Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Spot Coverage >> March 2009
Herman Toerien
The Free State's provincial budget is approaching R2 billion per annum, as it increases from R16,2 billion to R18,4 billion, a growth of 13,5 % to the previous year. “Discretion on allocations becomes fewer by the year,” said Finance MEC, Tate Makgoe during the tabling of the Provincial Budget in the Free State Legislature on 27 February 2009.
The budget, however, was veering off into a socialistic direction, with the largest increases going to the Socio-Economic cluster, with Education growing by 9,6 % to R7,383 billion, Health is gaining 16,3 % to R5,197 billion, and social services by 22,9 % to R683 million.
The Housing segment of the Department of Local Government and Housing sees its budget increased by 20,1 % to R1,021 billion, whilst Sport, Arts and Culture, the last component of this cluster, decreases by 2,4 % to R313 million.
The Economic Growth, Employment and Investment Cluster generally has more moderate increases, with Agriculture gaining 7,5 % to R400,515 million, Public Works stripped of some functions rise by 10,3 % to R787,813 million. Community Safety and Transport (a newly compiled component) rises by 33,1 % to R1,370 billion.
The Department of Tourism, Environmental and Economic Affairs rises by 8,2 % to R328,730 million.
In the Cluster for Government Administration, the Office of the Premier increases by 7,6 % to R133,90 million, the Provincial Budget will now receive R127,487 million and Treasury sees a 8 % hike to R152,389 million.
The non-housing component of the Department of Local Government and Housing increases by 4,1 % to R228,371, whilst an amount of R253,849 million, an increase of 13,9 %, is allocated to the Justice and Provincial Security Cluster.
Herman Toerien
AAltesaam 31 van die 83 Vrystaatse dorpe het in die Departement van Waterwese en Bosbou se jongste verslag oor gehalte drinkwater 'n kode rooi gekry. In 2004 was dit nog net 11 dorpe in die provinsie wie se water 'n gevaar vir openbare gesondheid ingehou het. Teen Augustus 2006 het 43 Vrystaatse dorpe reeds in 'n stadium 'n kode rooi gekry, dus meer as die helfte.
Onder die dorpe wat nou die kode rooi op die lyf geloop het, tel Parys, Vredefort, Koppies en Edenville. Reeds in 2004 het Boshoff, Hertzogville, Fauresmith, Petrusburg, Luckhoff, Excelsior, Vrede, Memel en Brandfort onder meer aan die beurt gekom. Aan die begin van 2007 is berig dat 3 % van die meetpunte in die Vrystaat 'n kode rooi oplewer het, maar in November van daardie jaar was dit reeds 17 %.
Boonop haal dorpe in die provinsie wat periodiek hoegenaamd glad nie water het nie, ook gereeld die nuus waaronder Dewetsdorp, Trompsburg, Kestell, Warden, Viljoenskroon, Edenville en Brandfort.
Kenners wys daarop dat die water afkomstig van BloemWater, wat 'n groot deel van die Suid-Vrystaat van water voorsien,van hoë gehalte is. Ander munisipaliteite ervaar egter geld- en kundigheidstekorte, en is bv. in die drinkwater van Reitz op 'n stadium 'n e-coli-telling opgespoor.
Swak instandhouding van rioolwerke veroorsaak soms, in weerwil van hofbevele, dat rou rioolwater in drinkwaterbronne beland.
Die Departement van Waterwese en Bosbou het teen druktyd nog nie 'n lys van die 31 dorpe voorsien wat in die jongste verslag vermeld word nie.
The Intabazwe Corridor Mixed Use Town Development Project at Harrismith currently being rolled out at a total project cost of R 450 million is set to impact highly on local socio-economic development.
Located in die corridor between Intabazwe township and Harrismith, the Intabazwe Corridor Development, covering an area of 300 ha, is to comprise in total 1 400 residential units, a shopping complex, office units, 35 industrial stands, a day-care centre / health clinic, a multi-purpose community centre, a cultural tourism centre and 19 public parks.
As such it is designed and being developed as a self-containing town development, while in environmental terms it surmounts to a “green” concept.
The development is to be implemented in phases, of which Phase 1 has already commenced. The sod turning ceremony for Phase 1 took place on 25 February 2009, where the developer, Mr Teboho Molaba of Letsatsi Property Group and the Mayor of Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality, Dr Balekile Mzangwa, turned the sod.
