THE FUTURE OF MY ORANJEMUND
Yesterday Evening, Michele and I went for a walk with our dog. We walked up the 5th avenue lawns, under the shade of those tall dark fir tree's. To the left of us, just barely 5 meters away, lay two large gemsboks, content and at peace whilst they munched on the surrounding green grass.
As we headed westwards, the sun's last afternoon rays began to sink behind the bulk of the old power station, a mere shell of a building that had once powered the diamond industry. We then turned north, between the power station yard and the tennis courts. The tennis courts silenced, not a ball or cheer to be heard.
Just next to the tennis court is the Oranjemund bowling club. Like the tennis club, it also has seen better days. Like all the other sporting institutions in Oranjemund, these clubs are still well maintained, but grappling with a severe dwindling membership problem.
If this had been any other major town, on such a pleasant late afternoon , individuals would be standing in a queue to have their chance on the court or lawn.
We continued our walk up to the large grass expanse, commonly known as St.George's Square. A large and lush square of grass, beautifully decorated with the most amazing shrubs and flowers. It seemed out of place , here in the middle of this desert town. The sky had turned a golden, sandy colour as a single, solitary car drove around the square.
This square has been the centre of Oranjemund as far back as 1948.
I went home after that walk, sat down at the kitchen table and started to think.
This town does not have to die, this town does not have to be reclaimed by the desert, people should still be able to live here, and contrary to common misconception, it can be run on an economical basis.
It just needs a little bit of common sense and above all a desire from Government ,DeBeers and Oranjemunders to achieve this.
For too long, the local economy of this unique town was derived solely from the mine. The cash cow that sustained every single one of the private and company individuals has been supported directly or indirectly from the DeBeers group. This cash cow is about to be turned off, as the diamond resources of the Namib desert become uneconomical to mine the cow will start to wander to a different field, which is understandable.
It is therefore imperative to find another source for the funding of the local economy. I have sat on the sidelines for the last three years and listened to various stakeholders presenting their suggestions.
I shook my head in disbelief as I realized that these well intended individuals did not grasp the idea of what was needed to preserve Oranjemund, how to market Oranjemund, and above all how to generate the future economy of Oranjemund, thus ultimately ensuring it's survival.
Now, I am by no means an expert on economics, but I am an Oranjemunder, well for the last 36 years I have been. My children have been born here, my mother lies buried here. As do my children, I went to school here. I guess this entitles me to an opinion on my town.
There have been far too many people who have been involved in the future of Oranjemund, who are not trying to secure the future of the town for the people of Oranjemund, but more for what they can get out of it. There have been far too many people from government who visit Oranjemund, on a crusade, to help with the fight for the survival of Oranjemund, only to return to the capital with little further interest in a remote corner of their country. There have been far too many DeBeers people who have come to Oranjemund, proclaiming to have the answer to our woes. They spend two years here, meeting after meeting ensues, money is wasted on second rate schemes, that ultimately do not ensure the future of Oranjemund, as they tend to still rely on the fact that the original source of currency in Oranjemund is DeBeers.
In this sense, how can you dish out money for people to establish new business's in Oranjemund when you know full well, that as the mine scales back on their workforce, the gross income available to Oranjemund diminishes. We are just wasting time, money and effort at this stage.
Where on earth are we going to find another cash cow to sustain Oranjemund? It's not going to be found in mushroom farming projects. It will not be found in tourism, nor will it be found in fish farming. These ideas are good, but have not the answer to our problem. Why?
1) Mushroom farming, does not create enough jobs or generate enough income to sustain the town. We are also far away from major markets.
2) Tourism, is an excellent idea, but once again, it will not generate enough traffic through our town and in doing so will not create the jobs needed to keep the entire town alive. It also is limited and will only benefit a few individuals. Due to the location and nature of Oranjemund, numbers into the Sperrgebiedt park would be controlled.
3) Aquaculture, more than likely, the best idea of the lot. Also labour intensive. However, it is cheap labour and not middle income driven..... Once again we will not achieve economical numbers to sustain the town.
On top of all these issues, we also have the various parties interests:
1) The DeBeers Group: In all honesty , DeBeers do not want the area opened up to the general public just yet. This is fair and understandable. The entire unemployed population of Namibia believes that there are riches to be found in Oranjemund. That diamonds are a quick source to wealth. That Oranjemund is a place where diamonds can be found on the streets. If these gates were thrown open, we would have a mass influx of people migrating from the poorer regions of Namibia to Oranjemund. Oranjemund's limited infrastructure would not be able to cope with this influx.
