Current Edition >> Archive Section >> Special Features >> December / January 2004
Is SATSA membership compulsory to manage a tourism product?
No, but it certainly fosters credibility.
What is the difference between SATSA and SA Tourism?
While SATSA is a private non-profit member-driven association representing
providers of service to the in-bound tourism industry of Southern
Africa, SA Tourism is the government body responsible for marketing
South Africa as a destination.
What will SATSA affiliation/ membership do for my business?
1. International credibility : The SATSA logo is the sign of a credible
tourism partner in Southern Africa.
2. Networking : Meetings are held in the different provinces where
members have the opportunity of meeting and networking.
3. Information : SATSA keep all members informed of initiatives,
news and events via electronic newsletters.
When do I join SATSA?
It is recommended that your company is OPERATIONAL before you apply
for membership, which is only awarded once all requirements have
been met.
How do I select a SATSA Category?
Only one category per membership is permitted. Select the category
according to the MAIN FUNCTION of your business.
What LEVEL of membership do I select?
NATIONAL - Applicable to companies that exhibit
at international trade shows OR travel internationally for marketing
purposes.
CHAPTER - Applicable to companies that would like
affiliation to SATSA but do not exhibit at international trade shows
and do not travel internationally for marketing purposes.
BRANCH - Applicable to national members who manage
and market branches in different regions.
ASSOCIATE - Applicable to Tourism Associations
or Regional Tourism Authorities who are government affiliated.
REGIONAL - Applicable to companies situated in
a SADC country e.g. Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho. Mozambique,
Zimbabwe.
FRIENDS OF SATSA - Applicable to persons/ companies
who have an indirect link to the tourism industry, e.g. foreign
exchange outlets and retail outlets.
The Fee State branch of SATSA hosted on 23 and 24 November 2004
its national as well as provincial meetings, with some of the most
influential roleplayers in the tourism industry attending for the
first time a SATSA meeting in the Free State. The Chairperson of
SATSA Free State, Ms. Joan Claassens-Jackson, committed herself
to marketing the province as a competitive tourism destination in
South Africa.
The National Executive Council of SATSA convened on Tuesday, 23
November at Letsatsi Lodge near Smithfield, providing Free Staters
with the opportunity to market their province. On 24 November 2004
the Council also attended the Free State meeting of SATSA at Aldersgate
Crocodile Farm near Bloemfontein where the Free State Tourism Business
Forum was established. The keynote address at this meeting was delivered
by the national chairperson of SATSA, Mr. Mike Speed.
This Forum is to serve as mouthpiece for tourism in the Free State
and as a forum to synergise with provincial as well as national
government on issues such as regulating and financing the province's
tourism industry. At present SATSA Free State is compiling a database
of all roleplayers and stakeholders in the tourism industry in the
province and any interested person or institution not yet registered
with this, can provide detail to Pierre Craven at email : african@iafrica.com
or tel : 051 444 5145 / 082 977 3010.
The moving into gear of SATSA Free State and the establishment of
the Free State Tourism Business Forum is indeed a significant step
towards entering a growth and development phase for the tourism
private sector in the Free State like never before.
Envisaged benefits of RED's
Against this background it is envisaged that with the new RED's dispensation
all stakeholders, including the private consumer, the business sector
and governmental institutions, stand to benefit as follows :
• The billing system would be standardised and transparent.
• Improved efficiency would be a foregone conclusion.
• The use of common technology and economies of scale in network
repair and procurement, would bring big cost savings.
• Scale of economics.
Having been the subject of much debate, the demarcation of the regions
of the six Red's has eventually been finalised as being indicated on
the map above right.
From this can it be seen that Red No.2 is covering central SA, stretching
from the Ekuhurleni Metro on the East Rand to the southern part of North
West and including also the entire Free State province and part of the
Northern Cape.
The target date for the establishment of the first RED has been set
as July 2005.
Centlec
In the wake of these developments the Mangaung Local Municipality (MLM)
decided to move pro-actively and following from an alternative service
delivery investigation resolved on 31 October 2002 to transform its
Electricity Department into a Municipal Business Entity (MBE). This
was done by ringfencing all assets, liabilities and staff into the DRC
and DCF methods.
As a result, Centlec (Pty) Ltd was officially launched on 19 April 2004
as a private company 100% owned by MLM. A Service Delivery Agreement
(SDA) arranges the operational relationship between MLM and Centlec,
which is governed by a board of directors currently overseeing a senior
management structure and staff complement.
The total Centlec staff complement numbers 500, while the total asset
base of the company stands at R1,2 billion, generating an annual turnover
of some R5 billion.
Centlec is further structured as a hybrid asset and customer management
company, taking care of both the wires (engineering) and retail activities,
run under the GAAP accounting system. Centlec supplies electricity services
to the residents of Bloemfontein, Bainsvlei, Bloemspruit, Heidedal,
Mangaung, Thaba Nchu, Botshabelo and surrounding peri-urban areas, having
a total number of inhabitants of some 800 000. Centlec moreover is maintaining
a full service delivery agreement with the municipalities of Kopanong,
Naledi and Mohokare in the southern Free State, with decentralized depots
at Zastron, Reddersburg, Bethulie and Jagersfontein/Fauresmith. In total
Centlec is supplying services to some 150 000 customers.
Moreover, in its service of Centlec, vending systems linking more than
vending outlets in the Southern Free State towns and Botshabelo to Bloemfontein
have been put into operation, ensuring purchasing mobility of customers
over the total supply area. Centlec maintains an almost 100% electrification
level for official erven, while boasting some of the lowest domestic
and commercial tariffs in South Africa.
First in South Africa
Therefore Centlec, based on the achievements of its forerunner, Mangaung
Electricity, is not only quality-wise a market leader in its industry,
but has with meticulous and innovative homework moved deftly and purposefully
to establish the first 100% private electricity retail supplier in South
Africa. As such Centlec is a project par excellence, setting the tone
for the rest of South Africa. In this respect the Minister for Minerals
and Energy, Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, in officiating at the launch
of Centlec on 19 April 2004 in Bloemfontein, remarked that not only
needs the example of Centlec to be followed by other municipalities
in SA, but that Centlec in fact constitutes the embryo for the coming
into being of the first RED in the country.
Seat for central RED
At the launch of Centlec, the Executive Mayor of MLM, Mr Pappie Mokoena,
said the establishment of the utility company is proof that the foresight
and vision which the Mangaung Local Municipality entertained the past
couple of years were quite correct and appropriate. With Centlec, MLM
is now excellently positioned to serve its constituency in the best
possible way and to make a significant impact to the economy of the
Free State and adjacent areas if the seat of the first RED is to be
located in Mangaung. Other benefits if Mangaung were to be the seat
of RED Central would be:
• Highly centralised location vis-á-vis the rest of the region,
enabling better maintenance and supply of infrastructure.
