinces in the country:
The Apex Fund was launched in December to assist micro businesses by giving them access to funds ranging from R300 to R5 000. This will mainly focus on provinces such as the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Limpopo.
According to Dan Moloi, SMME Support Manager of the Mangaung Municipality, the Free State is also the only province in the country that doesn't have a regional office of the National Manufacturing Advice Centre (NMAC). Entrepreneurs in the Free State therefore doesn't get the necessary support to start their new businesses. The Director of Small Business Promotion for the Department of Tourism, Environmental and Economic Affairs, Mare Tsiki, confirmed that the Free State doesn't have a NMAC. “It is regrettable that we as a province failed to have one. We are going to try very hard to get a provincial office of Seda (Small Enterprise Development Agency) in the next two to three months.”
There have also been rumours that the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) hands out broadcasting licences more easily to the bigger provinces in SA. However, Manager of Media and Stakeholders Liaison of Icasa, Vimia Maistry, denied these allegations by saying that the Free State is not treated differently from any other province. “The most important aspect is the availability of frequency, that impacts on the issue.”
When it comes to the tourism industry in the Free State, the province is definitely being overlooked, says Mar'c Scholtz, Marketing Director of Upstream Global, the company responsible for the development of the Bloemfontein Convention Centre. “There is a lack of exposure to the right people. The region doesn't have any big attractions, but rather many medium-sized ones. “We have to package it correctly so that people will take the province more seriously,” he says.
Meanwhile, complaints about sufficient passenger flights to Bloemfontein are long-standing. Currently only SAA and SA Express are serving Bloemfontein Airport. There has been talk of carriers like kulula.com also extending to Bloemfontein, but at this stage all is still on hold.
At the time of going to press, Airports Companies South Africa, wasn't able to comment on the allegations.

Vehicle industry in SA in fast lane

There has never been a better time for car buyers than now”, according to economist Mr. Neal Brutton of Response Group Trendline.On a similar note Business Day reports that over the past year there has been a significant decline in used car prices, which has benefited consumers, particularly first-time car buyers.
Mr. Fires van Vuuren, regional manager for central SA of Imperial Hyper Car, confirms this statement with his figures at the Klerksdorp branch. “It is especially cheaper, used cars are doing very well.”
This drop in prices can be regarded as a direct result of the demand for new cars over the past year. According to a report published on Moneyweb, the South African motor industry has concluded its best ever first quarter with sales of 127 097 vehicles, a 21,2% increase in the first quarter of 2004.
“As vehicle sales are one of the leading indicators of domestic economic growth, these sales records provide further evidence of the strength of the current South African economic situation”, Mr. Brand Pretorius, chairman of McCarthy Motor Holdings, is quoted as saying “When one considers the momentum that currently persists in the market, then a 15% growth rate for the year is within reach,” Pretorius says.
Econometrix economist, Mr. Tony Twine attributes the growth to five factors: Near static vehicle prices since April 2003, rapidly rising real wages, low interest rates burden and high levels of consumer confidence and business confidence. “The forecasted economic growth rate of 4%, is a good indicator of sustained volumes,” he said.
The principal dealer of Sovereign Motors in Bloemfontein, Mr. Henry Soekoe, says that although he hasn't experienced the same amount of growth as other market segments, the market is still positive and we are expecting a considerable rise in sales once the new 3-Series is launched in May 2005."
Growth projections for this year now range between 10% and 19% from last year's record 482 000 units. The consensus is that the market is on track to break through the half-a-million mark for the first time.
Vehicle sales are one of the leading indicators of domestic economic growth and the motor sector is one of the country's largest industrial employers. South Africa's economy is seen entering a higher growth phase, expanding by 3,7% in 2004, its fastest since 2000 when it grew by 4,2%.
The question can be asked how this rise in vehicle sales is affecting business selling vehicle parts to the public. Mr. Mark Koning, from the Bloem Central branch of Autozone, says that they are losing business. “People are buying new cars instead of servicing old ones. In addition, new cars are being sold with a fixed service contract.”
Nevertheless if vehicle sales in general are booming, the rest of the vehicle industry is apt to benefit as well.