Phase 1 comprises of 222 low income sites, 95 medium income sites, a primary school site, 2 church sites and 4 business sites. The construction of Phase 1 is split into different elements, namely civil, electrical and housing. The civil element is further split into various categories, including sewer reticulation, pump station and rising main, water reticulation and roads and associated storm water development.
The contractors appointed for the various civil elements of Phase 1 of the project are as follows:
• Sewer reticulation and Pump station and Rising main: Inzuzo/Hentiq JV
• Water reticulation: HT Peletona
• Roads and associated storm water: Nexor 350 CC.
It is envisaged that the sewer and water projects will be completed by June 2009 and roads by December 2009. The electrical work is currently being procured, while housing is to commence in June 2009.
As the sole mandate for the selling of houses in the Intabazwe Corridor, Agents @ Home Central has been appointed, assisted by Absolute Bonds to handle the financing and Vermaak & Dennis attorneys to handle the registration of titled deeds.
Uniglobe New Dawn Travel based in Bloemfontein was recognised as one of the best emerging service providers in South Africa, when it was awarded early this year runner-up in the Free State leg of the 2008 national ETEYA competition.
The Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (ETEYA) is aiming at recognizing and promoting black-owned Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMME’s) within the tourism industry.
In 2008, the ETEYA project was boosted by the addition of SA Breweries (SAB) as a primary partner, bringing injection of R1,9 million to the initiative.
According to Chris Meyiwa, Enterprise Development Manager at SAB, the aim of the ETEYA project is the creating of jobs and ensuring an authentic African experience to tourists.
To this end, the ETEYA competition is open not only to accommodation establishments, which have won most of the awards to date but also to cultural villages, game reserves, restaurants, tourist attractions (excluding community projects), adventure products, conference centres (not attached to accommodation), tour operators, travel agents, car rental companies, coach operators and tour wholesalers.
Says Hanneli Slabber, Manager: Product at SA Tourism: “The awards are not only a way of identifying some of the ‘unsung heroes’ in their efforts, but an excellent opportunity for them to get the support they need to transform their futures in the tourism industry”.
It is against this backdrop that in the 2008 finals of the ETEYA competition, Uniglobe New Dawn Travel headed by MD Tshebi Mofokeng was in the Free State runner-up in second place.
Pictured at the award ceremony for the 2008 ETEYA competition held on 21 January 2009 at OR Tambo International Airport, Tshebi Mofokeng of Uniglobe New Dawn Travel as runner-up, on the extreme right, together with, from left, Nolwandle Mashiane (Epozini Guest House), Moeketsi Mosola (CEO of SA Tourism), Mathoto Tlokotsi (De Home Ekhaya Guest House) and Chris Meyiwa (SAB).
IDie aanduidings op terrein is dat die Lillyvale-woongebiedontwikkeling aan die noordelike grens van Bloemfontein langs die verlenging van Raytonweg op pad na die Botaniese Tuine, gestrand het.
Geleë skuins oorkant die Lettie Fouché Sentrum, blyk dit dat strate, riolering, watervoorsiening en straatelektrisiteit gebou is, maar dat sake daar reeds 'n geruime tyd gestop het. Daar is geen aanduiding dat die konstruksie voortgaan en dat erwe bemark word nie. Die ontwikkeling het in 2006 begin, maar sedert 2008 gebeur skynbaar niks meer nie.
Die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin het 'n skriftelike navraag aan die ontwikkelaar, mnr. Delan Kruger gerig, maar sy persoonlike assistent het laat blyk dat hy besig is met vergaderings en dat die koerant moet wag. Met ter perse gaan, is nog geen reaksie ontvang nie.
Die siviele kontrakteur, bekend vir sy integriteit, en wat versoek het dat sy naam nie genoem moet word nie omdat hy nie wil modder slinger nie, sê alle dienste is geïnstalleer. Hy is gretig dat verkope van erwe gou op druk moet kom sodat die ontwikkelingsproses kan aangaan.
Die Lilyvale-woongebied maak voorsiening vir 114 residensiële erwe en vyf meenthuiskomplekse met 480 eenhede.
Kruger is verlede jaar vir belasting- en BTW-oortredings met R200 000 beboet. Die siviele kontrakteur by Lillyvale het verder by navraag aan die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin gesê dat Kruger hom tans meer as R1 miljoen skuld vir dienste gelewer en dat hy Kruger daarvoor gedagvaar het.
