Operation New Year’s Resolution aims to address issues like the removal of illegal stalls and food outlets, out-of-order lights in town, litter, parks and gardens, stray dogs and cattle, potholes and tarring gravel roads.
These problems have been detrimental to the tourism industry and a headache for residents for several years. The Hazyview Chamber of Business and Tourism (HCBT) has been working with various stakeholders and held a meeting to discuss possible solutions in December.
According to Mr Chris Harvie of the HCBT, there was good representation of the various stakeholders at the meeting and a lot of enthusiasm among the officials to get something done.
On the problem of removing the illegal structures and hawkers from the sidewalks and streets, it was agreed that it had to be done with sensitivity to avoid an uproar.
Harvie says education is key – teaching hawkers to form a cooperative so that they all get a share of the profit, instead of every hawker selling the same products.
Some of the developers in town have expressed interest in becoming involved with the licensing of stalls and building alternative ones.
On the crime front, there have been numerous failed robberies and even an attempted hijacking (see page 2).
Due to the improved communication between institutions, security outfits and the police, response is much quicker than in the past. Harvie says the fact that so many crimes have failed is also due to Spes-Plan Security patrolling a larger area, a greater police presence in town and various roadblocks held in the area.
The absence of the multitude of ore trucks has also contributed to the disappearance of the prostitutes and improved traffic flow.
Tourism was booming during the Christmas and New Year season, with many establishments fully booked. Harvie says this is a good sign as many tour operators previously did not want to stop in town due to the rampant corruption of traffic officers. Thanks to the HCBT’s widely publicised bribery-warning-cards campaign, fewer cases of spot fines and bribery requests have been made.
Harvie encourages establishments, big or small, to join Kruger Lowveld Tourism and the HCBT. Members receive daily reports of events in the tourism industry and developments in town and will also be invited to HCBT meetings.
Kruger Lowveld Tourism can be contacted on 013-755-2069 or send an email to Harvie at cbharvie@gmail.com
