As part of a nationwide project to empower, rejuvenate and reimagine urban areas, Nedbank’s Proud of My Town (PoMT), in partnership with urban planning social enterprise Renyaka Community Transformation, is planning to uplift a part of the Bloemfontein city centre.
A meeting with local stakeholders to talk about plans to redefine the future of the St George’s Precinct was held on Thursday, 14 November, at the Motheo TVET College National Artisan Development Academy. The main campus of the college falls within this planned precinct.
An introduction on design concepts and planning scenarios by a local architect and urban planning company was presented at the meeting.
Johan Olivier, executive director of Ranyaka, says the St George’s Precinct comprises an area stretching from Oliver Tambo Road as the western border; to Power Street next to the railway line in the east; and with Peet Street as the northern boundary. He says this area was identified because of its strategic location, connecting the rest of the central business district (CBD) with residential areas in, among others, Mangaung, Bochabela and Phahameng.
“The mix of activities – business, residential, educational, transport and government – is conducive to the project’s success,” Olivier points out.
Marius Volschenk, Nedbank’s regional manager of relationship business channel for the Free State, says the PoMT team finalised the implementation arrangements for the first part of the project by cleaning the area twice a week with the help of Anchor of Hope, painting street markings and appointing three parking guards. The team in July already received an endorsement letter to proceed from the Mangaung Metro.
”Unlocking opportunities for investors, as an investment in an urban revitalisation intervention at the precinct level, offers a unique opportunity to drive sustainable growth while creating lasting social and environmental impact,” says Volschenk.
“By adopting a place-based, people-centred, and citizen-led approach, this initiative ensures that the needs and aspirations of the local community and businesses are central to the development. Integrating economic, well-being, and green projects creates an environment where companies can grow and residents experience improved quality of life,” he explains.
“Investors will contribute to the area’s economic resurgence and benefit from the long-term resilience and increased property values that come from a balanced, inclusive, and future-proofed St George’s precinct. This collaborative approach builds strong local economies, enhances social cohesion, and creates a blueprint for inclusive, sustainable urban living.”
The PoMT initiative has already reached 33 communies, 17 towns and eight provinces.
However, Nina Wellsted, Nedbank’s head of retail sustainability, says the St George’s Precinct is on of the biggest projects yet.
Volschenk says the the next steps in the rollout of the plan include registering all interested parties on the PoMT management platform, a branding and marketing exercise, maintaining and monitoring the current projects, and commencing with comprehensive engagement with users of the precinct area including students, residents, formal businesses, street vendors and transport stakeholders. The team will also initiate a funding drive to augment the funding that Nedbank has already allocated to the project.
