Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Spot Coverage >> June 2008
Opportunities for 2010 FIFA World Cup™ highlighted: At a workshop on 13 May 2008 in Bloemfontein opportunities for entrepreneurs regarding the 2010 FIFA World Cup TM were highlighted. It was pointed out that the sheer magnitude of the event in South Africa would ensure that huge spin-off would also accrue to Bloemfontein and the Free State. The total picture is that 32 teams will play 64 matches over a period of 28 to 43 days during June –July 2010 in South Africa. A total of some 450 000 foreign visitors is expected to converge on the country during this time, needing a total of some 55 000 rooms. The TV audience for the event is estimated to be 40 billion, while 3 million tickets are to be sold for the 10 stadia in South Africa. The SA government is to spend R30 billion on World Cup-related projects as part of a long term infrastructure plan, while total infrastructure spending in SA over the next five years are expected to top R36 billion.
Green light for Kroonstad Tourism Information Centre: According to a media release the establishment of a Tourist Information Centre at Kroonstad has been approved by the Fezile Dabi District Municipality as well as the Moqhaka Local Municipality. To be called the Moqhaka Tourism Information Centre, the facility is to be managed and run by Kroonstad Business & Tourism, the local business and tourism chamber. An application for the centre to be hosted in the old town hall is currently under consideration by the local municipality. Meanwhile all tourism product owners at Kroonstad, Steynsrus, Viljoenskroon and Vierfontein are requested to supply their contact details and information to Benita Malherbe of KBT at tel. 056 212 3611 or fax 056 213 2148 or email kroonstad@act.co.za.
Taxi war looming in Bloem over illegal taxis: It is reported that the presence of more illegal or non-registered taxis in the Mangaung Municipal area is threatening to trigger taxi warfare in the city. Widespread evidence that so-called illegal taxis are floating most rules and regulations is adding fuel to the brewing feud. Other complicating factors are amongst others allegations of corruption involving traffic and transport officials. Limited space available at recognised taxi stands is in particular a critical practical point and is said to be the flashpoint which could ignite open taxi violence.
Giant property developer Acc-Ross to take over Pinnacle Point: It has been announced that Acc-Ross is to buy Pinnacle Point for an amount of R1,5 billion, while shareholders of Pinnacle Point will hold 60% of the Acc-Ross shares to be issued. In the new dispensation a BEE consortion under Mr. Lazarus Zim will keep 20% of Pinnacle Point within the new grouping of companies. The latter will through the take-over have a huge portfolio of resort-residential, leisure, hotel, retirement and commercial developments not only in South Africa, but also in Mozambique, the Seychelles and Nigeria. What makes this significant for the Free State is that two major developments in the province, namely the Clarens Golf & Trout Estate and the Plan Lizzard Point Estate at Deneysville will be part of the new portfolio
Workshop on live event technical services: A workshop on live event technical services is to be held 25 – 28 June 2008 at the Mmabana Cultural Centre in Thaba Nchu. Aspects that will be spotlighted include sound engineering, light engineering, theatre light engineering, events management, sports events co-ordinating, TV production, occupational health and safety, etc. For more information, call Melodi Productions at 084 800 1457 or 078 761 8629 or melodiprod@mweb.co.za.
Uproar over possible prospecting at Dome Area: It is reported that farmers and members of the Dome Meteorite Park Conservancy are up in arms about an application by the Australian mining house Orbitx with the Dept. of Minerals and Energy to undertake extensive prospecting for gold and coal near and around the Vredefort Dome Area. The latter is a declared World Heritage Site. The prospecting is to be done by White Rivers Explorations (WRE) consultants over a period of two to five years and is alleged to involve boreholes and long ditches and canals. At this stage it would seem that the main area for exploration is about 15 km upstream from the Dome Area. Stakeholders within the Dome Area is reported to say that they will oppose the planned prospecting by all possible means.
Property market nationally on downscale: It is reported that Seeff Properties currently estimates that the volume of house sales in South Africa has declined by 35% in the past year, while Pam Golding Properties is saying that volumes are down 30% over the past two years. In addition to factors depressing the estate market, it would seem that new regulations for estate agents might result in keeping only some 20 000 estate agents country-wide in business, as to the 82 000 still operative in 2007.
