Following a Property Indaba and an Indaba on infrastructure, the Executive Mayor of the Mangaung Metro, Gregory Nthatisi, invited stakeholders and investors to attend an Investment Summit in Bloemfontein this week.
The summit, which began on Wednesday, featured presentations and panel discussions aimed at unlocking investment opportunities in the region.
Following inputs by Nthatisi, was Yunus Hoosen, Head of Investment and Spatial Industrial Development at the DTIC, a presentation on investment opportunities in Mangaung by Sello More, City Manager and a presentation on the metro’s infrastructure programme by Revelation Masobeng, HOD of Technical Services in Mangaung.
Panel discussions focused on property development and positioning Mangaung as a prime tourism destination.
During his speech at the Infrastructure Indaba, More acknowledged that decades of neglect had led to an unsustainable water supply. He highlighted the challenge of attracting investors to a metro where water disruptions are a daily occurrence.
It is difficult to see investors streaming in to a metro where water disruptions are a daily occurence.
DA Councillor Tjaart van der Walt further stressed this issue, pointing out that reports presented at the Infrastructure Investment Indaba indicated the city is already grappling with a water supply deficit. “This means water interruptions are unavoidable on a rolling basis until corrective action is taken,” he said.
According to More Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu face a deficit of 76 ML during peak hours, especially in the northern parts of Bloemfontein.
Van der Walt added that the situation could have been improved if the Department of Water and Sanitation’s recommended water restrictions had been implemented earlier in August 2024.
However, there is hope on the horizon. Projections from Mangaung Metro indicate that the refurbishment of the Maselspoort Water Treatment Plant is set to be completed by September, which will increase its capacity from 85 to 160 ML per day. While this is a step forward, it is just one of many challenges the metro faces in promoting economic growth.
The metro’s efforts to attract investors are further hindered by challenges facing current business owners. Mike Spencer, a Professional Associated Valuer and Master Practitioner in Real Estate, shared that developers looking for sites in town face significant difficulties. Spencer noted that many properties in the metro could be used for affordable apartment developments, helping integrate the populations from different areas of the city.
In a letter to Nthatisi following the Property Indaba, Spencer also raised concerns over the zoning of residential properties for business use. He explained that in areas like Westdene, high rates—nearly 30% of potential rental income—make it difficult for property owners to compete with illegally run businesses.
“There is a great deal of goodwill, but also a lot of frustration,” Spencer said, urging action to address these issues and help the area flourish.