• The expertise to transform further into a RED is already there,
with the wheel invented locally, so to speak.
• It would create a centralised company with a turnover of more
than R5 billion and 1 million customers - as such probably the biggest
company in the region.
• It would greatly stimulate decentralising economic development
and empowerment from the highly affluent Gauteng region to the more
backward central region.
• It would in terms of procurement, services, etc. have tremendous
socio-economic spin-off for business and development in the central
region.
• It would considerably enhance foreign investment opportunities
in the central region.
On 23 and 24 November 2004, a conference / workshop with the theme "Towards RED's" was hosted by Centlec in Bloemfontein. It was attended by representitives from stakeholders across the spectrum in the current Centlec distribution region, as well as from the Ekurhuleni District Area on the East Rand. It was a highly informative and constructive meeting and Centlec was generally commended for its pioneering work as regards roll-out of the RED's strategy.
Nutshell
VISION CENTLEC
To be the leading partner in the establishment of RED 2.
MISSION CENTLEC
To play a leading role towards the creation of RED 2 through making
our resources and infrastructure available as the interim headquarters
for RED 2.
MANDATE CENTLEC
To provide effecient and cost-effective electricity distribution services
for bulk and individual customers in the area of service provision.
Elements of this are:
• To become the Interim Head Office for RED 2.
• Promote and maintain good relations amongst stakeholders..
• Ensure optimised electricity distribution.
• Contribute towards the achievement of shareholder developmental objectives.
• Ensure good governance.
Way forward
MLM has taken truly a gigantic step towards not only benefitting the
central region of SA, but also towards balancing out socio-economic
development in SA, by initiating and launching Centlec.
As such Centlec is an endeavour deservant of all possible support -
locally, regionally and nationally.
Moving ahead
Since its establishment earlier this year, Centlec (Pty) Ltd. has moved
fast ahead on its ground-breaking track and to this effect has taken
several major steps - internally in the company as well as externally.
Amongst the internal steps are the appointment of the board of directors,
which consists of Ms. M B Molemela (Chairperson), Messrs. AJ Koch (Deputy
Chairperson), EV Blekie, MJ Khunong, Z. Majavu, TG Lobe (CEO) and L
Mashiane (CFO).
Moreover the following senior management appointments have been made:
Mr. L Mashiane (Chief Financial Officer), Mr. Bertus de Jager (Acting
Exec. Manager: Engineering) and Ms. T Kgosidintsi (Executive Manager
Corporate Services).
New vending system
On the external side, Centlec, being alive to the obligations of the
municipality regarding service delivery on the one hand and the changing
needs of its customers on the other hand, on 5 November 2004 launched
a new vending system.
Speaking at the launch, the Chairperson of the Centlec Board, Ms. M
B Molemela, remarked in her keynote address :
“72% of the customer base in Mangaung, Kopanong, Naledi and Mohokare
make use of prepayment meters. To serve these customers efficiently,
it became essential to improve our vending infrastructure. We generate
nearly 5 million pre-payment vouchers every year and the new system
was necessary for Centlec to handle the required demand on the sales
system.”
As a result Centlec acquired a new vending system with improved functionality
using cellular-phone technology to interconnect all vending stations
from Bloemfontein to Bethulie and from Zastron to Jagersfontein. The
system operates in such a way that all transactions are recorded as
they take place. This means that when a new customer is recorded on
the system or when a new meter has been installed, the data is immediately
accessed by all vending stations and the customer can buy electricity
without any waiting period.
Furthermore, it is now possible for any customer in the contract area
to purchase electricity at the nearest vending point. To illustrate
: A customer living in Bethulie can purchase electricity at Botshabelo
and vice versa. To crown it all, this new technology enables vending
contractors to sell electricity continuously 24 hours per day without
any stoppages for purposes of off-loading information.
In her speach at the launch Ms. Molemela also observed : “While on the
subject of vending contractors, it is apt to mention that Centlec is
reliant on vending contractors like Ntate Kenny of Kenworth Shopping
Centre in Rocklands and numerous others to bring vending services to
our customers at convenient locations and at convenient times. Centlec
is indebted to them and thank them immensely for accommodating our vending
equipment on their business premises in order to improve service to
electricity customers.
“We are proud to announce that this new technology will be compatible
with new system deployed by other roleplayers in the region and will
thus still be able to be utilized within the environment of a Regional
Electricity (RED) in future. Thus, Centlec and Mangaung Local Municipality
can approach the establishment of the RED's with confidence that they
provide excellent services with appropriate technology.
“The benefits I have alluded to are not the only benefits that can be
reaped from this new technology. We intend to optimize its use and are
looking at extending our services to more businesses in future. Cell-based
vendors and electronic purchase of electricity are but some of these
possibilities on which we are ardently working,” Ms. Molemela concluded.
At a media conference on 24 November 2004 in Bloemfontein, the Dept. of Local Government & Housing (DLGH) and Dept. of Water Affairs & Forestry (DWAF) presented a positive report on water quality in the Free State. According to Mr. Shephard Gadzika of DLGH the CSIR-instructed regular monitoring of water quality at 85 towns and centers in the province showed in the report for the six months 1 April - 30 September 2004 the following two main results:
Bacteriological quality in drinking water in terms of faecal coliforms has improved from a failure rate of 2,9% to 0,5%. The only three towns still in the red zone in this regard, are Boshof, Hertzogville and Jagersfontein.
As for quality of treated waste water, Harrismith, Heilbron, Koffiefontein, Allanridge, Ficksburg, Senekal, Botshabelo, Kroonstad, Viljoenskroon, Memel, Reitz and Zastron are still in the red zone.
Gadzika said that the government is addressing problems concerning water quality in a transparent and pro-active manner. Supportive specialist teams have been dispatched to 11 local municipalities experiencing particular problems and/or chronic shortcomings.
Increasing emphasis is placed on sanitation and effective water service delivery, while an effective water quality database and a web-based reporting system accessible to all stakeholders is being rolled-out.
At the media conference, Mr. Grant Mackintosh of Emanti Water & Environmental Engineering Services, the enterprise contracted to do water monitoring in the Free State, pointed out that the Free State is the only province that has instituted a regular scientific monitoring and reporting system for water quality.
For further enquiries, Mackintosh can be contacted at tel. (021) 880 2932, cell 082 327 3357, fax (021) 880 2931, email grantm@emanti.co.za
Iemand het gesê, as jy 'n sukses van 'n ding wil maak, gee dit vir 'n vrou.
