Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Editorial Comment >> 15-31 July 2005

Editorial Comment

Go west!
Go west… that is plain and simple the message to the planning division and newly elected Council of Mangaung Local Municipality. Very evidently the big surge in residential and business development at Bloemfontein is to the western and northwestern sides of the city as the fastest developing centre in the Free State. It is a natural thrust which eventually will prove to be unstoppable. So if you can't fight them, join them – in the sense of rezoning fast to make available more land and areas for residential development and also stands zoned for business development, such as offices and shops. Together with this, of course, is provision of the necessary infrastructure – water, sewerage, streets, electricity, etc. This view is also clearly expressed in an article by Mr. Mike Spencer, lifelong professional real estate expert in Bloemfontein, appearing in this same edition. Langenhoven Park as the most dynamic developmental area in the province, has reached saturation point and there is a huge demand for further land development. The money, the entrepreneurship and the demand is there – it is only the local authority and its by-laws that must keep pace. Either that, or the cork is to be blown from the bottle - sooner than later.

Nuwe huise in Welkom?
Waar is die nuwe huise in Welkom? Dit is die vraag wat die afgelope tyd pertinent teenoor die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin geopper is. Verskeie nuwe “groot” residensiële ontwikkelingsprojekte in die stad is die afgelope twee jaar aangekondig, maar nog geen het gerealiseer nie. Nou is die vraag hoekom nie? Elders in hierdie uitgawe word breedvoerig oor hierdie kwessie berig. Die residensiële probleem te Bloemfontein is 'n ander scenario, maar die basiese rede(s) blyk dieselfde te wees – administratiewe prosesse en infrastruktuurkapasiteit wat moet tred hou.

Bridghe between FSGDS and practice
End of 2004 the Provincial Government adopted the Free State Growth and Development Strategy (FSGDS) as the preferred solution to generate economic growth, employment and socio-economic progress in the province. But, how many people on the ground know what is written in the FSGDS and, more importantly, exactly know how and with which projects does it envisage to achieve its objectives. Is the FSGDS, in other words, a living document? Or is it a forgotten paper stuffed somewhere in governmental offices? OK, granted, in just about all Departmental budgets for 2005/6 tabled the past month in the Free State Legislature mention is made how it will endeavoured by way of purposeful expenditure to contribute towards realizing the FSGDS. Hopefully that will be done, especially in the cases of key Departments like Local Government & Housing, Public Works & Roads and Tourism & Economic Affairs. But, fact is many developmental projects emanating from the private sector, like the etanol plant at Bothaville, estate developments at e.g. Woodlands, Bloemfontein, Clarens, Lizard Point, Naas Botha at Virginia, etc. do not feature in the FSGDS at all, although they are individually and indirectly collectively certainly impacting considerably on the socio-economic situation in the province. Point is, the growing gap between provincial governmental planning in the province and private sectoral development needs to be bridged. Much is being said about “the two economies”, but what are the root causes? With that we make a plea – and leave an open-ended question.