Auto industry increases employment

While many South African industries are threatening retrenchments because of the firm rand, the auto industry is looking to employ even more people.
According to a report published on www.motoring.co.za employment in the industry grew by 1 185 jobs in 2004, to 32 548 by the end of 2004. Companies are expanding their production in expectation of even higher vehicle sales over the next 12 months, the report added. Toyota, for example, has increased capacity with an eye on the export market. New vehicle sales during the fourth quarter of 2004 reached a record.
The figures showed that total car sales had increased more than 9% from 2003, but this was due to a continued explosion in local sales, as the export market had declined. Local car sales increased 27% in the last quarter of 2004 to 200 264 for the whole year. Exports, which made up 40% of the sales in 2003, had decreased to 30% (100 699) for 2004.
The trend was the same for heavy and light commercial vehicles and the report indicates decreased exports could be explained by the strong rand and "highly competitive global market conditions".
On the local market, Naamsa is expecting South African car sales to continue to expand by "double-digit numbers".

Mphatlalatsane Management & Training meeting people's needs

Having gone through the mill himself, says the MD of Mphatlalatsane Management & Training, David Mohlakona, he knows exactly what the needs of people are with a view to enable them to rise above their situation through training, skills development and capacitating. Therefore these are precisely the services that his business renders to individuals, prospective entrepreneurs, SMME's, staff of corporates, government departments and municipalities, etc.
Located at Floreat Chambers, first floor, Yellow Door Arcade, West Burger Street, Bloemfontein, Mphatlalatsane Management and Training provides computer training (including basic computer literacy, secretarial skills, business computing, web design, etc.); business skills training (including EAP and IIP); skills development training; the products and services of the Umsobomvu Youth Fund; and sundry services such as compilation of CV's, drawing up of business plan, designing of business cards, etc.
Mohlakona points out in particularly that in March 2005 Mphatlalatsane Management & Training was accredited as an official service provider of the Umsobomvu Youth Fund. Having been launched in the Free State last month, the Fund offers tremendous scope and opportunities to youth in the province with an enterprising spirit.
The target market of Mphatlalatsane Management & Training in its computer training courses is as diversified for government departments, corporate businesses, rural schools, SMME's, etc.
Skills development programmes are aimed at government departments, parastatals, SMME's and private and corporate businesses, whilst specific specialized programmes, like Investor in People and the Employee Assistance Programme, are also being presented.
Various types of further learning programmes especially designed for SETA training, FET College requirements and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) students, are also offered.
For more information and for specific individual needs, Mohlakona can be contacted at the particulars below or directly on 083 727 0404.

Positioning itself as a benchmarking Municipality

Set amidst the rolling plains of the Free State, the Mangaung Local Municipality (MLM) has as its responsibility the divergent area of Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu together with a large rural area, constituting also the capital of the province.
Arising from its historic legacy, one of the main challenges facing MLM is the development of the region's previously disadvantaged communities. In response, MLM has developed a best practice model in the implementation of its Integrated Development Programme (IDP). This process encourages popular participation in the identification of community needs and the distribution of resources to meet these needs. To this end, three quarters of the service budget MLM is allocated to disadvantaged areas.
“Our vision is one of sustained peace and development and to achieve this we need to ensure that: by 2015 MANGAUNG is recognized nationally and internationally as a safe and attractive place to live, work and invest in”, says the City's Executive Mayor, Councillor Papie Mokoena. “This is a vision I am confident that each and every Mangaunger would like to see happen and therefore work hard towards achieving economic growth and sustained livelihoods, building community resilience and promoting service excellence”, the Mayor expounds.

Gains achieved
As a trailblazer for innovation and change having received due praise and recognition from its peers, MLM has already registered the following gains:

• Developed a new corporate identity and pay off line that is a perfect visual reflection of our beliefs, what we as a region stand for and what we as a team aims to achieve.

• Won VUNA and PMR Awards for being one of the best municipalities in both the Free State and nationally.

• Crafted and adopted an Economic Development Strategy (EDS) that is presently being implemented through partnerships.

