OVERVIEW Landzicht
OVERVIEW Landzicht winery has proved itself as a worthy producer of wine. San rock paintings and Anglo-Boer War sites are plentiful. Lejweleputswa District Municipality Towns: Welkom, Virginia, Boshof, Christiana, Bultfontein, Bothaville Mining is the most important economic activity in this area, also known as the Free State Goldfields, but it is also the most important maizegrowing area in South Africa. A large natural gas field has been discovered on what used to be gold turf. Bothaville is the self-proclaimed Mielie Capital of South Africa but it is a name that is apt. The town hosts the annual NAMPO maize festival and the headquarters of Grain SA. Mining town Welkom is the major urban centre in the district. The town of Virginia is the site of a jewellery school and it is intended that this will form the nucleus of a jewellery beneficiation hub and an IT hub. The area has tourist assets such as a holiday resort on the Allemanskraal Dam, the Goldfields Wine Cellar in Theunissen and the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve but there is potential for growth in the heritage sector. Fezile Dabi District Municipality Towns: Sasolburg, Parys, Kroonstad, Frankfort, Heilbron, Viljoenskroon The chemical complex at Sasolburg is the economic driver in the district, which shares a border with Gauteng province along the Vaal River. The town of Heilbron is another important industrial centre and Frankfort does important agricultural processing work. Kroonstad is the district’s second-largest town and has a number of engineering works and a railway junction. A new kraft paper factory has been planned for Frankfort. A good proportion of South Africa’s grain crop is sourced from this district and when the vast fields of sunflowers and cosmos flowers are in bloom, a marvellous vista is created. The Vaal River presents opportunities for yachting, rafting and resort-based enterprises. Parys is a The Phakisa Freeway is a popular motor and bike racing track near Welkom in the Lejweleputswa District. charming town and Vredefort is home to a World Heritage Site, the Vredefort Dome where a meteor crashed to earth. Fezile Dabi District Municipality is the biggest contributor towards the provincial GDP, contributing approximately 35%. The Fezile Dabi area is mostly dominated by the industrial power of Sasol, with the manufacturing of refined petroleum, coke and chemical products adding largely to its GDP. Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality Towns: Tweespruit, Ladybrand, Clarens, Harrismith, Vrede, Ficksburg, Phuthaditjhaba, Bethlehem Tourism and fruit farming are the two principal economic activities of this area which is characterised by beautiful landscapes: the Maluti and the Drakensberg mountain ranges, wetlands in the north, well-watered river valleys and the plains of the north and west. The most famous asset is the Golden Gate National Park. Industrial activity is undertaken at Harrismith and Phuthaditjhaba, where the Free State Development Corporation is promoting investment. The Maluti-A-Phofung Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Harrismith is a multi-modal transport and logistics hub. The commercial centre of the district is Bethlehem while Clarens and Ficksburg have become famous for their artists and cherries respectively. Marquard produces 90% of South Africa’s cherries. The north of the district has many sunflower seed farms. Tweespruit is sunflower seed production centre. FREE STATE BUSINESS 2020 12
FDC empowers youth Job creation scheme is a multi-agency effort. OVERVIEW FOCUS In its efforts to empower youth, the Free State Development Corporation (FDC) is participating in job creation for unemployed individuals in the province. The FDC has signed a funding agreement with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) under the Labour Activation Programme (LAP) as an implementing agency. The LAP is an initiative by the UIF to provide work experience, training and skills opportunities to former contributors to the UIF who have lost their jobs, and unemployed youth. This is carried out under the Training and Skills Development Business Unit. The UIF is an agency of the Department of Labour. The unit intends to prioritise employment, skills and re-skilling of unemployed individuals, combating long-term unemployment and poverty alleviation in the province. “The implementation of the programme will cultivate an entrepreneurial culture and train participants to increase their chances of acquiring employment and starting their own business,” says Thabiso Tshabalala, FDC Project Manager. The programme targeted 1 500 learners who come from various communities around the Free State. The beneficiaries, both male and female, have already completed their theoretical and practical experience in building and civil construction (paving), welding and mixed farming. A total of 819 women completed this training. Positive feedback received from learners indicates that the programme is on the right path. This will create an economy that will result in employment opportunities for women, youth and many currently unemployed South Africans who should be productive participants in the economy. 13 FREE STATE BUSINESS 2020