Hoewel dit darem nie altyd waar is nie, sê die Bybel 'n raakvatter-vrou is baie meer werd as kosbare juwele.
In the world of business today women are excelling more and more. So many of them make wonderful successes of entrepreneurship - think only of the Pam Golding's, Elizabeth Bradley's, Annique Theron's and others in SA, while in the Free State numerous names do come immediatley to mind. Still despite the changing business environment and conscious efforts to promote women in business, statistics show that women are still lagging in this sphere.
Statistics from Empowerdex show that just some 30 women are holding positions in companies listed on the main JSE board. In all spheres of business, from workers (39% of the paid workforce) to board members (6,6%), there are relatively few women around. However, this is not unique to South Africa. It is reported that only one of the 25 most powerful people in American business is a woman : Hewlett-Packard's Carly Fiorina. None in the top 25 people in business outside the US is a woman.
Meanwhile according to the UN Human Development Report South African women have in 2000 work on average more than an hour longer per day than men average 5,5 hours per day as against 4,5 hours for men. Also interesting is that according to the same report SA women spend more time on non-market-driven activities than men, women spend 65% of their time on community service, care for children or the aged and domestic work, while men spend 70% of their time on income-generating activities and 30% on gardening and other non-income tasks.
Hoe dit ookal sy die sleutelrol wat vroue in die SA besigheidswêreld - speel ook in die Vrystaat - is onontkenbaar en daarom wil die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin graag spesiaal op sulke vroue fokus.
Op hierdie bladsy word dienooreenkomstig twee rolmodelle voorgestel.
Wendy-May Petzer het pas 27 geword. Sy het 13 skoonheidstitels agter haar naam, is 'n Springbok gimnas en 'n gekwalifiseerde prokureur. Sy was al baie by liefdadigheidsprojekte betrokke en is bekend as een van die mees dinamiese vroue in die Vrystaat.
In die laat 90's het Wendy-May vir hierdie foto vir die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin geposeer, met Dries Myburg as fotograaf.
In 1999 is sy met die Lupus Sindroom (bekend as SLE) gediagnoseer. Gedurende Augustus 2003 het sy een oggend wakker geword sonder gevoel of beweging in haar onderlyf. Lupus is 'n bindweefsel siekte wat die bindweefsel van die liggaam aantas. Die siekte het dikwels 'n chroniese verloop, maar kan ook periodes hê waarin die pasiënt relatief simptoomvry is.
Wendy-May het die geleentheid om in Januarie 2005 te gaan vir 'n stemseloorplanting in Duitsland in 'n poging om die dodelike siekte te oorwin.
Om Wendy-May Petzer weer die kans te gee om 'n gesonde lewe te lei, kan donasies aan die volgende trust gedoen word: Saffy & Vennote Trust Rekening, Verwysings nommer O1070, Rekening nommer: 043103286. Meer besonderhede by Ronel de Jager, Skakelbeampte van die Vrystaat Cheetahs by (051) 4071702 of 072 386 1786.
To serve from a municipal point of view the needs of a gigantic sophisticated
industrial complex like that of the Sasol Group of Companies at Sasolburg
- the most advanced of its kind in the Free State and in SA - requires
an unique and extraordinary effort. This applies specifically to adequate
water supply and reticulation, electricity supply, sewerage servicing,
etc.
Therefore at the town Sasol has in time planned pro-actively and implemented
an ingenious system whereby it is assisting and supporting the local municipal
infrastructure in servicing the unique and enormous needs of the local
integrated industrial complex.
As such Sasol and the local municipality of Metsimaholo have in effect
established a joint venture in servicing the total municipal needs of
the greater town of Sasolburg - thus creating practically an industrial
municipality. This in turn constitutes an exemplary case of joint venturing
in the common interest of all stakeholders concerned - government, private
sector and community.
Backdrop
Having started in 1950 literally from scratch on the Free State highveld
just south of the Vaal River, Sasol Limited is today a multinational corporation
with an annual turnover of R64 billion. At Sasolburg the company functions
in a mega seamless heavy industrial operation integrating utilities and
specialized site services. Within the industrial complex is the original
Sasol One fuel-from-coal cradle producing waxes, solvents, ammonia and
a host of other by-products, many of which more value is later added to.
At the Sasol Midland site for instance products like polyvinyl chloride,
polyethylene, cyanide, peroxide, n-butanol and acrylic acid acrylates
are finding their way into world markets.
Moreover, Sasolburg is the Sasol group's intellectual-property hub, where
some 500 researchers are developing, through the Fischer-Tropsch process,
further pioneering technologies earmarked to facilitate international
co-operation projects at venues like Qatar and China.
In addition, ready and waiting to take chemical entrepreneurs downstream,
is the customised and fully-serviced ChemCity complex on the outskirts
of Sasolburg.
As one of the latest pioneering developments at Sasolburg, coal, once
a vital seven-million-ton-a-year feedstock, is being drastically scaled
down and replaced as energy source by a 1 000-km natural-gas pipeline
linking this Free State town to the plains of neighbouring Mozambique.
Sasolburg today has a population of 141 000, of which some 5 500 are being
employed in the Sasol fold.
Industrial municipality
In order to assist the Metsimaholo Local Municipality in effectively meeting
specific local needs at Sasolburg, the Sasol Group has created Sasol Infrachem
as a specially-designated company with an annual budget of R2 billion
to abstract river water, treat sewage, purify effluent and even reticulate
electricity at cost price.
Headed by Mr. Johan Furter as managing director, Sasol Infrachem:
• Pumps water from the Vaal River for cooling of the chemical processes
as well as to raise high-pressure steam for use not only by Sasol operations
in the approximately 1000 ha large Sasolburg footprint but for all other
related operations including US multinational Dow Plastics and South African
JSE listed companies - Omnia, synthetic rubber manufacturer Karbochem,
carbon dioxide producer Afrox and a host of others;
• follows through with treatment of the effluent emerging from not
only Sasol's own industrial operations, but again those of all others
in the heavy-industrial area;
• runs the town sewage works, treating both community sewage and
industrial effluent from which it recovers water for recycling back into
the industrial complex;
• generates and reticulates electrical power for its own use and
the use of all of the chemical industries at Sasolburg;
• together with the Metsimaholo Municipality and the Free State
Provincial Government, builds community houses in Sasolburg and has also
for the last two years been involved in rejuvenation of the local area;
and
• promotes entrepreneurship in the local Zamdela township.
This in a nutshell is how Sasol - and in particular Sasol Infrachem
- has been instrumental in setting up the Free State's as well as SA's
only industrial municipality.