• Identified six catalyst projects that will stimulate the local economy and position the City as a global economic player. These are:

- The SMME Service Centre that provides business development support services to SMME's.
- The N8 Corridor Development that caters for the manufacturing, transport and tourism industries.
- The investment and incentives programme including the Urban Development Zone (UDZ) encourages the regeneration of the CBD and more investment in the City.
- Since Mangaung is endowed with beautiful scenery, landscape and historical sites, the Tourism Development Programme is being implemented in an effort to draw more tourists to the region whilst alleviating poverty and joblessness.
- Being at the centre of our country, the MLM is developing a Transport/Freight Centre that will assist in the smooth transportation of goods and people across our country, continent and the world.
- Since the municipality incorporates a large tract of rural land, an agricultural development programme is being implemented in order to utilize this natural resource effectively whilst promoting opportunities for agro-processing and value adding industries.

• The development of Alternative Service Delivery (ASD) mechanisms as per the requirements of the municipal legislation. To this end, a council-owned electricity distribution utility, CENTLEC, has been established and the provision of electricity services has improved drastically.

• As a customer-focused municipality, a comprehensive customer relationship management strategy has been developed and adopted. Moves are afoot to establish a one-stop call centre to deal with information provision, customer queries and complaints as part of the implementation of the strategy.

• Being a learning organisation, the MLM has established a state-of-the-art Knowledge and Innovation Centre that caters for the information needs of the municipality and its stakeholders. The Centre also plays a role of gathering knowledge that assists in developing innovative solutions to challenges facing the council whilst entrenching the MLM status as a benchmarking municipality.

• Being recognized by the Free State Public Accounts Committee as the best financially managed municipality in the province. This boosts our excellent financial reputation since this recognition comes on the back of A (long term) and A1 (short term) awards from the Global Credit Rating Agency.

“These developments augurs well for MANGAUNG in its drive to become a metropolitan city and positioning itself as a premier investment and preferred tourist destination,” says Councillor Mokoena.
“The MANGAUNG Renaissance has begun in earnest and we are truly a City on the Move”, Mokoena concludes.

Centlec - Empowering people

The launch of CENTLEC is the culmination of a process which started in the early 1990's when the decentralisation of electricity distribution was identified by central government as a national priority. Numerous studies and reports have been undertaken and, working in close cooperation with Eskom, a blue print has been produced for the process.

The first electricity distribution (Pty) Limited company to test the blueprint is CENTLEC, covering the No. 2 regional electricity distribution area centered around MANGAUNG and the Free State together with the Northern Cape.
By regionalising and privatising electricity distribution, numerous benefits accrue:

- The process will give further impetus to the overall electrification programme.

- The cost of delivering electricity and the charge therefore will be optimized.

- The financial viability and capital expenditure required will be more equitable.

- Service quality will improve.

- And, finally, employment on a regional basis will be enhanced.

Decentralisation of fiscal and investment decision-making from national to provincial and local government contributes to more efficient decision-making regarding investments as well as improved implementation of projects. In so doing, CENTLEC represents a more rational and co-ordinated geographical allocation of government expenditure assisting in poverty alleviation and the reducing inequality by preventing geographical concentration of economic opportunity in one area. As such it is one way of breaking perpetuated poverty, while promoting income, wealth and opportunity by transferring assets and services from the wealthy to the poor, matched by market, institutional and spatial reforms benefiting the less well-off.
The fact that MANGAUNG has been chosen as the first center to pilot the establishment of privately owned and run electricity distribution centers is a feather in the city's cap and a reflection on how well in the past electricity distribution and management has been run in the city. The eyes of the rest of South Africa are now focused on the city as it pilots this project. What MANGAUNG does with electricity distribution, the rest of the country will follow and will learn from our experiences.
It has long been government policy that every South African has the right to electricity and over the past decade great strides have been made in this direction. By regionalizing distribution, further impetus to the process is ensured. CENTLEC represents the first step in the process of streamlining electricity distribution at regional level and making it as affordable as possible.
In establishing CENTLEC, it was imperative that as a privately run company it would be sympathetic to the needs and priorities of the local population. To this end those people who work for CENTLEC are drawn from the local community creating a considerable number of job opportunities, likewise, the Board of Directors of CENTLEC has been chosen for their understanding of the local communities and their proven track records in business.
Therefore CENTLEC is committed to all these principles and strives to deliver what is required for all the people of Region 6. The management of the distribution process is now in the hands of the right people - the people who use it and benefit from it.

