Current Edition >> Archive Section >> Letters to the editor >> 1-16 October 2005

Rooiligte oor watergehalte in Vrystaat
Die voorbladberig in die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin van 1 November 2005 onder die opskrif “Red lights flashing on quality of drinking water in the Free State” verwys.
Ek het die afgelope tyd 'n toerisme-oord op die oewer van die Sandrivier begin ontwikkel en wil vir u sê die Sandrivier by die dorp is erg besoedel. Beamptes van die Dept. van Omgewingsake het in Maart 2005 monsters geneem om die water te toets. Meloding en die plaas Lenabo grens aan die Sandrivier en bewoners het “shacks” opgerig op die oewer van die rivier wat egter as gevolg van geen riooldienste nie 'n gesondheidsrisiko inhou. Die Dept. van Omgewingsake het inderdaad in die Sandrivier rioolstorting opgespoor asook gifstowwe vanaf die Virginia nommer 1 skag se goudaanleg. Dit wek groot kommer oor die suiwerheid van ons water en ek verneem graag langs hierdie weg of die saak aandag geniet en wat daaromtrent gedoen word.
Ons vakansie-oord is tans in bedryf, met o.a. visvanggeriewe reeds gevestig maar as gevolg van die besoedeling is dit gesondheidsonveilig. Verder dien daarop gewys te word dat in bestek van ± 6km langs die rivier aangrensend aan Virginia dorp 'n verdere twee oorde geleë is, wat egter a.g.v. die rivierbesoedeling grotendeels in onbruik lê.
Aangesien ons hier met 'n katastrofiese bedreiging vir mens en dier te doen het, is hierdie saak uiters dringend.

Sakkie Stroebel
Virginia
Sel. 083 587 3606

International cargo airport at Welkom
I refer to your electronic “Weekly Bulletin” received on 09/11/2005, which I understand will be published in your next hard copy on 1 December 2005. Reference is specifically drawn to the portion under the heading “Deputy Minister no to Welkom Cargo Airport”.
I was present at the meeting addressed by Deputy Minister Shabangu and also had the opportunity to present the following facts to the meeting :
Since as far back as 1996 Matjhabeng has been actively preparing for an international cargo airport at Welkom. In 1996 a preliminary conceptualisation of the project for possible overseas investors was held in Spain, while after visits to dedicated cargo airports of European locations such as at East Midlands, Vitoria, Liege and Ostend, by 2001 the project concept was finalised and the pre-feasibility study completed. At this stage the Matjhabeng Municipality and the Lejweleputswa District Council gave their unqualified support for the project.
Mr Pedro Saenz de Buruaga, manager of the Zaragosa Airport in Spain visited the identified site for the Goldfields cargo airport and expressed approval of the technical aspects. Thereafter presentations were made to Mr S Belot, during his term of office as MEC for Tourism, Environment and Economic Affairs and later to his successor, Dr. B. Malakoane, while in 2005 a presentation was also made to the Cluster Committee of the Provincial Council. A renowned international expert on cargo airports, Mr. Ton Hens, was also formally consulted, who subsequently visited various areas in South Africa and concluded that Welkom was the most suitable site for a cargo airport.
The provision of cargo airports is mainly a specialized economic matter and while it is accepted that the political authorities must provide the climate and conditions for such an undertaking, it is imperative that the siting provision, planning, administration and function thereof should be left to the various private expert business sectors involved.
In general it should also be pointed out that the need to address the loss of 150 000 jobs in Matjhabeng, the modern well-planned infrastructure of the area and its communication and transport systems especially with the provision of a N1 Road, are all factors in its favour. Since then the planning authorities at Matjhabeng, especially as spearheaded by the Local Municipal Council has worked on a formal business plan for the cargo airport and the final draft is expected to be submitted this week.
Thus Matjhabeng has indeed done its homework and stands ready to proceed with implementation of this much-needed major project, not only for the Matjhabeng and Ljeweleputswa, but also for the Free State and South Africa.

A.L. Nyschens
Welkom