MALUTI-A-PHOFUNG MUNICIPALITY

MALUTI-A-PHOFONG MUNICIPALITY

Investing in the entrepreneurial spirit of the local people

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Unlocking Sustainable Growth In pursuit of technological advancement and social upliftment, Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality is aligning with the Government’s Vision 2030 National Development Plan to fuel regional growth Writer: Emily Jarvis Project Manager: Arron Rampling n pursuit of its Vision situated in one of the “most beautiful 2020 to become more landscapes in the world”. technologically “By 2020, unemployment and advanced and unlock poverty will be unheard of and we will new socio-economic open ourselves to the rest of the world development with the help of to discover our unique African the indigenous cultural history,” says the entrepreneurial spirit of Municipality. the local people, Made up of four Maluti-A-Phofung former TLC local (MAP) Local authorities – Municipality namely QwaQwa – situated in the Rural, Kestell, Free State Phuthaditjhaba Province of South and Harrismith – Africa – is targeting the Municipality Vusi Tshabalala, Maluti-A-Phofung a more equitable, combines rural Executive Mayor sustainable, healthy villages established Image credit: www.dumelangnews.co.za and crime-free societal on tribal lands with future. urban landscapes and Established in December, has access to strategic trade 2001, in accordance with the relevant links that serve the Gauteng and Government policies, Maluti-AKwaZulu-Natal provinces. “Harrismith Phofung comprises 35 wards across is an economic hub for people living approximately 4,421 square kilometres in Tshiame, Intabazwe and Qwaqwa.

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Phuthaditjhaba Business Centre

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By contrast, the rural areas of MAP comprise commercial farms and major nature conservation centres such as Qwaqwa National Park, Platberg, Sterkfontein Dam and Maluti Mountain Range,” MAP highlights.

“The area is not only a tourist attraction destination, but also contributes immensely to local upliftment by generating gross agricultural income for the whole of the Province and is also highly regarded for its beef production.”

Free State

With a mission statement that encompasses self-reliance and coordination with various stakeholders in the delivery of development and sustainability, MAP has focused on ways to unlock technological advancement, infrastructure, employment and tourism opportunities to foster municipal growth. Its situation in the Free State, the third largest province in South Africa presents its own unique set of challenges and opportunities to

Recent projects • Paving of six kilometres of road in Phuthaditjhaba • A new surfaced road in Intabazwe, Harrismith • Provision of sanitation services at Mandela Park • 153 high-mast lights in place across four towns • Upgrading of infrastructure at cemeteries • Refurbishment of Fika Patso water purification plant • Improvements to the water supply in Metsi Matso

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Paving in Basotho Cultural Village

overcome and equally grab hold of to ensure a safe and secure environment with high morality.

“The Free State’s economy is dominated by agriculture, mining and manufacturing – also known as the ‘bread basket’ of South Africa – and about 90 percent of the province is under cultivation for crop production,” states MAP. “It produces approximately 34 percent of the total maize production in South Africa; including 37 percent of the province’s wheat, 53 percent of sorghum, 33 percent of potatoes, 18 percent of

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meat, 30 percent of groundnuts and 15 percent of wool. It the world’s fifth largest gold producer, with mining and chemical industries also home to the giant synthetic fuels Company, Sasol.”

Compared to the demographic composition of the rest of the Thabo Mofutsanyana District, MAP has the highest population density categorised as the third highest in the Free State.

A Category B Municipality, MAP is located in the eastern part of the Free State province that forms part of a scenic tapestry, which changes radically with each season.

S SAMBAL INVESTMENT (PTY) LTD

A Simple Commonsense Approach Robs Investment Holdings (Pty) Limited provides innovative civil, building and electrical engineering and revenue management solutions. Based in the Free State province, Robs is committed to becoming South Africa’s leading and most competent service provider in the construction and investment spheres respectively.

We aim to provide solutions that not only exceed our clients’ expectations, but also create an enabling environment for sustainable employment opportunities.

Having grown from our humble roots as a small holding company of four subsidiary enterprises specialising in the retail, manufacturing and promotions sectors, Robs is now a well established company in varied engineering and management disciplines.

