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Editorial Comment

The year 2005
Although already a month gone, the question very much remains what kind of a year for the Free State would one expect economically, developmentally and businesswise?
To our mind a key issue in answering this question is whether the governmental sector and the business sector in the province would sensibly talk to each other and come to fruitful co-operation, in the best interests of the people of the province and without hidden agendas. For this province to achieve any significant growth rate that would meaningfully address unemployment, poverty and the gap between have's and have not's - government as the policy-makers and the private sector as the economic driver, need to synergize.
There is now a move afoot as far as the agricultural sector is concerned, to do exactly this, but what about on local government level, in the tourism industry, in the manufacturing sector, etc?
It would be interesting to see at the end of the year where the province stands on this crucial question.

MICE and manufacturing
Whilst it is estimated that about one-third of the tourism industry in SA comes from the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) sector, contributing some R22 billion to national GDP, it is clear from this edition of the Free State Business Bulletin that also in the Free State MICE is burgeoning.
That is of course a good sign, but what is equally clear is that this expansion is almost wholly private sectorly driven - the result of private entrepreneurial initiatives.
While this is beneficial to the economy of the Free State, one inevitably wonders about another key sector in the provincial economy - that of manufacturing. The latter is by excellence the sector in any economy that creates jobs and promote growth, but what is at the present moment evident in the Free State? Relatively speaking, very little manufacturing.
Why?

Dwelmbestryding
Dit lees soos 'n storieboek - die hofsaaksaga wat huidiglik besig is om dag vir dag in die Bloemfonteinse landdroshof te ontvou in die verhoor van twee beweerde leidende dwelmsmouse.
Wat aan die lig kom, is hoe 'n senior polisiebeampte en sy span 'n hele netwerk van dwelmhandel in Bloemfontein aangevat het en oor 'n tydperk van sowat drie jaar deur middel van 'n vermomde polisieman geïnfiltreer het. Met nougesetheid is getuienis opgebou en uiteindelik in 'n goedgedokumenteerde saak aan die staatsaanklaer voorgelê. Nou is 'n beampte van laasgenoemde met eweneense deeglikheid besig om die saak in die hof aan die landdros vir uitspraak voor te lê.
Wat verstommend is, is die omvang van die dwelmnetwerk in Bloemfontein van “base”, kontrakteurs, sub-kontrakteurs, klubs, afgebakende gebiede, geheime afsprake en ontmoetings dag en nag, kontakte en uiteindelik dwelmverkope en gebruik aan lede van die publiek.
Dat die euwel so op sy kop geslaan word, is 'n mens net dankbaar voor. Dat mense opstaan en met lewensgevaar hierdie medewerkers van die Bose aanvat en sodoende baie jeugdiges uit die kloue van lewenslange slawerny probeer hou, is 'n mens des te meer dankbaar voor.
Dwelmhandel het geen, maar geen, plek in die Vrystaatse ekonomie nie.