The unique wildlife would be threatened, crime would be rampant. Namdeb security would have their hands full with people trying to access the diamond area....and above all, that unique point that makes Oranjemund, not just a special place in Namibia, but the world would have been destroyed..... the Security of Oranjemund.
In this, the "Security of Oranjemund", lies it's future, it's selling point.... To which nobody seems to have realized.
2) The Ministry of Wildlife: The Sperrgebiedt National Park is about to be proclaimed, and our little town sits right at the heart of this park. The Ministry would also like to see access control to this unique region kept in place, albeit a slightly easier access thus enabling the flow of tourism through the area. Under no circumstances would they appreciate a large style influx of people into the park. They would like to control the area along strict environmental guidelines. The remote , unpopulated beauty of the area, is it's 2nd selling point.
3) The Government: Would like Oranjemund to remain an established town, generating tax revenue for the state. Providing quality education to it's young citizens through Oranjemund Private School. To have a presence in the most South Western corners of this vast land of ours.
4) The Oranjemunders: The most important part of the interested parties. We have to ask ourselves, "Who are the Oranjemunders?" Most people living here do not consider themselves Oranjemunders. They are here for a few years to earn an income. Most do not want to be here, due to the remoteness of the place and are only here due to the fact that it was one of the few places offering work. Some cannot wait to leave here and constantly moan about the place. Others have homes in other distant towns. We even have consultants that come to Oranjemund, stay for a few months and then think they understand how it all works. They have idea's, but do not consult Oranjemunders. They like to host meeting after meeting of endless banter, with nothing ever materializing, all whilst the cash cow is getting thinner. These consultants have been arriving more frequently over the years, and just as the consultant before them, earn a wage and move on leaving us to the howling wind.
An Oranjemunder is a person who goes to bed at night time and can hear the deafening silence of the vast emptiness of the Namib. An Oranjemunder is a person that gets a lump in his throat every time he watches another family leave Oranjemund. An Oranjemunder is a person who respects and loves the wildlife around him. An Oranjemunder is a person who knows what they have here in Oranjemund, and does not want to lose that. An Oranjemunder is a person who is here to stay!
In conclusion, we need a system that can achieve the following, Keep DeBeers, The Ministry of Wildlife and Tourism, The Government and the people of Oranjemund, all happy, with a new source of revenue other than the DeBeers group!
Before we can respond to the above statement, it might be appropriate to ask ourselves, "What can we, as Oranjemund offer to attract others here", the answer has been here all along....
(part 2 to follow, I have to work!)
Well put out so far Mike .. you been doing a lot of thinking over a long time .. you have a passion for this town .. I await with interest your follow on ..
POTENTIAL ..... ??
I am looking forward to part 2....
and like Sandy I read the passion and have sensed it while I was there AND..... you keep going to keep this alive, pal....
The rest is in my head and now the weekend has arrived, so on Monday, I will deliver the closing argument on how to sustain Oranjemund! allgood
Hey!!!! are we going have to subscribe to hear the other half of the story....???? Is that how you plan to make money???? You better be at the damn fence tonight and complete this
Great words Mike. You are indeed lucky to have been able to stay there all these years. I think if I had a choice as a teenager, I would have preferred to stay when we moved, but unfortunately kids aren't allowed to stay in OMD on their own! notfair
Paul, I think you should tie him to that fence, and promise him a sip of beer for each new sentence!
Jees Mike you've covered just about all potential sources of revenue, can't wait for the grand slam solution you have.
Essentially you need to get people to OMD. You need to get people to spend money in OMD. OMD is so far off the beaten track so overcoming the first obstacle will be quite a challenge. A 'self sustaining retirement village' for the old fogies ??
Leon
I suppose one could say that for those of us that left O'mund many years ago any words we say are too much or too little too late ,, and hindsight .. easier said than done etc .. all the coin phrases that one could add .. I could ahve stayed in O'mund for many more years , was happy .living out my life in this wonderful town the difference was that I met someone special and the only way was to follow what destiny had given me ... I was not wrong in that choice .. I learnt to live differntly , not so much more the sheltered from realities life that O'mund offered ,, make no mistake i was wide awake to the advantages and the pitfalls of living there , saw it as a fools paradise if one allowed it to become that .. By moving I found a new happiness ... my carrer path ended up changing in a way that I can make a difference in another sphere .. we all have different life paths ..