The tasks of Sasol Infrachem, however, does extend well beyond just
the operations of the local industrial municipality - it also entails
wider tasks as regards the corporate social responsibilities of the
Sasol group as well as developing new technologies for applications
in some of Sasol's overseas plants currently under construction.
Whatever the wider achievements, the achievements of the industrial
municipality at Sasolburg constitutes a feature which the Free State
as a province can be truly proud of.
Worldwide the protection and restoration of the environment as the essential
life-sustaining habitat of man, animal and plant is one of the top agenda
priorities. Flowing from this, South Africa is a signatory to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as to the Kyoto
Protocol.
Against this background, Section 24 of the South African Constitution
provides that everyone has a right to an environment that is not harmful
to their health. In terms of this amongst the range of measures the
SA Government has taken and is taking as regards the environment, is
the Air Quality Bill expected to be promulgated before the close of
2004. This would bring South Africa in line with international best
practices regarding air quality.
The objective of the Bill is to provide the legislative means to combat
pollution, curb environmental degradation and promote human health.
It sets a two-year period in which a national framework must be established
at provincial level to inter alia pronounce certain high-pollution areas
as “priority areas”, to list as “controlled”
certain activities resulting in emissions and for the listing of “controlled
fuels”.
This is necessary because South Africa is per capita amongst the worst
emitters of greenhouse gasses in the world being responsible for about
half of Africa's total greenhouse gas emissions. As a matter of fact,
with an energy-intensive economy South Africa is regarded as amongst
the top 10 emitters in the world.
Scientific opinion suggests that the continued emission of greenhouse
gasses (principally carbon dioxide and methane) due to human activities,
brings about significant and long-term changes to the functioning of
the earth's atmosphere. Emissions from vehicles, industries, mines,
agro-processing (pesticides) and household utilities with high CFC (chloroflouro
carbon) content have been identified as factors that exacerbate global
warming.
Other detrimental results from air pollution, are climatic changes causing the loss of biological diversity, a threat to food security, breeding of harmful bacteria ultimately causing disease and death, etc.
Seminar
In the light of all this, the Free State Provincial Government through
it's Dept. of Tourism, Environmental and Economic Affairs, has on 30
November 2004 at Bloemfontein hosted a seminar on Air Quality Management.
The seminar had inter alia the following
on the agenda:
• Overview of proposed Air Quality Act
• National vehicle emissions strategy
• Industrial implications
• Domestic energy sources
• Weather impacts
• Hybrid vehicles
• Renewable energy and poverty alleviation
The following were the main outcomes of the seminar :
• A strategy on air quality for the Free State is currently being
drafted with the cornerstones proper infrastructure, community responsibility
and practical application of various measures adopted.
• Finalisation of the air quality strategy is to be followed by
an
air quality management plan. In this the priority pollution areas need
to be identified, addressed and managed.
• A heavy responsibility rests on local municipalities to adhere
to the standards with which they
would have to comply.
• Emission licenses would have to be issued by district municipalities,
but due to lack of capacity and expertise as well as lack of funding
this would become the responsibility of the provincial government.
• Attendees of the seminar expressed difficulty in relating to
industry-established air quality forums because of the high technical
nature of the latter.
• The Free State is to pursue the possibility of using natural
gas in vehicles instead of conventional fuel. This is the more relevant
in view of the stipulation that leaded petrol
is to be disallowed in vehicles as from 6 January 2006.
• The impacts of air pollution on weather patterns, especially
as it affects food security and economic growth, is to receive close
attention.
• Increased utilisation of solar energy for cooking is regarded
as having extremely promising potential. In this way the use of electricity
can be reduced, which in turn lower emissions and green house gasses.
Way forward
As to the way forward, the Free State is determined to be a leading
province in practising air quality management and whilst the strategy
in this regard is currently being formulated, the Dept. Of Tourism,
Environmental Affairs invites all stakeholders and roleplayers, including
the business sector and the public, to make any outstanding inputs as
soon as possible.
Lullu de Jager, Vrystaat Landbou, Betuurder: Organisasie & Ontwikkeling
Feitlike wetteloosheid op die Vrystaat-Lesotho grens skep 'n reuse probleem vir landbou aan die Vrystaat-kant van die grens en die Veiligheidskomitee van Vrystaatse Landbou, sê met Kobus Breytenbach as voorsitter, gee tans indringende aandag daaraan.
Die probleem wat al oor dekades kom, het in die jongste tyd drasties in intensiteit toegeneem, veral wat betref motor- en veediefstal en die onwettige gebruik van weiding deur Lesotho-boere aan die Vrystaatse kant van die grens. Die kern van die probleem lê by grensbeheer, veral met die grensheining in 'n uiters swak toestand. Daar is ook nie altyd duidelikheid oor watter staatsdepartemente verantwoordelik is vir die grensheining nie, asook wat betref funksionering van die veiligheidsmagte t.w. die SAPD, Weermag en plaaspatrollies.
Die toestand langs die grens maak boerdery feitlik onmoontlik en iets daarwerklik sal gedoen moet word.
Op die foto is duidelik een van die onwettige deurgange soos op die plaas Balmacara van Hendrik Calitz in die distrik Wepener waar gesteelde voertuie en vee vanaf Suid-Afrika na Lesotho geneem word. Benewens die swak grensheining, kan die grenspatrolleerpad aan die regterkant ook gesien word. Die mielieland is aan die Lesotho-kant. Die foto is geneem tydens 'n inspeksiebesoek deur Vrystaat Landbou en die Boesmanskop Boerevereniging.
Bethulie het die potensiaal om die hoofsentrum te word in die streeksontwikkeling rondom Lake !Gariep. Van die vier dorpe rondom die meer is dié dorp die beste toegerus om die belangrike funksie te vervul. Daar is 'n permanente handelsbank, poskantoor en verskeie besighede wat meehelp om dit 'n besigheidsentrum te maak.
Die ontwikkeling van die Bethuliedam in 'n spogoord, behoort verder tot die belangrikheid van die dorp by te dra.
Alhoewel die dorp Gariep Dam, vanweë sy ligging langs die N1, tans die hoofkantoor van Lake !Gariep Toerisme huisves, word Bethulie as die aangewese dorp beskou om die besigheidsentrum van die streek te word.
The historic town of Colesberg is the gateway from the busy N1 to the Lake !Gariep Tourism Route via the R58.
Colesberg served as the southern front from November 1899 to March 1900. Over 11 000 Boer and British troops took part in the actions along a 60km front around Colesberg. Their graves, memorials, fortifications, camp and battlesites can still be seen on tours around the town and district. These include Plateau Camp, Grenadier Guard Rock, Suffolk Hill, Worcester Hill, New Zealand Hill, Australian Hill, and the gun sites on the top of Coleskop.