MLM Knowledge & Innovation Centre - In pursuance of excellence

Mangaung Local Municipality launched its Knowledge and Innovation Centre on 9 February 2005. The launch was held in the Centre's new, state-of-the art premises on the 12th floor of the Bram Fischer Building. The Centre is responsible for:

-Knowledge generation & acquisition
-Knowledge application & transmission
-Knowledge management & preservation
-Knowledge exchange

Mandate
The Centre is charged with the central mandate of turning the municipality into a learning and innovative organisation - an undertaking that public and private organisations across the globe are striving towards. In our new information society, the ability to acquire, preserve, generate and systematically exploit knowledge is what will ultimately distinguish truly productive, high-performance organisations from the rest of the pack. Knowledge and innovation have indeed become the catchphrases of the new millennium. According to Clr I J Mokoena, the MLM Executive Mayor, “Learning organisations are organisations where people continuously expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free, where people are continually learning to see the whole together. “
Mangaung therefore embraces the concept of Knowledge Management as one of its strategic programme for the organisation.
The Local Government White paper (1998) identifies leading and learning as one of the four characteristics of developmental local government. It further states that it is a duty of every municipality to ensure that knowledge and information is acquired and managed in a way that promotes continuous learning which anyone can access easily and quickly.
Kings and queens have historically depended on the advice of “wise men and women” before making important decisions. What is new, however, is that today's world contains a bewildering amount of knowledge. The only solution lies in being an innovative, creative organisation in doing the same work better, cheaper, faster . . . The concept of economic creativity has become so important that the influential World Economic Forum cites it as one of its most important criteria for a country to develop economically.

Key objectives
Against this background, the Knowledge and Innovation Centre is MANGAUNG's endeavour to position itself as an innovative, benchmarking City on the move. The Centre is strategically located in the City Manager's Office, with the principal responsibility to acquire, preserve, generate, store and disseminate knowledge both inside and outside the municipality. MANGAUNG sees the centre developing into a hub of excellence a first point of call on knowledge about the municipality and local government, a dynamic centre that is tapped into intellectual hubs elsewhere in the country and the world.

The Centre's main objectives therefore include:

-To systematically explore knowledge for performance improvement
-To establish a solid foundation for a learning organisation
-To facilitate the exchange of lessons and experiences
-To support innovation for good governance and efficient service delivery

The Knowledge and Innovation Centre will work towards these objectives by continually acquiring knowledge from external sources - other South African municipalities, spheres of government, business, academia, international organisations.
However, the Knowledge and Innovation Centre is also tasked with generating and managing knowledge from within - with talking to its councillors and staff to unearth the wisdom that is hidden within the organisation itself.
These processes are not limited to the MANGAUNG Local Municipality. On the contrary, the Knowledge and Innovation Centre intends creating a platform for all South African municipalities to share their experiences and learn lessons from each other. To this end, the Centre will be hosting a number of international and national conferences, seminars and informal brainstorms in the course of the year. It will also be issuing a number of publications aimed at a verity of audiences.
Thus also in this way, MLM is entrenching itself as a truly benchmarking municipality.

Water Leakages Awareness and Repairs Project

The MANGAUNG Local Municipality (MLM) developed water demand management strategies as part of its focus towards the reduction of outstanding water debt. The big challenge identified was how best the municipality could carry out its obligations as a service authority, whilst at the same time ensuring a culture of infrastructure ownership and care by communities. In responding to this challenge, the Municipality took the approach of finding ways in which consumption of water by consumers could be managed and how the level of service delivered to communities could be enhanced to increase the willingness to pay.
This meant direct focus on waste elimination, quality of service supply, tips for energy savings, capacity building, and community limiting supply in the case of non-payment.
The Municipality, after intensive investigation, identified the following factors as critical for the implementation of effective water demand management strategies:

- Unnecessary water wastage due to unattended leaks
- Poor community education and awareness regarding water conservation
- The quality of service provided by the Municipality (e.g. turn around time to attend to sewer blockages, poor and incorrect billing information, etc)
- MLM's current water restriction policy (water disking). Although this policy is effective in reducing the rate at which the debt grows, it has had a negative effect on the quality of water supply, which in turn could increase consumer's unwillingness to pay for services rendered
- The choice of level of service provided by the municipality

As a first step towards implementing a water demand management strategy, the Municipality initiated a water leak repair and awareness project.