My positive observations are .. Private enterprise .. from the little cellphone stall operators to restaurants to supermarket franchise to accomodation offered ... and yes i echo Mikes words .. INFRASTRUCTURE its all there .. sad is the infrastructure that was allowed to go to seed by shortsighted thinking .. the Hydroponics farm is one .. I drove down to it and saw dead trees and ruination .. why not even have offered it to a going experienced conern in hydroponics gratis ... exotic ..food grown .. sold ..income .. employment .. Ok not a hell of a lot but every little bit counts .. instead we have ruins .. The abbatoir .. same thing .. think if they offered somebody like hartliefs the abbotoir ?? they based in windhoek .. supply Woolies etc .. long distances transport costs .. here .. existing infrastructure .. shorter travelling distances to their major markets ?? those are the two ones that just coursed through my mind when I drove around .. maybe sounds so simplistic and idealistic but yes was possible if a right decision was made at the right time .. Just my tuppence worth ... But yes we await with bated breath Mikes follow up ...
Quote from: Paul Alexander on November 21, 2008, 01:47:23 PM
Hey!!!! are we going have to subscribe to hear the other half of the story....???? Is that how you plan to make money???? You better be at the damn fence tonight and complete this
There we go with the bloody fence again............wait for me I want to hear the other half of the story too image16
@ Sandy - Talking about the hydroponics... when I heard it was no more, I couldn't help but think what I would have been able to do with that!!! I remember it surrounded with trees, slightly lower than the surrounding dunes away from the wind, and all the infrastructure already there. Here I'm looking for a piece of land away from pollution and other pests to grow medicinal plants, and haven't found anything worthwhile and suitable yet (after 6 months of driving around every second weekend, scouring the net, checking all property guides). Everything seemed to grow in Oranjemund's fertile river sediment, and with the river right there, water no problem! Sad. What I wouldn't give to have that small square of land for organic/hydroponic farming. My Dad also has quite a lot of experience and wouldn't mind joining me. The hydroponics at North hostel (I think) was his baby, I remember a lot of vegetables, even pepinos were cultivated there. And my Mom - she would pack her bags today if I said we can go back to Oranjemund. So, you're so right, the infrastructure is all there, as is the opportunity and resources. It's waiting to be explored...
Unfortunately Bertie ,, the Hydropinics is so no more .. they even let the trees around it die off ... it would take a lot of work to get it going ..
Yes Sandy, I saw photo's of what it looks like at present. One can but dream, hey. Still wouldn't mind getting my hands on a little patch of fertile soil there! I remember the smell of the soil, the river, the sea. Who knows where destiny takes us... I think of a Vanessa Mae tune which starts with a whisper: "Destiny,... I will find you in my dreams..." allgood
funny how one romatices about earlier days in one's life, in this case OMD. OMD is a distant memory but as you folk discuss the old days a lot of it comes flooding back. One day I would like to return for a shortish visit, but I know that I will be severely dissappointed in seeing the current OMD as a 'shell' of its former glory days. I do remember the lonely weekends in the single quarters for those of us who were 'outsiders', listening to our loud heavy metal 'music?'. After a game of snooker at Casey's and maybe a ride/drive down to the pink pan there really was not much else to do apart from some Windhoek lagers in the evening some more snooker or perhaps a disco at the rugby club or gun club etc. That's probably why some of the appies (especially those Germans [no names mentioned] , damn it could those guys piss it up) boozed so much (Klippies and Coke weekends at the beach). I suppose life was a lot different for those of you who grew up in OMD and were nertured by family and friends in the town. There definitely was a 'clique' in town and I remember being quite apprehensive to intrude/gatecrash into local events and happenings in OMD.
A few questions.
What is the size of the local OMD population these days?
What do you guys do for entertainment in OMD (apart from 'chatting' on the OMD site)?
What areas of the mine are still productive?
Are there outside businesses in town?
Are there still those lovely neat parks/gardens in town especially down 5th avenue?
Leon
Mike .. your cue ....
What is the size of the local OMD population these days?
I heard about 14000 souls, only about 2000 odd for the mine, about 400 informal non mine....
What do you guys do for entertainment in OMD (apart from 'chatting' on the OMD site)?
Off Road club, Golf, Bowls, Squash, Braai's, Angling club, Rugby CLub, Hockey, Swimming, Watch Movies, Tennis Club, Cycling, Camping , Drinking in the bars, Church, Jukskei, Snooker, Darts, Eat out.....plent y plenty, it's what you make of the place.....