The Free State Legislature is facilitating various projects during 2004 as part of its Decade of Democracy Celebrations and one of these projects was a Women's Day Celebrations held on Saturday, 28 August 2004, at Koffiefontein.
The aim of women members of the Free State Legislature as well as staff of the Public Participation Unit was to interact with rural women in an endeavour to foster good relations and empower them through social, cultural and educational activities.
Thus members and invited guests celebrated the Day at Koffiefontein with our Beautiful Women, Pillars of Strength and a Pride of Africa. The format of the event was informative presentations, exhibitions of products from community development projects in the Xhariep district and an award giving ceremony at a gala dinner. Members and councillors also took time off for an underground site visit at the Koffiefontein Diamond Mine.
The air was abuzz with excitement from synergy generated at the event and it turned out to be a highly constructive and empowering occasion.
The Free State Legislature congratulates all these achievers and encourage them and so many others to rise above whatever their circumstances might be and to taste the success of self-realisation.
As announced at the gala dinner on 28 August 2004 at Koffiefontein, the following were the award winners in the various categories :
Arts and Crafts
1st prize - Kgaladi Crafts - Koffiefontein
2nd prize - Sheet Metal Workshop - Petrusburg
3rd prize - Ditema - Zastron
Irrigation
1st prize - Itumenelang Vegetables - Petrusburg
2nd prize - Ebenaezar - Koffiefontein
Sewing
1st prize - Itumeleng - Jagersfontein
2nd prize - Tusetsang - Fauresmith
3rd prize - Phela O Phedise - Koffiefontein
Stock Farming
1st prize - Dankbaar Meat - Koffiefontein
2nd prize - Itsokolele Poultry - Koffiefontein
As a leading fully-fledged BEE company in the Free State, Interstate Bus Lines (IBL) confirmed a huge vote of confidence in the Free State economy and in the local public transport system by adding 32 new mega buses at a total cost of R53 million to its existing fleet.
Bought from a leading European manufacturer, BMC, these vehicles are all bus trains, 22 meters long, with a carrying capacity of 99 seated passengers and 22 standees - a configuration adopted by bus companies throughout the world and recently observed also operating in London. The vehicles include the BMC 1100FE chassis from Turkey, designed to Interstates specifications with the new series HI-Rise Panorama 900 Stateline Body built by Busaf of Gauteng.
Rated at 260HP or 191KW, the engine is fully electronic with special features such as electronic fuel injection, electronically controlled road speed settings, diagnostic testing and computerized adjustment, making it one of the most advanced bus engines in South Africa.
Says Abel Erasmus, MD of IBL: “The R53 million is a major investment and a vote of confidence in the Free State economy and will definitely improve road safety and customer service, with the Euro 2 standard reducing emissions into the atmosphere.”
To this, the Chairman of IBL, Quinten Eister, adds the following summarizing perspective: “As a service organization we trade on nothing else but our reputation and this new fleet will certainly enhance our reputation as providers of a safe, reliable, on time quality and competitive people-moving service.”
As a pioneer in the SA bus industry since 1975, IBL was first to utilize fully electronic Euro 2 technology, with all buses fully equipped with radios and heaters to ensure optimum customer comfort and also equipped with electronic ticket machines maximizing efficiency and client satisfaction.
IBL transports 15 500 commuters daily during peak, 5 000 during off peak and 5 500 scholars daily, totalling 11 million people per annum. IBL buses travel 1 200 000 kilometers per month, doing over 14 000 trips per month, achieving an on-time figure of 99,67%. To handle this, the current staff complement is 508, of which 90% are pdi's.
With this latest investment Interstate Bus Lines does it's vision proud of being an African company playing a key role in improving the mobility, economic growth and social prosperity of the Free State Province and its people.
In all instances of modern life, including in the business and governmental sectors, effective communication is considered to be of key importance. Effective communication can unlock, or the lack of it could leave a door unlocked and closed.
Therefore in this regular column hence Wesley Sotsaka, communications professional of AdnMove, Bloemfontein, will deal with various aspects of effective communication.
How we get to know the unknown
• Wesley Sotsaka
In our daily existence we are faced with new products and services including endless innovations from retail to technology. The demand for consumers attention is incredibly on the increase as these products and services compete for the market . Unfortunately not all these products and services will survive in the market place - only those that build themselves into sustainable brands with relevance to their target markets will succeed .
When we look around at most retail stores, we come across many brands that are not familiar to us and most often we don't buy them. The likelihood is that the quality of the familiar brand is equally the same as the less familiar one or even better. However, the familiar one has more brand value than the other. Thus the difference between the two brands lies in the manner in which they are communicated to the market .
When most of us think of going to Kwazulu-Natal, the thought of their traffic law officers send shivers down our spine. The Kwazulu-Natal scenario is brought about by the fact that we heard their adverts of zero tolerance on the radio , seen television news on the arrests of offenders and also read newspapers in this respect. The integrated marketing communication approach of the KZN government creates a perception of a province of hard working officers who do not leave anything to chance. After passing through Harrismith one is greeted by advertising boards showing that you are now in the zero tolerance zone and the drive through the province is graced by traffic officers with the speed cameras.
The difference between the Free State and Kwazulu-Natal in my view is communication. We can now refer back to the submission of the two brands mentioned earlier that the one had value and the other didn't. In this case Kwazulu-Natal has more brand value than the Free State.
To reach the stage at which Kwazulu-Natal currently finds itself, one needs to embark on a brand-building exercise which should be carefully implemented. Firstly, one should start by creating a brand identity which is a cornerstone of every brand. Brand identity is the personality of the brand - for instance the brand identity of Kwazulu-Natal was that of a no-nonsense approach in my view. The brand identity covers the aspects of positioning, verbal, visual and experiential as well as the various forms of communication. Positioning refers to the anchor or tactical blueprint of the organisation. In our example of Kwazulu-Natal it will refer to enforcement and compliance.
Positioning clearly communicates to the target market what the service or organisation is about. Verbal refers to the language used (zero tolerance) which in this case reflects a tough stance, visual reflects on the visual representation of our message - in this case strong colours were used which reflected boldness, with red as the predominant colour.
Experiential refers to the experience that we as the target audience have with the brand. In this instance, when we drive to Kwazulu-Natal, we do experience the message delivered in the adverts and what we heard on the news. It is at this stage where the brand is most often lost. When the identity is established, we then engage in a brand-building exercise through public relations, promotions and advertising.