OBJECTIVES

The overall purpose of this project is to achieve optimal performance of the water infrastructure installed and to improve the level of water service delivered to communities through a process involving communities as part of the drive to create community resilience.
These are:
- To repair water leaks on the water network, with specific focus on leaks downstream household meters. Focus will be placed on households that are considered indigent

- To address ownership (e.g. immediate attention to leaks identified) and basic maintenance responsibilities (e.g continuous flushing toilets) for household water and sanitation infrastructure through community capacity building initiatives and the involvement of ward committees

- To identify community members with the potential of becoming plumbers and provide them with skills to carry out the repairs during the project

- To create jobs through the development and support of SMMEs and local community structures.

- To establish fully community driven maintenance programmes in the area through the involvement of the trained plumbers after the project is complete

- To educate communities and create water conservation awareness

DELIVERABLES

The deliverables for this project are as follows:

- Repair of all on-site water leaks during the project period
- Empowerment of ward committees to address ownership and maintenance responsibilities for household water and sanitation
- Local community members identified and trained as Community Plumbers to perform basic plumbing repairs and maintenance work
- Job creation as the project will be community based and labour intensive
- Education of households to carry out 1st line maintenance of the water infrastructure within their responsibility and water conservation
- Water losses will be minimised to ensure significant positive impacts on revenue management - A more effective alternative water restriction policy would be adopted

Striding out

Thus in various ways Mangaung Local Municipality is purposefully and productively striding out in breaking new ground for its citizens. In so doing MLM is not only the leading municipality in the Free State, but is also a pioneering organization much further afield.
More evidence of this will come to the fore this month as the Executive Mayor, Clr. Papie Mokoena, delivers his Budget Speech to Council for 2005/06, throwing also more light on the directive implementation and deployment of the Mangaung Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
Indeed: A city on the move!

Sentrale Universiteit vir Tegnologie, Vrystaat - Erkenning aan Toppresteerders 2004

Die Skool vir Entrepreneurskap en Besigheidsontwikkeling en die Skool vir Rekeningkunde van die Sentrale Universiteit vir Tegnologie, Vrystaat, het erkenning gegee aan hul toppresteerders vir 2004 - 20 kandidate uit 'n totaal van meer as 3 000 studente wat in die akademiese jaar 2004 'n gemiddelde van 75% of meer in al hul vakke behaal het.
The awards were made at a glittering banquet held on 6 April 2005 at Oliewenhuis Museum in Bloemfontein, attended by the winners and their parents and relatives, as well as staff of the two Schools. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Charlene Lew of the Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria.

Guest speaker Dr. Charlene Lew

The keynote speaker at this year's gala event for the presentation of the Prestige Awards, was Dr. Charlene Lew of the Gordon Institute of Business Science, a business school of the University of Pretoria. Passionate about the management and development of the leadership capacity of South African business leaders, Dr Lew has vast academic and practical expierience in this field.
Prior to joining GIBS, Dr Lew was the Dean of the Damelin Postgraduate Business School.
In her keynote address at the Prestige Awards gala evening, Dr. Lew stated inter alia :
"For the recipients of rewards, your striving towards excellence in learning and self-development have equipped you with the knowledge that makes business

Best in accounting

Dr. André van den Berg, Director: School for Entrepreneurship and Business Development, congratulating Gideon Selokela on his achieving the ND in Cost and Management Accounting cum laude and also for being nominated as best student in the School for Accounting in 2004. In commenting on his achievement, Selokela says:
“From the onset in 2002 I planned to obtain my national diploma with cum laude and I am grateful now to have achieved this. However, I see this as merely acquiring skills enabling me to contribute in a modest way to the economy of our country.”