Positive outlook for tourism in 2008: According to Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, in the SA Parliament, South Africa is looking forward to even better tourist numbers this year after topping the 9 million mark in foreign arrivals in 2007. He says that with the exciting global projects being rolled out by SA Tourism in the new fiscal year, he is more confident than ever that South Africa will exceed the target of 10 million foreign visitors by 2010. “By the end of 2007, 4 166 SMMEs were empowered through the established of business linkages and received training in the development of business and marketing plans. The value of linkages created for SMMEs amounted to R3,4 billion by the end of last year,” Van Schalkwyk said.
Mangaung Munisipaliteit maandelikse verlies: Volgens syfers syfers verstrek deur die Vryheidsfront Plus in 'n debat van die Munisipale Raad van Mangaung dui die laaste beskikbare finasiële verslae daarop dat die uitgawes van die munisipaliteit die inkomste oorskry met gemiddeld R11,3 miljoen per maand. In antwoord daarop het die uitvoerende burgemeester, me. Gertrude Mothupi, gesę 'n draaistrategie om die finansiële toestand te verbeter, gaan eersdaags in werking gestel word.
Die finale groenlig van owerheidsweë, provinsiaal sowel as munisipaal, is gegee vir die hoë kwaliteit residensiële leefstyl ontwikkeling in Kroonstad op die suidelike oewer van die Valsrivier. 'n Verwaarloosde park wat gereeld onder brande deurgeloop het en 'n tuiste was van ongewenste elemente, word nou omskep in 'n prestige sekuriteits kompleks waarop elke Kroonstadter trots kan wees. Hierdie ontwikkeling toon die vertroue wat die ontwikkelaars in Kroonstad stel as groeiende dorp met uitstekende potensiaal. Verder is daar eie wandellane en 'n boomryke parkarea op die oewer. Nog 'n eienskap is dat elke woning oor die rivier uitkyk met 'n noordelike aansig. Die projek bestaan uit 3 meenthuiserwe waarop 48 deeltiteleenhede gebou gaan word asook 31 residensiële voltitelerwe. Kopers het 'n eie keuse met betrekking tot die argitek en kontrakteur wat hul wil gebruik. Die voorgestelde styl vir die ontwikkeling is Indonesies /Balinees, maar huiseienaars kan daarvan afwyk met goedkeuring van die huiseienaarsvereniging. Die ontwikkeling sal na verwagting 'n groot ekonomiese inpak hę op die dorp, soos werks verskaffing met die voorbereiding en later met die bou van die wonings, tuine wat uitgelę en onderhou moet word, asook huishulpe en meer. Die volledige infrastruktuur sal teen einde Junie 2008 voltooi wees, alle omgewings, munisipale en regeringsvereistes is aan voldoen en slegs die finale proklamasie van dorpstigting moet nog verkry word . Bouwerk van wonings kan selfs so vroeg as Julie 2008 begin. Vir meer besonderhede, skakel Jock Relling by 083 625 9968.
The past two weeks South Africa has been rocked by the vicious outbreak of so-called xenophobia initially at Alexandra and Diepsloot, Johannesburg, but spreading also to other parts in Gauteng, to North West province and even like wildfire in the Western Cape. Already some 50 fatalities have occurred. While the official reason for the shocking violence is being given as xenophobia – “hate for foreigners” - it is also seen as a desperate reaction by very poor people to their oppressing circumstances. Before this outbreak of violence has occurred in Gauteng, the Free State Business Bulletin started to work on an article about foreign black Africans in the Free State and the effect of their presence on the local economy. This article is now published here. In Sotho they are referred to as “makquela-quela” or commonly known as “makwellas“ – that is foreign black Africans living in South Africa and in particular in the Free State. They are trading everywhere – on street corners, at robots, at the Boeremark in Langenhoven Park, in formal SME trade, even peddling drugs and prostitution in Alexandra Street, Bloemfontein and other places – and also even preaching the Gospel. They come from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Angola, Mozambique, Ethiopia, you name it. Some have legal documents from their country of origin as well as from South Africa, others are scheming their way around with forged ID's and residential permits. Official figures of the number of foreign blacks in SA are hard to come by, but it is estimated to be more than 10 million, even considerably