In our example, public relations will be when the media reports about the arrests made, promotions will be when we exhibit our department at exhibitions and road shows and advertising will be when the zero tolerance adverts are placed on radio and newspapers. This integrated approach gives the communication of the brand the effect required to effectively reach the intended target market.
That is how I got to know the unknown.
The Free State business community was shocked by the sudden death of Mr. Rumi Lebusho, well-known businessman and entrepreneur of Bloemfontein. He was attending an evening function at the City Hall when he suffered a fatal heart attack.
The Free State Business Bulletin personally mourns the loss of this enterprising and visionary person and a great character. He was amongst others known for encouraging black entrepreneurs to help themselves by pulling themselves up on their own boot strings. He was also this year a nominee for Bloemfonteiner of the Year.
Vanaf 15 - 17 Oktober 2004 word die eerste Koepel Avontuurfees / Dome Adventure Festival op Parys en in die omgewing aangebied. Vir so 'n geleentheid leen die dorp en omgewing sigself uitstekend.
Die water- en boomryke karakter van Parys en die besondere ekologiese eienskappe van die sg. Vredefort Koepelgebied bied unieke geleenthede vir allerlei toerismeprodukte, buitelug avontuuraktiwiteite en konferensie- en spanboufasiliteite. Die idee van 'n Avontuurfees pas dus uitstekend in.
Die voorsitter van die Reëlingskomitee van die Fees, mnr. Mark Pieterse, het aan die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin gesê die belangstelling in die Fees oortref alle verwagtinge en die aanduidings is dat die Fees gekom het om te bly.
Die hoofsentrum van die Fees is die Parys Skougronde met 'n onderdak-arena van sowat 4 500m². Op die terrein sal talle stalletjies en uitstallings aangebied word. Items in die volgende sport- en avontuursoorte word tydens die fees aangebied : Lugballonvaart, sweefvlieg, kanovaart, 'n tweedaagse golftoernooi, muurbal, 4 x 4 oorland en klim- en klouter, padwedloop, witwater vlotvaart, ("white water rafting"), bergfietsry, perdry, avontuurritte, gemotoriseerde vlieg, ens.
Vir stalletjies by die Avontuurfees kan Hendrik Swanepoel geskakel word by (056) 817 7886 of 083 417 8415. Verdere navrae aan Mark Pieterse by (056) 811 5573 of 082 494 7092.
In hierdie oorsig 'n blik op die vol pakket wat die Koepel Avontuurfees en sy omgewing bied.
Vanaf 15 - 17 Oktober 2004 word die eerste Koepel Avontuurfees / Dome Adventure Festival op Parys en in die omgewing aangebied. Vir so 'n geleentheid leen die dorp en omgewing sigself uitstekend.
Die water- en boomryke karakter van Parys en die besondere ekologiese eienskappe van die sg. Vredefort Koepelgebied bied unieke geleenthede vir allerlei toerismeprodukte, buitelug avontuuraktiwiteite en konferensie- en spanboufasiliteite. Die idee van 'n Avontuurfees pas dus uitstekend in.
Die voorsitter van die Reëlingskomitee van die Fees, mnr. Mark Pieterse, het aan die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin gesê die belangstelling in die Fees oortref alle verwagtinge en die aanduidings is dat die Fees gekom het om te bly.
Die hoofsentrum van die Fees is die Parys Skougronde met 'n onderdak-arena van sowat 4 500m². Op die terrein sal talle stalletjies en uitstallings aangebied word. Items in die volgende sport- en avontuursoorte word tydens die fees aangebied : Lugballonvaart, sweefvlieg, kanovaart, 'n tweedaagse golftoernooi, muurbal, 4 x 4 oorland en klim- en klouter, padwedloop, witwater vlotvaart, ("white water rafting"), bergfietsry, perdry, avontuurritte, gemotoriseerde vlieg, ens.
Vir stalletjies by die Avontuurfees kan Hendrik Swanepoel geskakel word by (056) 817 7886 of 083 417 8415. Verdere navrae aan Mark Pieterse by (056) 811 5573 of 082 494 7092.
In hierdie oorsig 'n blik op die vol pakket wat die Koepel Avontuurfees en sy omgewing bied.
The Americans call it “moonshine”, the Capetonians “witblits” or “white dog”, the Transvalers call it “fire water”, or “donkey dop”. Call it what you may. Fact of the matter is that this kettle liquid remains a fond custom of South Africa. The distilling of liquor has been a tradition in South Africa since 1659.
Hanzet Distillery at Skandinawië Drift 20 km north of Parys in North West, offers witblits, liqueur and sours of outstanding quality as several awards and medals have been received for this sought-after delicacy. Their products have been distilled to traditional strength and as such deserve respect, taken with a suitable mixer or with a cup of strong coffee as in the days of old.
At the same time Elzette de Klerk of Hanzet offers just the right venue for the getting together for a hearty meal and a relaxed evening at Hanzet Plaaskombuis, believing that the Boere inheritance should be maintained and lived. Some of her traditional dishes : “Skilpadjies, skaappeertjies en skaapafval”. Expect country hospitality, informal African bushveld style and good food at reasonable pricing. Only group bookings however.
Phone (018) 291 1545 / 082 630 1028 or visit www.hanzet.co.za.
PSG Konsult het 'n kantoor in Parys geopen, met Muller Terre'Blanche aan die stuur van sake. Die amptelike loodsing van die kantoor is gedoen met 'n aanbieding oor beleggingsopsies gehou op 17 Augustus 2004 te Rocky Ridge naby Parys. Teenwoordig was van links, Johan Borcherds (Direkteur PSG Konsult), Gerhard Naudé (PSG Portefeulje Bestuurder), Deon Engelbrecht (PSG Potch), Muller Terre'Blanche (PSG Parys) en Riana Botha (PSG Parys Korttermyn).
At a launch presentation held on 26 August 2004 at Parys plans were confirmed for the opening of a permanent expo centre, En Style Showrooms, on 1 December 2004 in Parys, providing exhibiting space for suppliers of interior and exterior décor, landscaping and artworks.
An existing business complex at the bend of Breë Street in central Parys is to be completely revamped shortly with a view to the official opening of En Style Showrooms on 1 December 2004. At the launch, the entrepreneur with the original idea and managing director of En Style Showrooms, Ms. Letitia Hattingh of Parys, said that En Style Showrooms is to be a permanent exhibition centre offering exclusive stands to manufacturers, designers, craftsmen, artists and other similar suppliers to showcase their high quality and exclusive products to an affluent market.
According to Hattingh the demand for exhibition stands in the expo centre is excellent and only a limited number is still available. She says people generally realize that Parys is one of the dynamic economic growth points not only in the Free State, but also in South Africa. The past 24 months at least R450 million of new investments in the form of housing, small businesses and the hospitality industry have been made in Parys. Moreover, before the end of this year, two separate exclusive golf estates offering a total of more than 800 upmarket stands are to be launched at Parys on the scenic banks of the Vaal River.