Boodskap van die Direkteur

In 'n kort toespraak tydens die Prestige-aand vir toekennings aan die toppresteerders in die Skool vir Entrepreneurskap van Besigheidsontwikkeling en die Skool vir Rekeningkunde op 6 April 2005 by Oliewenhuis, het die Direkteur van albei Skole, dr. André van der Berg, gesê :
“Die volgehoue tegnologiese veranderings wat in die moderne sakewêreld plaasvind, vergroot die behoefte aan goedopgeleide werknemers en bestuurslui wat in staat sal wees om aan hul eie toekoms vorm te gee. Daarom is dit prioriteit in die Skool vir Entrepreneurskap en Besigheidsontwikkeling, asook die Skool vir Rekeningkunde, om kwaliteit onderrig te lewer. Hierdie sowat 20 kandidate, uit 'n totaal van meer as 3000 leerders, wat ek aan u gaan voorhou, het nie teruggedeins vir die uitdaging nie en verdien dus die hoogste lof vir hul prestasies.
“I want to conclude with the following two remarks: Congratulations to you with your achievements. It could have been done only by dedication and hard work over a period of time.
Please remember, lifelong learning is the key to continued personal marketability, and without it, upward mobility and career success is unlikely. 50% of what you learn at any point in time will be survive, keep developing and refining the skills and talents the world of work demands. Therefore, the Central University of Technology, Free State, would welcome you back at any time to continue your studies to become either business or academic leaders.”

Goldfields on the Move

Camaras back on track

The CCTV-cameras operating in Welkom's CBD has received bad publicity over the last few weeks. Complaints include broken cameras, too little staff and too little meetings to discuss problems. According to a spokesperson for the CCTV-project, Mr. Brian Emmenis, a board meeting was held recently to discuss the issues. “I can say that the project is definitely back on track.” He emphasized that the board is not denying the problems. “We have already come up with some solutions.”
The broken cameras are to be repaired or replaced. “The problem is that considerable money is needed - it costs between R48 000 and R52 000 to replace a camera.” The fact that the government installed 38 extra cameras also increased the maintenance costs for the project. The SA Police Service created 35 new jobs to increase the staff component.
Emmenis pointed out, however, that the project has already achieved many successes. “The cameras are certainly a big help to the SAPS. One camera can do the work of many policemen, ensuring that they can focus on other high-crime areas.”

Other airports moving

While there is after many months still no news on the application by Matjhabeng Local Municipality, supported by the local business sector, to develop the Welkom Airport into a dedicated cargo airport for Southern Africa, it is reported about the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) at Nelspruit that financing should be secured and the business model completed by the third quarter of this year for an industrial development park, incorporating a cargo hub. The R300-million-plus project is a public-private partnership (PPP) between the Mpumalanga provincial government, the Mbombela Local Municipality, the DBSA and KMIA, in an effort to develop the surrounding region.
Meanwhile reportedly adequate equipment to the value of R10 million from Germany has been installed at Limpopo's Polokwane International Airport to enable pilots to land safely in adverse weather conditions. It is regarded as a boost to local international passenger and cargo traffic.

Matjhabeng raid

In a raid by the SAPD Commercial Branch of Welkom on the offices of Mayihlome Electrical and the Matjhabeng Municipality end of last month, papers and computers for purposes of an investigation into fraud of more than R6 million were seized. Two top senior municipal officials, the fiancé of one of these officials and another employee are included in the investigation.
Mayihlome Electrical is a private firm contracted to assist the Matjhabeng Municipality with street light maintenance. Allegations of non-compliance to procedure, negligence on the part of officials to carry out instructions and fraudulent tax invoice totals are being investigated. There are also allegations of double invoicing and non-compliance to fill in job cards.