Die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin het ook inligting bekom dat die formele aansoek wat Kruger as ontwikkelaar destyds aan die Mangaung Munisipaliteit en die Provinsiale Dorperaad voorgelê het en wat goedgekeur is, van hoë gehalte was en dat die impakaspekte van die beplande ontwikkeling deeglik aangespreek is.
With it’s acquisition of two more houses in Billingham Street, Sasolburg, Casa Mia Guesthouse & Conference Centre is encompassing five houses in total. The renovation of these two houses into a further 35 luxury suites, is bringing the total number of luxury suites available at Casa Mia to 52.
These include a penthouse suite, as well as presidential and executive suites.
All suites are equipped with DStv, telephones and ADSL internet, while cozy guest lounges, elegant dining rooms and a bar supplement the setting. Spacious patios, shady garden corners and a large swimming pool add further luxury and comfort. These are complemented by the excellent cuisine of Casa Mia, as well as a laundry service and safe parking.
Conference facilities for up to 100 delegates in one room are also available. Altogether there are four fully equipped conference rooms, with data projector, motorized screen and sound system. Fax and photostat facilities are also available.
This top class facility is conveniently situated in the Vaal Triangle, 45 minutes from Johannesburg and OR Tambo Airport and 20 minutes from the N1 highway to Cape Town. Sasolburg is the foremost industrial hub in South Africa.
Casa Mia is adjacent to jogging, hiking and cycling routes, while only 5km from the Vaal River with its ample recreational amenities.
Warm hospitality awaits the discerning traveler and corporate guest, be it national or international.
Thus Casa Mia Guest House and Conference Centre is indeed one of the best and most extensive of its kind in the central region of South Africa.
To book or for more info, tel. (+27) 016 976 7125, email casamia@mweb.co.za or visit www.casamiaguesthouse.co.za.
Danilla Liebenberg
Dit behóórt die sentrum van kreatiewe besigheidvernuf en -beweging vir enige stad of metropool te wees; die middestad daarvan.
Dit behoort nié die kern van misdaad te wees nie.
Maar ongelukkig is dit wat middestede in Suid-Afrika nie behoort te wees nie, wel al vir 'n geruime tyd aan die orde van die dag. En dit lyk of hierdie toedrag van sake aan die versleg is. So ook blyk dit die geval te wees met die middestad van Bloemfontein.
Onlangs is die ou Maitland Hotel in die middestad as 'n bordeel en katnes vir allerhande misdade deur die SAPD gesluit en gaan die gebou per openbare veiling verkoop word.
Verlede jaar is daar 'n klopjag in Nelson Mandelarylaan by twee woonstelgeboue, die Aliwal-sentrum en Tuishuis, gedoen vanwaar dwelmhandel klaarblyklik gedy het. Gesteelde goedere en onwettige immigrante is aangetref.
Tans kom motorkapings en gewapende rooftogte op voetgangers in die Bloemfonteinse middestad vry algemeen voor.
Dieselfde misdaadgolf het mnr. Martin Moolman, 'n besigheidsman van Bloemfontein, in Januarie vanjaar getref. Hy het op 'n Sondag 'n nuwe perseel vir sy besigheid, The Print Shop, vir die eerste keer betrek. Dieselfde nag, is meer as R100 000 se toerusting uit sy winkel gesteel. Drie rekenaars met toebehore, vyf drukkers en twee dupliseermasjiene is o.a. gebuit.
Die volgende nag is Fitty's Fitment Centre, oorkant die straat ook beroof, terwyl die nag daarop 'n poging tot roof by die naby gelëe Freds Furnishers uitgevoer is.
“Maar ek sal aanbly in die middestad,” het Moolman by navraag aan die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin gesê, “want die besigheid hier is goed”.
Hy het bygevoeg dat die reaksie van die SAPD in sy geval goed was en dat hulle binne 'n week die besigheid se vyf drukkers en twee dupliseermasjiene teruggevind en aan hom terugbesorg het.
Moolman, wat kommersiële drukwerk en grafiese ontwerp doen, het drie veiligheidswenke vir sakelui in die Bloemfonteinse middestad aan die hand gedoen:
• Beveilig jou perseel se toegangsmoontlikhede.
• Aktiveer jou alarmstelsel elke keer as jy die perseel verlaat.
• Beveilig jou perseel se toegangsmoontlikhede só dat daar deur 'n dubbelsituasie beweeg moet word voordat jou besigheid betree kan word.
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