more, the large majority of which are illegal immigrants. The daily influx into South Africa is estimated at some 12 000 per day. The burden which this is placing on infrastructure in the country, is enormous. What the figures for the Free State alone are, are not available. What role do foreign blacks play in specifically the Free State economy and in various kinds of local trading? The Free State Business Bulletin conducted its own investigation into this growing phenomenon of “makwellas” and basically came up with the following findings: The numbers of “makwellas” in the Free State are growing enormously. One finds them in towns and cities all over the province and in almost every location and informal settlement. Some of them find their way surprisingly well in the mainstream economy, even proving to be by nature better entrepreneurs than indigenous black South Africans. Some of these foreigners are professional business consultants, capable of providing export business advice. Others run their own stands at e.g. regular exhibitions and festivals, at the Boeremark. Then there are those foreign blacks in South Africa who are struggling to make a living and are drifting unemployed in squatter camps. They are nothing but a burden on the neck of local taxpayers. There are also those foreign Africans who are engaged in crime ranging from organized to petty, often deeply into drug peddling and the fostering of prostitution. In Bloemfontein the SAPS have over the past months made substantial arrests amongst them, while in a town like Bethlehem drug smuggling is reported to be exceptionally rife. In Bloemfontein and Welkom incidents have occurred of girls addicted to drugs being misused as sex slaves. It is of course not only foreign black Africans who are at issue, but also foreigners from Asian origin. In Free State townships, like Maokeng at Kroonstad and Namahadi at Frankfort, Pakistani shop owners have had to endure the violent wrath of local residents. It is reliably estimated that there are at least 10 million illegal immigrants in South Africa and that the total SA population is in fact some 57 million – against the 47 million recorded by Stats SA. This is against the backdrop of the acknowledgement the past month that SA's border control is collapsing and that a further surge of illegal immigrants could be expected in the run-up to the 2010 Soccer World Cup. With this short article, the Free State Business Bulletin has merely scratched the tip of the iceberg as far as the question of “makwellas” in the Free State economy is concerned. It is intended to run follow-up articles in ensuing editions of the newspaper, going into more depth. Meanwhile, if readers wish to respond, they can do so at news@bulletinonline.co.za or fax (051) 430 7562.
Tydens bywoning van die pasafgelope Nampo Oesdag wat gehou is vanaf 12 – 16 Mei, het die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin as gas van die Mieliehoofstad Sakekamer die geleentheid gehad om met 'n verskeidenheid van plaaslike rolspelers te praat. Die volgende is enkele indrukke opgedoen tydens die besoek: Met nagenoeg 620 uitstallers direk en indirek verbonde aan die landboubedryf en 'n bywonerstotaal van nagenoeg 65 000 oor die vyf dae, moet Nampo Oesdag inderdaad gereken word as die grootste landbouskou nie net in Suid-Afrika nie maar ook in Afrika, asook een van die toonaangewende van sy soort in die węreld. Die onbevestigde bedrag wat geplaas word op die totale waarde van toerusting uitgestal op Nampo Oesdag, is sowat R365 miljard. Nampo Oesdag het volgens alle getuienis 'n groot impak in terme van koopkrag van besoekers op nie net die ekonomie van Bothaville nie, maar ook op dié van omliggende sentra soos Viljoenskroon, Welkom, Kroonstad, Parys, Orkney, Klerksdorp en selfs Parys. Nadere besonderhede oor hierdie impak word tans nagevors deur 'n studie wat die Sentrum vir Ontwikkelingsteun aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat in opdrag van die Mieliehoofstad Sakekamer doen. