{"id":58163,"date":"2022-03-17T11:39:34","date_gmt":"2022-03-17T09:39:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/forum-to-get-city-in-shape-20220316-2\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T19:15:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T17:15:43","slug":"forum-to-get-city-in-shape-20220316-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/forum-to-get-city-in-shape-20220316-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Forum to get city in shape"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Thanduxolo KhaliphaPhoto: Marti Will<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe want you. Join now,\u201d is the mantra of the newly established Matjhabeng Community Forum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The forum was launched on Thursday (10\/03) and the occasion was attended by more than 300 business people and residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cCommunity involvement is the only way to rejuvenate the economy,\u201d says Jakes Jooste, a businessman and one of the masterminds behind the initiative.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cCommunity involvement is the only way to rejuvenate the economy,\u201d says Jakes Jooste, a businessman and one of the masterminds behind the initiative.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEach and every citizen of Matjhabeng needs to become involved to make this venture a success,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanduxolo Khalipha, executive mayor of Matjhabeng, has given his full support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khalipha, who came into office 100 days ago, is focussed on the needs of the people, and one of the big victories he has notched is to rectify the skewed rates and taxes, which were implemented in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanduxolo Khalipha, executive mayor of Matjhabeng, has donated seven tractors and other vehicles and equipment to the Ma\u00adtjhabeng Community Forum.<\/div>\n
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Residents saw the benefits of this correction on their February municipal accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cA clean city is a top priority. I am happy to be in this partnership to clean the city,\u201d says Khalipha.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA clean city is a top priority. I am happy to be in this partnership to clean the city,\u201d says Khalipha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jooste explains that the concept behind the Matjhabeng Community Forum is based on Bloemfontein\u2019s Fichardtpark Community Forum\u2019s model. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They focus on service delivery and efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the Matjhabeng Community Forum to succeed, residents will pay a small monthly fee to them, but they will still have to pay their monthly municipal accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cFichardtpark fixes potholes, manages waste removal and keeps the streets and parks neat. A clean environment is a safe environment. This is what we will do,\u201d says Jooste.<\/div>\n

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\u201cFichardtpark fixes potholes, manages waste removal and keeps the streets and parks neat. A clean environment is a safe environment. This is what we will do,\u201d says Jooste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He says it is not their intention to take over Matjhabeng, but to rather work with and support the municipality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to start with the basics. We need to stand up and take responsibility. We are passionate about this town. We need to turn things around and walk away from the negativity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philip van der Merwe explains that the Fichardtpark forum has the approval of the Manguang Municipality to perform certain basic services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe want to do this in Welkom, but five times bigger.<\/div>\n

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\u201cWe want to do this in Welkom, but five times bigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Van der Merwe says the Matjhabeng forum\u2019s financial basis will be formed by monthly contributions from businesses and residents. The forum is a registered non-profit company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cResidents need to buy into the project to make it succeed. We all have a moral obligation, we have all invested in this city, we are all gatvol, and our property values are declining \u2013 let us make a difference. We need to move forward,\u201d says Van der Merwe.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cResidents need to buy into the project to make it succeed. We all have a moral obligation, we have all invested in this city, we are all gatvol, and our property values are declining \u2013 let us make a difference. We need to move forward,\u201d says Van der Merwe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Visit mcf9460.co.za for more information. The registration form is on p 5 of Vista.<\/strong><\/em> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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to get city in shape | Vista<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/forum-to-get-city-in-shape-20220316-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Forum to get city in shape\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cWe want to start with the basics. 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