What areas of the mine are still productive?
I cannot answer this, as I do not work on the mine, But 3 plant is still going, Pocket beaches, North bank mines....
Are there outside businesses in town?
Yes!, But all dependent apon the mine as the chief contributer to the local economy, Spar, Woolworths, Pep Stores, Bars, Restaurants, AFC, Bell, Barlows,
Are there still those lovely neat parks/gardens in town especially down 5th avenue?
The town is looking awesome at the moment, green lawns and flowers everywhere....
The " green " I agree I see it on the rise again .. most spectacular was 5th ave with the circles with the palms and the now tall trees flanking each side .. was going to take a pic ,, forgot , but got it firmly embedded in my memory .... it remains ...
See no one has mentioned all the olive trees down 5th & 6th Avenues, those trees have been there for years. Free oilves for the picking ( or is it pickling)
I once suggested that the school look at producing Olive oil from those trees.
Mike looking forward to you further views for Oranjemund.
Today is Sunday Mike .. you had lots more time for deep thinking .. we await the second contribution ..
Hey Mike
How is the rugby club going?
I played in 73/74 when Derek Erickson was coach - he was damn good. We had a great side and just about won everything.
I've attached a photo of the 73 side. See who you can recognise - it will stir a few memories.
Malcolm
By the way Mike, I concur with everything you have said about O'mund as well as many of the replies.
Perhaps we reminisce more as we get older.
Malcolm
Thanks for the update Mike. Looks like you folk still have lots fun things to do in OMD.
Sandy it must have been totally bizarre visiting OMD after an absence of 28 years !!
First day yes .. but then the town even with all its changes just kind of settled into me ... and it felt just as if i had done some time travel and was now in a kind of warp cos those 4 days lasted forever .. I arrived with no expectations ... encountered the reality of where and how it had grown and yet also shrunk and left with no misgivings .. only memories afresh ...
Hi Mike ~
In my private and totally personal capacity as no more than a fellow Oranjemund resident, I would just like to place some elements of this discussion in context:
1. For the purposes of clarity, one of the points you make in your opening entry to the effect that "De Beers doesn't want this place opened yet" is a little misleading. De Beers has very little to do with the Oranjemund issue, other than being a shareholder in Namdeb. Most of the infrastructure in Oranjemund is "owned" and administered by Namdeb. The company, whether it was De Beers in the past or Namdeb in the present, does not own the land. It has always been State land for which Namdeb (or CDM) holds the mining licences.
2. In years gone by diamond mining legislation existed in terms of the Diamond Proclamation of 1949. This was replaced in 1999 by the very forward-thinking and well compiled Namibian Diamond Act. In terms of the Diamond Act, areas which fall inside diamond mining licence zones are referred to as Restricted Areas. Oranjemund Town is presently within a Restricted Area because it falls within the sphere of Namdeb's diamond mining licences. It is true that, in terms of product protection, this serves our interests well. As far as the social fabric of Oranjemund is concerned, it is a "double-edged" sword. The inevitable "community" question is: "How does one free up entry to the town without sacrificing the peace, stability and virtually crime-free state that the community currently enjoy?".
3. Be that as it may, Namdeb recognised a number of years ago that entry to the town needed to be liberalised, and the concept of private entrepreneurship promoted, in the hope of generating secondary industry and commerce to sustain the town into the future. In terms of pursuing proclamation, the company has supported the principle of exorcising the town area from that of the mining licence so that the Diamond Act would no longer apply. Proclamation will also allow people to buy, and own, land. This intent was translated into action by the company fully supporting the proclamation process.
I won't bore you all with the legalities involved in such an initiative but it is an incredibly lengthy process. Rosh Pinah, which is not a "closed" town of any sort, started their proclamation about two years before Namdeb and still has not been proclaimed! (In the meanwhile, the track record of many municipal entities in Namibia has gone "down the drain" with incompetency, mismanagement, debt and failure of services being the order of the day. Well functioning towns of the recent past - Maltahoe and Usakos are examples - have been paralysed by increasing debt, lack of service delivery and a complete unravelling of the municipal infrastructure. I suspect the authorities are, therefore, rightly "nervous" of creating another meltdown, as occurred at Arandis).
