Municipal Workshop: Round Two

THABAZIMBI – It seems that whole group of local and other people are dedicated to make Thabazimbi a well functioning town. This all started when a municipal strategic planning workshop, with different role players was held in middle October this year. The driving force be- hind this workshop is Cobus du Toit from the Development Bank of Southern Africa. A feed back session last week, about four weeks after the first one, in municipal chambers brought involved parties together again to discuss a quo vadis. A lengthy document was prepared to pinpoint challenges, problems, priorities and how goals will be achieved. The document also contained action steps, cut-off dates and people responsible for specific tasks. The main challenges would be financial, and how funds will be sourced for huge projects such as sewage works for Northam and Thabazimbi, providing services for big squatter camps such as Smashblock between Thabazimbi and Northam, improving debt collecting, passing bylaws, structuring town development and ensuring that water and electricity supply demands are met. Represented at the meeting were, amongst others, Thabazimbi Municipal Council, developers, town planners, engineers, farmers, mine management and bankers. Despite the fact that doubts were expressed as to the capabilities of the current council to turn Thabazimbi into a well functioning town, everybody seemed committed, willing and motivated to get things on track.