Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Editorial Comments >> 17 - 31 October 2003

Editorial comments

Development projects in Bloem
On the face of it, the front page story of this edition about current development projects in Bloemfontein amounting to some R1,3 billion, seems to reflect huge economic progress. However, a few aspects about the matter also bring other perspectives to the fore. The first of this is the fact that almost all these projects involve either retailing or servicing, which often means a mere shifting in existing jobs and revenue and not really creating new jobs and value-adding. Another facet is that almost all these projects are private sectoraly initiated and not governmental capital projects, which is basically a good thing but where are the large state projects? A third interesting feature, is the question : If this is the Bloemfontein situation, as the capital of the province, what is the state of affairs at the other towns and centres in the Free State? What substantial development projects are taking place at for instance Welkom, Kroonstad, Bethlehem, Harrismith, Phuthaditjhaba, Bothaville, Sasolburg, Parys, etc.? Do they also have good news or is development in Bloemfontein draining the Goldfields and the platteland ?
Write to us and tell us and we will as far as possible publish your letters.

Geluk aan TVS Skool vir Entrepreneurskap !
Hoe die Skool vir Entrepreneurskap en Besigheidsontwikkeling van die Technikon Vrystaat daarin slaag om studente in allerlei praktykgerigte programme op te lei en beroepsgereed aan die besigheidsektor te lewer, is ook opwindende leesstof wat in hierdie uitgawe gedra word. Dié prestasies is ooglopend en as sulks beteken dit baie vir die ekonomie van die streek. Geluk aan die Technikon, die Skool en die betrokke personeel.

Welkom aan Netcare !
In hierdie uitgawe word 'n uiteensetting gegee van die opwindende openbare- private-vennootskap wat die Netcare / Community Hospital Management groep met die VS Dept. van Gesondheid aangegaan het en die gevolglike R100 miljoen gesondheidsdiensinspuiting wat dit vir Bloemfontein / Mangaung en selfs wyer beteken. As synde ook die eerste van sy soort in Suid-Afrika, is dit verbeeldingryke entrepreneurskap wat net te verwelkom is. Die aangesig van die gesondheidsektor in die Vrystaat sal na dese ten goede nooit weer dieselfde wees nie.