I believe that Oranjemund has a future and wish it to be so. I do think, however, that we need to "right-size" the town, decide what it is that will be the key economic and financial generators and go for it. It will not be the Oranjemund of yesterday or even, for that matter, today, but it will hopefully be comfortable, peaceful and prosperous for those who remain.
One thing I'm sure of, is that we all desire a positive future for the town so that its uniqueness continues to be preserved for generations to come. Those of us who live here were reminded most strongly of this by the attitudes, the joy, the pleasure, the comments, the tales of yore and affinity for the town that the recent Reunion attendees expressed. It was a reminder of the responsibility we carry to collectively ensure that we play our individual parts, past and present, in ensuring that Oranjemund does not turn into a story of woe!
Well stated Pete.
There are many persons that would have loved to live their pensions out in the surroundings they grew to love and accept.
For my pennys worth, I dont think the majority of people currently living & working in Oranjemund see the town as home. Its the ones that do, the Town Committee & company should be listening to.
I just love the thoughts and comments that appear here in this topic. Please continue with your post, Mike.
As an old OM resident who has just attended the reunion and visited some spots in town, I think I am entitled to add and mention that I still love this little oasis in the desert and would also not like to see it end, like Pete has expressed and to use his words, 'in a story of woe'.
I love to see the inputs and ideas. I love to see that there are people who are willing to fight for the survival of the town. I love to keep the idea in mind that this town may once again bloom to glory of former days and that I may have the opportunity and luck to go back there to visit again and again...
Mostly - I loved to see that the town has not yet turned out to be a lost case - I gave some small thoughts and personal opinions in another post.
Not sure whether this is the right topic for this but I was overcome with a great sense of sadness at lunchtime today after I went to collect Shannon from school. All of the Grade 4's received a gift from their teachers - a pencil case filled with sweets, together with a sticker book and stickers. When she opened the pencil case to show me the sweets I was suddenly taken back to my days as a child in Oranjemund as the sweets reminded me of those we would get in a plastic Christmas stocking, along with our gift, at the yearly Christmas Tree. I think Shannon had one Christmas Tree as a baby and the following year it was for Namdeb employees only, after that it just fizzled away and as many have you will have seen on your visit - the Mule Derby equipment has just been left to rust away.
And then this afternoon I went to collect Cameron's report from her teacher - Miss Johanna Kalondo, who after living in Oranjemund for 35 years has decided to move to Windhoek. Mrs Erna du Plessis (26 years teaching) is also finishing off at the end of this term and Mrs Annelie van Schoor (31 years teaching) will be finishing off at the end of Jan 2009. One can't help but wonder who of the old Oranjemunders will be left here next year! At this stage you tend to ask not who is leaving, but who is actually staying.
After 27 years I'm still not ready to leave!
Here is part two:
"If you were an outsider, a visitor, driving into Oranjemund for the first time, you would be dumbstruck to see rolling green lawns that cover every verge. After driving through one of the most arid regions in Africa, the entrance into the town seems somewhat surreal.
Tall green tree's, spaciously laid out parks, all in a well maintained condition. The different array of tree's is just incredible. Pine, Fir, Oak, Willow, Fever and Palm tree's cover the canopy of the town. Over the fence in somebody's garden, you just spotted a Banana tree.......
The road makes a gentle curve to the left, heading into 5th avenue, when there, without a care in the world, graze a small herd of some 24 gemsbok. A community and a nature reserve all living in peaceful harmony.
Back to our question, "What do we in Oranjemund have to offer others, in order to attract them here?" What makes Oranjemund different to other places in Namibia?"
We also have to bear in mind, that in Oranjemund, due to the lack of proclamation, that property cannot be bought or sold yet. I also believe that contrary to political hype, this process is not going to be occurring quite as soon as is envisaged.
It has been pointed out to us, that Government might be weary of proclamation, as this has resulted in a number of other smaller towns in Namibia being proclaimed and then being unable to sustain themselves economically.
The initial idea was to sell the houses to the current occupants in the hope that they would stimulate the local economy. This will and would have not worked. It would only have created a large degenerating problem. The majority of people would have had to take out loans to buy the house in the first place, their jobs and income would not have been secured long enough to service that loan. The town would not have been able to support enough private jobs to generate funding to keep services running and we would be in the same situation as other towns in Namibia. Some politicians would say this theory is nonsense. I would just like to point out what has happened to our neighbouring town of Alexander Bay. Another closer to home example would be Arandis.
