Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Spot Coverage >> 23 February 2007

Sakeflitse / Pointers

VS Premier kondig vlagskipprojekte aan: In haar openingstoespraak van die Vrystaatse Wetgewer op 16 Februarie 2007 het Vrystaatse Premier Beatrice Marshoff die volgende as vlagskipprojekte van die Provinsiale Regering genoem vir die finansiële jaar wat voorlê: Bio-brandstofaanleg by Bothaville (R640 miljoen); nog 'n bio-brandstofaanleg te Hoopstad; die N8 aktiwiteitskorridor tussen Bloemfontein en Ladybrand; rehabilitasie van die spoorlyn tussen Bloemfontein en Thaba Nchu; transport hub te Harrismith; sementaanleg te Hennenman; en 'n internasionale konvensiesentrum.

SA gold almost gone: According to a presentation by Mr Gareth Huckle, international consultant for the Monitor Group, at a recent international seminar in Cape Town, the biggest goldmines in SA will be depleted by 2011 and 2012 and mining will be terminated. He cited, however, a few exceptions, like South Deep taken over by Gold Fields last month and Target in the Free State owned by Harmony.

Naledi Industrial Park at Sasolburg booming: It is reported that the new Naledi Industrial Park at Sasolburg, comprising some 213 ha, is bursting at its seams. Only 71 of the original 280 designated stands are still up for grabs. A R20 million contract has recently been awarded to Basil Read to improve the R59-highway, greatly benefiting access from Gauteng to Naledi Park. Naledi is in high demand because of land costs at R150/m² and because landowners do not pay property taxes for the first five years.

Makwane EPWP Project nominated: The Makwane Road Construction project at QwaQwa has been nominated for the 2007 national Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Recognition Awards. The Makwane project, concluded in December 2006, is a 13 km long road done through bricks paving in QwaQwa. It is hailed as one of the best EPWP projects in the country, creating a total of 1 414 jobs.

2010 impak op Vrystaat: Die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) bied op Woensdag 28 Februarie 'n ontbyt aan in die Eeufeeskompleks op die kampus met HUB van Toerisme SA, mnr. Moeketsi Mosola, as spreker oor die onderwerp Die impak van vergaderings, konferensies en ander geleenthede op die Vrystaat Provinsie, met spesiale verwysing na 2010.

Further labour blitz in Northern FS

Following intensive inspections by the Dept. of Labour in the Heilbron area earlier this month, during which out of 95 workplaces visited, employers in the domestic, security, contract cleaning, wholesale and retail, manufacturing and construction sectors were issued with 52 written undertakings to comply within 21 days or face heavy fines and court appearances, a labour blitz is to zero in this week on the farming sector. The contraventions found at Heilbron were in terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment, Occupational Health and Safety and Employment Acts, with some workers found to be not even registered with the Compensation Fund and the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Now the Dept. of Labour has announced that this week inspectors are visiting a total of 17 farms in Bothaville and Viljoenskroon in the Kroonstad region where the emphasis will be on the same laws plus the legislation governing the wages of farm employees.

Taxis versus busses

Taxis and busses are at loggerheads over public transport services in the Bloemfontein/Mangaung, Botshabelo/Thaba Nchu and Qwa Qwa areas. A recent meeting between the Free State Department of Transport and Big Sky Coaches ended in a stalemate. The meeting was held end of December 2006 at government offices with one of the main items on the agenda the intimidation of bus passengers by taxi operators. According to Mr Abel Erasmus Sr., managing director of Big Sky Coaches, the taxi operators are intimidating people not to make use of the bus services and actually physically preventing passengers from getting onto the busses. A further problem is that the taxi's are trespassing on private property and violating their permits by picking up Big Sky's passengers. Erasmus was dismayed at the fact that neither the Police nor the Department of Public Works, Roads & Transport has taken any action, despite being presented with video and photographic evidence of the illegal actions. The Qwa Qwa route is the one being affected most. It is especially the Botshabelo Fairways bus-stop that causes the biggest problem area. Erasmus said that the Ficksburg taxi and bus stop was also experiencing problems. Big Sky has already consulted with their legal representatives and an interdict against the SA Police Services has been instructed in a bid to force them to take action against the trespassing parties. According to Mr Abel Erasmus Jr, Free State Depot Manager of Big Sky, the company's tariffs are 50% cheaper than the taxis'. It costs R75 for a ticket from Bloemfontein to Phuthaditjaba with Big Sky, while it is R110 per taxi. He feels that by not acting, the Police is forcing commuters to pay more. This is sad, as most people utilizing the bus services come from the lower income group. According to Mr Gunnett Kaaf, media liaison officer of the Department of Public Works, Roads & Transport, a number of meetings have been held since October 2006 between Big Sky and senior members of the Department including the Head of the Department and also the SA Provincial Taxi Council. According to his mind the matter has been resolved. Kaaf added that the Department is doing everything to ensure that problems are resolved amicably. The bus company must just be patient and wait, they will respond to their problems as soon as key staff has returned from holiday, he says. Regarding the fact that taxi operators are violating the law, Kaaf responded by saying that any illegal activity should be reported to the Police. “We always try to mediate between the busses and taxis. We have a mandate to ensure that people travel safely.” The Free State Business Bulletin is monitoring the evolving of the situation and intends keeping readers abreast of developments.