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie behoort besonder insiggewend te wees. Die gastehuisprojek wat die Mieliehoofstad Forum tydens die duur van Nampo Oesdag bedryf het en waardeur gehalte akkommodasie aan nagenoeg 4 500 besoekers deur plaaslike verskaffers voorsien word, is 'n briljante voorbeeld van hoe 'n toerismegeleentheid deur spanwerk maksimaal benut word. Sien webwerf www.bothavillemaizecapital.co.za vir meer agtergrond. Eweneens is die geval met die byderwetse Mieliehop pendelprojek wat die Mieliehoofstad Sakekamer onder leiding van me. Hettienne von Abo-Moolman geinsinieër het. Met die hulp van borgskappe deur Daimler-Chrysler en Engen word bussies en motors beskikbaar gestel om besoekers daagliks oor vier roetes – Bothaville / Nampo, Potchefstroom / Klerksdorp / Orkney / Nampo, Johannesburg / Parys / Viljoenskroon / Nampo en OR Tambo Lughawe / Nampo – te vervoer. Meer besonderhede beskikbaar by webwerf www.pannarmieliehop.co.za. Dit wil voorkom of die aanbieding van Nampo Oesdag die organiseerders, Graan SA, voor bepaalde uitdagings te staan bring, soos bv. meer en beter geriewe op die skouterrein, die akkommodering van 'n duidelike oorloop van kleiner stalletjies, moontlike meer professionele kommersialisering van die skou, groter bevoordeling van die plaaslike gemeenskap deur die skou, ens. In 'n gesprek met die burgemeester van die Nala Plaaslike Munisipaliteit, me. Mpai Mohorosi, het sy aangedui dat die ontwikkeling van die bio-brandstofbedryf te Bothaville as die hart van die graanbedryf in SA, van sleutelbelang kan wees om werks- en besigheidsgeleenthede vir die plaaslike gemeenskap te skep. Dit is op voorwaarde dat voedselsekuriteit nie deur hoër pryse bedreig word nie. Volgens Mohorosi is werkloosheid in die plaaslike gemeenskap so hoog as 60%. Sy sę die Plaaslike Raad werk aan 'n verbeterde aansporingspakket vir nuwe nywerheidsvestiging. In 'n gesprek met die voorsitter van SA Graan, mnr. Neels Ferreira, het hy gesę die mieliebehoeftes van Suid-Afrika vir voedseldoeleindes is nagenoeg 9 miljoen ton per jaar en dat sonder dat voedselpryse onder druk geplaas hoef te word, kan 'n bykomende 2 miljoen ton mielies geproduseer word vir bio- brandstofdoeleindes, met talle uitkringende ekonomiese voordele. Nampo Oesdag is 'n groot bate vir die Vrystaat in geheel en behoort as sulks deur alle rolspelers in die provinsie gekoester te word.
Lank een van die beste natuurlike bates en groenareas van Bloemfontein, het Seinheuwel ooglopend 'n gevoelige hap gekry met 'n nuwe meenthuisontwikkeling wat tans gedoen word. Die oostelike hang van Seinheuwel, bo-aan die doodlooppunte van Sesde- en Sewendestraat, is drasties met grondverskuiwingsmasjinerie weggekalwe om plek te maak vir, sover vasgestel kan word, 16 meenthuise. Die situasie blyk uit meegaande foto. Vroeër vanjaar het een van die aangrensende eienaars in Sesdestraat, me. Elsie Keyser, 'n argitek, 'n hooggeregshofbevel aangevra om die lawaai en stof van die ontwikkeling binne die bouregulasies te hou. Die ontwikkelaar is Carlos Nunes BK, terwyl die grondverskuwingskontrakteur Peter Contractors is. Inmiddels is agteruitgang en verval elders in die natuurlike veld van Seinheuwel opvallend. Aan die westekant is 'n lekkende rioolpyp vir jare wat al 'n aardige moeras veroorsaak het, terwyl rommelstorting wyd toeneem. Die twee fotos onder vertel die verhaal verder.
The technology contained in the Fabrication Laboratory (Fablab) and the Saturday School Technology Project of the Central University of Technology (CUT) is also to be reconstructed into a mobile laboratory which will visit rural areas around Bloemfontein, offering learners and the unemployed access to engineering capability for conceptualisation, design and fabrication – helping them to bring their inventions to life. Not only will the individuals benefit from the Fablab being taught how to master design and technology in order to fabricate an early prototype of their invention, but since the entire operation is based on using open-source software in place of expensive commercial software, the users, under most circumstances, will be able to leave the Fablab with a legal copy of the software to use at home or in their new start-up business. The mobile facility is being sponsored by Engen Petroleum. For more info contact Zukiswa Mpati at 011 480 6209 or email at zukiswa.mpati@engenoil.com. Pictured, present at the announcement of the event, were from left, Prof. Deon de Beer (chief director: Technology Management), Ms Zuki Mpati (corporate social investment co-ordinator), Profs. Thandwa Mthembu (principal of the CUT), Rocky Ralebipi-Simela (deputy vice-chancellor: Academic), and Talvin Schultz (executive director: Vice-Chancellor's Office).
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