With continued growth, and to help extend our reach beyond the Free State Province, we are committed to investing and developing our skills and resources towards becoming South Africa’s leading construction and investment Company.

Mospak Trading

Mospak is an award-winning Free State based clothing manufacturing co-operative, providing a variety of garments, specialising in uniform, PPC, linen, corporate wear and fashion.

Robs Properties (Pty) Ltd

Robs Properties (Pty) Ltd is a Real Estate/ Property Management company based in QwaQwa, established in 2004 under the sound directorship of Mr. Mohlouoa Isaac Seoe. The company manages eight buildings situated in the Bloemfontein CBD, of which three are owned by itself, namely Civilia Building, LM Building, and Sinodale Building, four are owned by its associate company Sambal Investment, namely Business Partners Building, Old Sanlam Building, Syfrets Building, and Warden Building, and one by the parent company Robs Investment Holdings, namely TAB Building, which it leases out to various provincial departments in the Free State.

Robs Properties strives to be a power-house in the Property Management field and expand its business throughout the country.

The company continues to provide excellent service to its tenants and ensures regular maintenance of all its buildings without disturbing the day-to-day operations of the buildings’ occupants.

Sambal investment

Sambal investment is a property investment company which was established in November of 2007. The company has 4 commercial properties that are leased by various provincial department in Bloemfontein Free State. All Sambal Investment properties are managed by it’s sister company Robs Properties, the company currently has a portfolio of 66.3 million.

Sheek Events and Communications

Robs number choice for events and branding needs. Sheek pride ourselves with creating unique experiences for our clients and delivering on our promise to get the job done.

www.robsinvestment.co.za

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Special Economic Zone

Identified by the Government’s Vision 2030 National Development Plan (NDP) as a core area that would benefit from South Africa’s National Infrastructure Plan, MAP was recently nominated as one of the “strategic beneficiaries of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ)”.

Designed to consolidate rural development, job creation and improvement of sustained better livelihoods, the NDP acts as a welcome boost locally that promises to bring around 5,000 potential job opportunities through an injection of more than R5 billion.

“We are inviting more investors to engage with the Municipality and its stakeholders as things develop,” says MAP. The beneficiaries of the funding

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include the Harrismith Logistics Hub, aimed at minimising and eradicating the high unemployment rate in the area. “The SEZ project in Harrismith is exciting as it has the potential to help us advance into a smart city; with the residents, labourers and schools aligning as one city with new opportunities. This will mitigate some of our labour challenge and help us to retain people. In ensuring we create a conducive and enabling environment for investors, the Municipality has put aside R300 million to focus on the infrastructural and functional needs of the SEZ.” Under the guidance of the SEZ strategy and its operational framework, MAP hope to utilise this knowledge to boost the existing industrial areas and rejuvenate both income and employment rates.

MANNA HOLDINGS PTY LTD

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anna Property Valuations is a professional service provider that undertakes property valuation services for banks, municipalities, Government departments and corporate clients.

Vision: Manna Holdings is a growing entity with an ambitious vision to become one of the most formidable black owned organisations in South Africa, and currently holds a BBBEE Level 1 accreditation.

Purpose: To impart property valuation knowledge to previously disadvantaged communities.

Mission: To provide proficient, groundbreaking property valuation services in South Africa and the continent at-large.

Obligations incidental to property valuation projects undertaken by Manna Holdings include legalities governing, and the need to ensure compliance with the following legislation: • The South African Constitution #108 of 1996 • Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004 (amended by Act 29 of 2014) • Property Valuations Act 17 of 2014 • Property Valuers Profession Act 47 of 2000 • South African Council for the Property Valuers Profession Code of Conduct as required by S28 of Act 47 of 2000 • Public Finance Management Act of 2012 • The Professional Planning Act 36 of 2002 • The Occupational Health and Safety Act #85 of 1993 • Access to Information Act 2 of 2002 Through continuous improvement and implementation of the latest industry specific technology, we ensure a high level of competitiveness and customer satisfaction.

www.mannaholdings.co.za Kestell Golf Course

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MANNA HOLDINGS (Pty) Ltd WORK AT HEIGHT

PROPERTY VALUATIONS

Our products and services include the following:

We visit a site and assess the type and magnitude of the valuation work to be carried out. Our highly skilled personnel are allocated to a particular project per area of specialisation.