Vrystaatse OG mik vir beste in SA

Die beste kantoor van die Ouditeur-generaal in die land. Dit is die doelwit wat mnr. Ben van Niekerk, Provinsiale Ouditeur in die Vrystaat vir sy kantoor gestel het.
In 'n onderhoud met die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin het Van Niekerk gesê tydigheid en relevantheid is vir hom baie belangrik en hy wil graag 'n gehaltediens aan sy kliënte lewer. “Ons eintlike kliënte is die man op straat, want ons werk met die belastingbetaler se geld,” sê hy.
Die funksie van die Ouditeur-generaal in die Vrystaat kan opgesom word as die ouditering van alle provinsiale departemente, openbare entiteite, munisipaliteite en munisipale entiteite. Die kantoor lewer verslae aan die Vrystaatse Wetgewer en ander instansies.
Die kantoor beskik oor 'n forensiese afdeling en 'n rekenaarafdeling en doen o.a. prestasie-oudits (evalueer aspekte soos dienslewering) en omgewingsoudits (evalueer die impak van besighede op die natuur). “Min van die ander provinsies beskik oor al hierdie komponente. Ons wil korrupsie en bedrog uitroei veral deur middel van die die forensiese afdeling,” sê van Niekerk.
Hy is van mening dat die publiek se persepsie van die Ouditeur-generaal kan verbeter. “Daar is egter al meer belangstelling en ons kry ook 'whistle-blowers' uit die publiek wat ons inlig oor probleme by instansies.” Die publiek is vir hom baie belangrik, want dit is veral hulle belange wat beskerm moet word. “Die klagtes stroom in, maar daar's steeds baie mense wat nie weet van ons kantoor nie,” sê Van Niekerk.
Die media speel ook 'n belangrike rol, want hulle is die instansie wat inligting aan die publiek verskaf. Ander organisasies waarmee Van Niekerk nou saamwerk is die Openbare Beskermer en die Skerpioene.
Van Niekerk is sedert 2001 in sy huidige pos as Ouditeur-generaal van die Vrystaat. Voor dit was hy die Ouditeur-generaal vir die Noord-Kaapprovinsie.

Botshabelo Crafts Centre

Bold steps to promote entrepreneurship, skills development and social upliftment

The construction of the Botshabelo Crafts Centre next to the entrance to Botshabelo from the N8 route linking Lesotho, Ladybrand, Thaba Nchu, Botshabelo and Bloemfontein with Kimberley and further, has just been completed. As such the facility constitutes an innovative and bold step to promote entrepreneurship, skills development and social upliftment at Botshabelo with its dire need for employment creation and economic stimulus.
The Botshabelo Crafts Centre consists of an architectural-designed building customised to serve as a facility to showcase and sell arts and crafts products by various producers, offering also space for actual manufacturing of such products. The building also disposes of an exhibition/conference hall for various purposes.
The project originated with the submission of a business plan in 2001 to the national Dept. of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) for poverty alleviation to establish a craft centre at Botshabelo to provide jobs for local residents. As the area is rich in cultural and crafts products, it constitutes an ideal locality for a craft centre in view of the N8 main route between Lesotho and Bloemfontein/Kimberley.
The project forms part of a longterm development plan, with the just completed first phase consisting of six stalls, an exhibition hall, restaurant and ablution facilities. The Phila Crafts Development Trust is leasing the land from the Free State Development Corporation (FDC) for a period of 9 years and 11 months. Headed by Mr. Phillemon Moabelo, the Trust is also overseeing the day to day functioning of the centre.

Business focus

The business focus of the Botshabelo Crafts Centre can be summed up as follows : Core business: o Manufacturing in the crafts industry o Tourism marketing o Exhibitions o Catering o Skills development o SMME development Activities at the Centre include the following: o Promotion and development of viable and sustainable arts and culture projects and programmes; o Support development and promotion of projects and activities aligned to national development priorities, e.g. disability, good governance, poverty alleviation, skills development and capacity building; o Processes leading to artistic renewal and development; o Audiences and artistic markets; o Institutional development; and o Cultural promotion and exchange The official launch of the Botshabelo Crafts Centre is to be on Friday, 27 May 2005, at the Centre.