Parys is also highly strategically situated vis-á-vis the Vaal Triangle, Gauteng, North West Province and other regions in the country, resulting inter alia in 9 000-12 000 vehicles passing through Breë Street in town on a daily basis.
En Style will contain an upmarket coffee shop and an exhibition hall to be used for product launches and events such as art exhibitions and workshops. Ample safe parking wll be available.
Prospective exhibitors at En Style Showrooms or persons requiring more info, can contact Hattingh at 082 498 9912 or (056) 817 6085. Interior designers and decorators interested to get involved in the roll-out of the project, are also welcome to contact Hattingh.
For the Free State province to position itself in the tourism industry, it is necessary to look at the national picture.
In analyzing South Africa's performance in 2003, SA Tourism measures it against the six key objectives of the national Tourism Growth Strategy. Against these objectives:
· Foreign arrivals grew by 1,2% in 2003.
· Foreign direct spend grew from R48,8 billion in 2002 to R53,9 billion in 2003 (up 10,5%).
· The average length of stay in 2003 was 10 nights unchanged from 2002 despite the trend of global trends of tourists taking shorter trips and brings South Africa in line with the global average.
· The most visited provinces remained Gauteng and the Western Cape, Kwazulu-Natal was the third most visited province in 2003 and Mpumalanga (which was third in 2002) was fourth in 2003.
· Seasonality is now measured and described using a quantities index. According to this index seasonality improved across the European, American and Africa/ME portfolios. The Asian portfolio's seasonality worsened slightly from 15,9% to 17,6%; driven by the spike in Indian arrivals associated with the Cricket World Cup.
· A balanced scorecard was developed to measure transformation in the sector.
Furthermore in developing indicators of tourism's performance within the development of a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) for South Africa :
· There were an estimated 512,000 direct jobs in 2003 as opposed to 492,654 in 2002
· Tourism contributed more than a R100 billion of foreign direct spend to the economy.
The Free State at present has a share of about 5% of the total overseas tourist visiting SA and also about a 5% share of the domestic market. South Africa has 1% of the world tourism market, while the Free State has 5% of the SA tourism market. The declared objective for the Free State is to attain eventually 10% of the annual total.
• Lourien Fourie
The tourism industry in North West looks set to pick up further momentum as strategies are being put into place to involve communities to an increasing extent in projects.
Statistics provided by the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWTPB) show that 12% of international visitors to South Africa visited the North West in 2003, generating R4,9 billion and creating 259 809 job opportunities. According to Professor Melville Saayman, Director of Tourism and Leisure Studies at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North West University, this is a definite improvement on previous years' figures. “The main goal for tourism in the North West is for the province to be one of the top four tourist generations in the country. We plan to achieve this by 2007”, Saayman says. The province is currently in sixth position.
One of the major opportunities for North West Tourism, according to a document provided by Jeff Mabunta, Research Official for NWTPB, is to support and facilitate community-based tourism (CBT) in the province. NWTPB plans to achieve this by promoting community ownership of tourism assets, senior employment and involvement in the management of the Province's tourism industry and by getting small businesses involved in tourism ventures.
This was confirmed by Saayman when he stated that projects are built around communities and that communities are involved in the decision-making process. “Before an event like Aardklop, the community is invited to give their input; this is what makes projects happen. “I think that Madikwe Game Reserve is also the first black-owned private lodge in the country.”
In the document provided by Mabunta, it is stated that the key focus of tourism development in the North West Province has been in and around protected areas, for example Pilanesberg National Park and Madikwe Game Reserve. Saayman agrees with this saying that one of the strategies for tourism is to expand the two reserves so that they will eventually form one large protected area. “This is happening at a rate of 10% annually.”
Other strategies that Saayman mentioned, are to launch new events and to improve current ones like Aardklop, Vodacom Soccer and golf tournaments. Apart from getting the community involved in tourism, there are also certain strengths that NWTB can capitalise on to achieve its goals. “Mining tourism is still largely undeveloped. Tourists can visit platinum mines and at the same time buy jewellery. The infrastructure already exists, it only needs to be packaged properly.”
Other strengths include the N12 route to Cape Town and, of course, Sun City, which Saayman calls an international product. “Big events like Miss South Africa and Miss World have been presented there.” The fact that the province is malaria-free is also a big advantage, while North West is close to Gauteng, which is the main market for tourism and thus the biggest supplier of visitors to North West.
“The problem isn't with the products of the province - the challenge for the future lies in managing the people and marketing the province to the rest of the world,” Saayman observes.
In an article published in Business Day during Tourism Indaba 2004, Mr. Crispian Olver, DG of the Dept. of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, gave the following overview of the current structure being put into place in the SA tourism industry:
"The fact that a total of 89 black-owned small and medium-sized enterprises exhibited at this year's Indaba, compared with 34 in 2000, is indicative of just how far we have come. Tourism is one of the key sectors creating job and business opportunities and bringing foreign exchange into South Africa, contributing more than 7% to the country's gross domestic product. Through the Tourism Enterprise Programme, for example, more than 600 black-owned tourism enterprises have been assisted and 10 000 jobs created."
“At the core of our success has been a solid public-private partnership in tourism, helped by the founding of the Tourism Business Council of SA in 1996 as 'one voice for the tourism industry'. In 1997 Satour was radically restructured into South African Tourism. Together with private sector contributions - which now make up 25% of its budget - the budget for our international marketing has grown from R60 million five years ago to R418 millon today. The Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education and Training Authority was set up in 2000 to ensure skills planning, training and quality assurance, and in 2001 the Tourism Grading Council of SA was created to improve standards and client care in the industry.
"The tourism product has undergone radical changes and now capitalizes better on South Africa's unique selling proposition: our people, diversity, culture and natural heritage. Eco-tourism has been boosted by the listing of four world heritage sites, and the establishment of six transfrontier conservation areas to encourage regional tourism growth. A new movement relating to 'responsible tourism' and sustainable development is gaining ground.
“The International Marketing Council has put together a unified 'Brand SA' that sells SA as 'alive with possibility'. Public and private-sector marketing campaigns need to link with and reinforce this brand, rather than continue our fragmented selling work in global markets.
“The country also needed to keep on building the broader ownership South Africans feel regarding tourism. Visitors' experiences of South Africa, he said, were rooted "in how we treat them as a general public - a welcoming smile, a hand of friendship, an offer of assistance,” according to Olver.