• Work restraint, positioning and fall arrest equipment • Medical kits • Safety Equipment and protective clothing for Mining • Safety Equipment and protective clothing for fire fighting • Protective footwear and safety shoes • Vehicle fall protection systems • Emergency evacuation equipment • Post fall rescue solutions • Fall protection plans • Confined space access, egress and rescue • Inspection, service and maintenance of equipment and systems

VALUAT I ON F I EL DS • Property asset registers • Valuation rolls • Land audits • Commercial assessments • Portfolio valuations VALUAT I ON T Y PES • Agricultural & farms • Retail, offices, industrial • Residential valuations • Specialised properties

Tel: 012 345 3664 · Fax: 012 345 2468 · info@mannaholdings.co.za www.mannaholdings.co.za

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Sterkfontein bulk sewer

Contractor Development Plan

As recently outlined by the office of the Executive Mayor, infrastructure development is incremental to any area keen to rejuvenate and grow.

This revelation led to the introduction of a Contractor Development Plan that promises to take an aggressive approach to infrastructure development to fuel municipal growth.

“With an estimated budget of R17 million, the initiative was set-up in response to the nine-point plan detailed by SONA (State of the Nation Address) in a bid to achieve economic equality, job creation, transformation and economic growth,” explains MAP. In addition to the Mayor’s plans, the Municipality is already in the initial construction stages for a new shopping mall worth R69 million; with further lucrative infrastructure projects on the horizon.

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Witsieshoek Resort

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Furthermore, the Municipality intends to advance in the construction of the highly-anticipated Maluti-a-Phofung Legacy Park in the Farm Bluegumbosch 199 area, formerly known as Bokamoso.

“The Park, which has received approximately R300 million to develop, will have approximately 624 residential plots which will serve to phase out Phuthaditjhaba as a homeland town.

To that effect, the project will have major road links and a modern design to give it that urban feel and it will also directly face the University of the Free State,” MAP confirms.

These projects and initiatives will serve to complement those already underway in the area, including the Mayoral Empowerment Programme attentive to agricultural mixed farming and the Contractor Development Programme. One such farm that has benefitted from this since October,

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2015 is Rietlaagte Farm, situated between Kestell and Harrismith. “The purpose of the launch was to introduce the Programme to the Maluti-APhofung Municipality citizens with the intention of improving the livelihoods of the local residents by creating jobs, stabilising food security and alleviating poverty,” confirms MAP.

Equipped for the future

Utilising technology to enhance both energy efficiency and local wellbeing is something which sits at the heart of Maluti’s investments and goals. In respect of the former, the Municipality is about to construct a 65 MW solar plant in Makgolokweng with an estimated budget of R2.1 billion. “This significant project will be constructed

by RAM Electrical and funded by Simcoe Renewable Energy Corp from Canada. Once optimal operation is reached, the plant will create more than 500 job opportunities of which 250 will be permanent positions.

“We are thankful to Ekhaya Pty Ltd, in association with ENVESTO AFRICA

Phuthaditjhaba Business Centre

Special Economic Zone in Harrismith

and TwinPeak Technologies Pty Ltd, for helping us to begin such an important project that will have a significant local impact.”

These are just a cross-section of the projects currently underway or in the pipeline within the Municipality that are sure to help the area develop and meet its vision and goals to become a more technically advanced and sustainable future. By embracing its cultural heritage to capitalise on the opportunities available in the international market of cultural tourism – while deploying the most appropriate development plans to bolster the local economy across its core industry mainstays – MAP is well on its way to achieving its own Vision 2020.

“Above all, we strive to be an accountable Government in the eyes of all our people, and the investments we are making serve to solidify this key pillar of our vision,” MAP concludes.

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MALUTI-A-PHOFUNG LOCAL MUNICIPALITY Cnr Moremohoho & Motloung Street Private Bag X 805 Wetsieshoek 9870 South Africa T: +27 58 718 3700 F: +27 58 718 3775/7