Challenges

The Centre Manager of the Botshabelo Crafts Centre, Mr. Phillemon Moabelo, says the establishment of the first phase of the Centre was a gigantic step, but that much remains to be done in order to achieve viability and sustainability.
In this instance there are several challenges to be faced and Moabelo calls upon businesses and corporates to come forward and assist in any way they can to take the project further forward.
Specific challenges and opportunities are amongst others :
At present the most pressing constraint is the lack of direct access to the Centre and it is therefore critical that this be rectified, together with adequate signage.
It is envisaged to enlarge the current restaurant as well as equipping the kitchen to be able to properly prepare food for functions and to fully operate as a restaurant.
The current exhibition hall needs to be remodelled in order to ensure proper conference facilities.
The Centre could serve in a much bigger way as an incubator for local crafters if efficient locally designed and manufactured arts and crafts could be stocked to make regular tourist visits worthwhile.
There is a need for internet and office support services for tourists needing internet and e-mail facilities and for local SMME's.
Security should also be upgraded as this remains a secondary threat.
Moabelo says that these needs reflect the tremendous challenges and opportunities the Botshabelo Crafts Centre presents for sponsorships, partnership, cooperation and business development. He can be contacted directly on 082 422 0605.

Phase 2 next

Phase Two of the Botshabelo Crafts Centre, due to start soon, entails the establishment of a medicinal plant nursery which includes ablution, sewage and water connections, fencing, potting shed, nursery area, display area, parking and landscaping. This is to dovetail with the training of local community members in the propogation of medicinal plants.

SA aftree-ouderdom dalk gou 70!

Gedink jy gaan aftree op 55? Dink weer.
As die kundiges se voorspellings reg is, kan die huidige aftree-ouderdom in Suid-Afrika van 65 na 70 of selfs 75 verskuif as gevolg van 'n nuwe tendens wat in Japan as die Silwer Revolusie bekend staan: vir die eerste keer in die geskiedenis gaan daar in baie lande meer ou mense as kinders wees.
Blykens 'n berig op die Internet nader 77 miljoen mense uit die sogenaamde Baby boomer-generasie (mense wat in die twee dekades na die Tweede Wêreldoorlog gebore is) in die VSA nou aftree-ouderdom bereik. Alan Greenspan, voorsitter van die Federale Reserweraad in die VSA, word aangehaal dat die uitdaging van verouderende bevolkingsgroepe onmiddellik aandag vereis, aangesien die ekonomie van die VSA nie sterk genoeg gaan wees om vir al die mense se aftredes te betaal nie.
Paul Hodge, voorsitter van die Global Generations Policy Initiative, sê in 'n verklaring hierdie tendens raak nie net die VSA nie, maar alle nywerheidslande. “Dit gaan 'n heroorweging van sosiale gewoontes en vooroordele van ouderdom- en geslagsdiskriminasie in die arbeidsmark, tot bejaardesorg tot gevolg hê.”
In Suid-Afrika word die druk van 'n verouderende bevolking verder verhoog deur die impak van MIV/vigs. Prof. Anton Ferreira, hoof van Unisa se Skool vir Bedryfsleiding, sê in die September-uitgawe van die tydskrif Insig die kanse is goed dat die aftree-ouderdom in Suid-Afrika tot 70 verhoog sal moet word. “Die geweldige las van vigs - 700 sterftes per dag, maak dit duidelik dat ons geen ander keuse gaan hê nie,” sê hy.
Volgens Statistieke Suid-Afrika se geskatte syfers vir middel vanjaar, is 15,2% van die volwasse populasie in Suid-Afrika MIV-positief. Die gemiddelde lewensverwagting vir 'n Suid-Afrikaner is maar 52 jaar en daar word voorspel dat vigs die oorsaak van 50,8% van alle sterftes in Suid-Afrika volgende jaar gaan wees.

Mohokare Lodge

Mohokare Lodge, situated on the farm Rietfontein on the banks of the scenic Knellpoort Dam, 7km from Wepener on the Smithfield road, is an exciting newcomer on the tourism stage of central SA and Lesotho.

The state of the art lodge in the African design, offers all the modern facilities in terms of accommodation, cuisine and conferencing:
15 x Chalets, of which 5 has 2 x bedrooms, bathroom, diningroom/lounge, kitchen and verandah and 10 has 1 x bedroom, bathroom, diningroom/lounge, kitchen and verandah.
Restaurant
Bar
Conference centre, accommodating up to 40 persons
Curio shop

Apart from its own outdoor facilities, Mohokare Lodge is within some 30 minutes drive from many adventure opportunities in the southwestern Free State, as well as to the amenities of Lesotho and the Eastern Cape. As such, Mohokare Lodge forms part of the Maloti Tourism Route.