Travelling south of Bloemfontein on the N6, the plains of the central Free State gradually give way to the beautiful hills of the southern part of the province. Once Reddersburg has been passed, it is another 74 kilometres to Smithfield - altogether only 130 kilometres from Bloemfontein. First there is the Smithfield dam, then the golf course and then one travels slowly through the poort and suddenly there lies the town.
Smithfield, is the third oldest town in the Free State, was named for Sir Harry Smith, the Governor of the Cape Colony at the time of its establishment in 1848.
Smithfield and the surrounding areas are steeped in history. The farm Leeuwkop, where General CR de Wet was born is in the area. The Smithfield Commando and the cannon, Ou Grietjie, which can be seen in the Caledon Museum, played a major role in the Basotho Wars.
Also in the surrounding area are two farms, Beersheba and Carmel, originally established as French mission stations. Both are now privately owned but their histories are fascinating. On the farm Traacha, just outside Smithfield on the way to Rouxville, are the remains of the once famous wool washery.
Farmers in the area mostly farm sheep and it has also lately been found that Nguni cattle prosper in the southern Free State. Smithfield also boasts the South African Farmer of the Year for 2004, Eddie Prinsloo of the farm Heuningkrans. Patria is a farm about 40 kilometres out of town where Elmarie van Aswegen has a herd of dairy sheep and manufactures sheep milk cheese.
As to any needs for items in the agricultural field, Suid-Vrystaat Produkte in town covers it.
This brings us to present-day Smithfield as a busy little platteland town. Five guesthouses - Artists' Colony, Bokmakierie, Pula House, Smithfield House and Trading Places - provide accommodation to travellers and visitors. Each guesthouse has its own unique character, but all provide excellent accommodation and hospitality.
Guests will enjoy having a delicious lunch or dinner at the local restaurant, the Colony Room, where there are roaring fires in winter and in summer a cool grapevine to sit under. The restaurant also caters for special occasions, such as birthday parties, anniversaries and conferences, for up to about 30 people. During the day, the coffee shop, The Smilin' Hippo, provides delicious cakes and light meals.
Sports facilities include golf, bowls and tennis. The 18-hole golf course celebrated its 100th year in 2003 and has been featured in Pitch & Putter. Your current local golf captain is Marco Heymans, who can also advise professionally on insurance and investment.
Interesting items may be bought at the local pottery, which, with the Fab Deli delicatessen next door, is a community project. The delicatessen produces tasty bottled goods as well as light meals and coffee, tea, and cake. Here visitors may also hire bicycles or find a guide to take them on a walk up the mountain. The area surrounding Smithfield is a conservancy and the guides can impart their knowledge of the local fauna and flora.
There is a wealth of rock art in the area. Visitors need to make arrangements ahead of time to view these as they are mostly on privately owned land.
The gift shops in town - Biba's Gallery, the Golden Spiderweb and the Smilin' Hippo - provide interesting craft items, handmade clothing and household items such as embroidered cloths. Old fashioned general dealers, such as Dittmar's, are also a source of interest to city dwellers. Other shops such as Multi Safe Supermarket & Hardware, Factory Shop, Saamkom and Maxispar, sell groceries and other essentials. The Bakery in Smithfield is well-known for its cakes and takeaway meals and also provides the town with fresh milk, cream, yoghurt and cottage cheese.
On the farm Welgegund a two-day hiking trail has been laid out and where with Miemie Pretorius as hostess you can enjoy real farm life.
Letsatsi Game Lodge in the district is in its class a top of the range facility, offering also excellent conference and other reception services.
Oh yes, for the motorist, Monument Motors offers any related service around the clock.
Special activity weekends at Smithfield are arranged from time to time with interesting guides and speakers who may explain the geology of the area, take visitors on a field trip to look at fossil remains or describe the beautiful night skies.
Is your passion hunting or photographic safaris, then Jacques van den Berg of Nyati Safaris is on call, not only locally but also for elsewhere in southern Africa.
If all this activity is not your cup of tea, then just chill out in the peaceful surroundings of any of the local guesthouse gardens.
Om kortliks 'n idee te gee oor dit wat Smithfield so uniek maak, sou ek persoonlik sê dis sy historiese waarde, maar hoofsaaklik verkies mense om in Smithfield te kom bly, of om hier te vakansie hou, omdat dit hierdie outydse, rustige, gasvrye plaasdorpie is. As jy hier is, kry jy genesing vir jou siel, omdat dit voel asof jy algeheel in 'n ander wêreld of planeet leef. Dis absoluut fantasties! Eienaardig genoeg, verwag mens van so 'n rustige dorpie dat daar geen ontwikkeling plaasvind nie, of net mooi niks aan die gang is nie, maar dit is waar die verrassing inkom! Hier's mense wat besondere projekte loods, wat die dorpie verder opbou, maar tog ontneem dit die dorpie nie van sy outentieke karakter nie.
Kom ons begin by toerisme. Akkommodasie is daar baie - kyk maar net in hierdie spesiale oorsig. So ook wat betref dinge waarmee mense hulself kan vermaak. Smiffie Getaways is 'n projek waardeur ek en my vriendin, Sue Lichtman, mense neem op historiese, argeologiese, produksie- en kulturele toere. Hier is tans allerlei interessante en opheffende projekte in bedryf - dit word gedek onder ons produksietoere. Ander interessanthede wat verband hou met Smithfield :
• Besonderse veldblomme, wat elders skaars in die Vrystaat groei, maar hier nogal volop voorkom.
• Besonderse klipformasies, wel hier en daar ook elders in die land, maar nogal besonders volop hier.
• In sekere dele (veral op die Bethulie-grens) word fossiele volop aangetref.
• Boesmantekeninge is nogal heelwat te sien.
• Die hele Smithfield is as bewarea verklaar.
• Teen die berg staan 'n ou kruidhuisie, terwyl die museum vol is van die ou geskiedenis van die dorp.
• Die ou Anglikaanse kerk is destyds spesiaal gebou vir die biskop se setel.
• Die outentieke mark van jare toet staan nog, maar net baie verwaarloos.
• Die eerste huis wat gebou was, voor dit nog 'n dorp was.
• Die ou begraafplaas is baie interessant.
• Van die ou plaashuise is nog oorspronklik vanaf die Boere-oorlog en iets besonders om na te kyk. Hier en daar kry mens nog 'n beduidenis van kampe waar die Voortrekkers vir tye gebly het.
Ander interessanthede is ook reeds in hierdie oorsig genoem en herhaal ek dit nie weer hier nie.
Ek glo daar is nog baie geskiedenis in die omgewing waarvan ons nie eers weet nie, maar soos ons begin delf, sal dit wel na vore kom.
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