I once mentioned to a prominent local politician, "You only have one chance of doing this, make sure you do it right the first time, you cannot go back!" That was three years ago.
As I mentioned earlier, we first have to get the cash flowing in the local economy, we first have to ensure that we are indeed capable of running the town, without the aid of the mine. We have to be sure the we have sufficient funds on a monthly basis, not just to run the town, but be able to save money for expansion and regeneration of aging infrastructure. Once we can do this, Once we can prove to both Namdeb and Government that this can be achieved, only then can we push for proclamation.
I believe the only option to procure Oranjemund's future, whilst keeping all parties concerned happy, is to market Oranjemund as an International Retirement village.
Now many people will shake their heads in disbelief, "How on earth are a bunch of pensioners going to keep the town running?" " Please explain how the geriatrics are going to promote and sustain the local economy!"
Just after independence, I was in between jobs. My mom had passed on and I took over the running of my father's home at E7-1st . This enabled me to pop into the Sportsmans bar every morning at 11.00am. for a quick ice cold beer.
It was here, 15 years ago, that I had first began to think of Oranjemund as the perfect retirement location. It was here, that I would sit with three other old retired men. One of the old timers was an Oshiwambo man by the name of Kalondo, he had lived in Oranjemund since the early 70's and was now residing with one of his daughters. He expressed his fears of having to leave Oranjemund eventually and wished that he could have retired in Oranjemund on a permanent basis. He felt safe in Oranjemund.
The other was Danny the Greek. Danny was also due to leave Oranjemund. Like "old man" Kalondo, he did not want to go. He too wished to stay in Oranjemund. Danny was an active member of the bowling club and gun club and would often be seen at various clubs in the evenings. He enjoyed a flutter with lady luck and was always one of the high rollers when it came to club raffles in Oranjemund.
We ask ourselves the question, "What does and old Oshiwambo man and a Greek have in common, that would benefit Oranjemund?" They both had the desire to reside in Oranjemund. They both had pensions and savings and in their own small way they spent their money, every day in that bar. But they also spent money on groceries. They also both supported the library. In the grand scheme of things, it may seem insignificant to the entire local economy of Oranjemund, two minnows contributing to this economy, but imagine that there were not just these two pensioners living here, but 2000 pensioners.
I did a bit of research. Do you know how much it costs to book yourself a room in an old age home these days? Do you know how long the waiting list is for these places? Do you know how insecure and afraid pensioners living in retirement villages feel? Do you know how many pensioners are unable to walk around their towns or even attend a social club. This is all due to one reason, and one reason only. The rampant crime that is engulfing Southern Africa. I am sure you all know somebody who has experienced this crime wave.
I also can draw up a list of 30 names of ex Namdeb employees , who given the chance would like to have retired here. They would have kept and spent their pensions in this town. They would have given life back to this town. I am only one person, but I can assure you, that we all knew 30 people that would have liked to retire here.
Some people could'nt wait to get out of here. "You must be crazy to want to stay out here!", "There's nothing here!"....."At least in Cape Town, you are near the hospital and shops", they muttered.
The above statement I can fully agree with. Medical treatment is very important to old people. Did you know that the hospital in Oranjemund was built ahead of it's time, it was the best hospital in Southern Namibia. It had the best doctors, dentists and nurses. People would come from neighbouring towns to seek treatment here.
There was strong talk a few years ago that the mine tried to outsource the hospital. At the time it seemed like a good idea. But it never materialized. It appeared that no medical company was interested in a remote hospital in the middle of the desert, with a declining population. Anyone who had business sense would have to agree. There was no point in investing in a town with a declining economy.
However, let's dream a bit. Let's say that Oranjemund had 2000 pensioners. Old people are one of the biggest patrons to the medical industry. Now do you think the mine would have any difficulty outsourcing the hospital? Imagine the additional job creation for specialized treatments at the hospital. The hospital alone , should be able to create a minimum of 70 permanent positions and a further 40 additional "Non permanent" positions.
Out of those 70 permanent jobs, how many do you think might have children to send to the local school? Perhaps an additional 25 kids? Who knows? But it is possible. Those 70 positions would not be filled with pensioners but by productive, young qualified members of society. Contributing members of the Oranjemund economy.
Now lets talk more about this imaginary 2000 pensioners living in Oranjemund. Firstly, I use the number 2000 as guideline. I was told that Oranjemund has 3100 housing units. So I use the number 2000, or 1000 couples in the sense that we are using 1000 housing units for this example.
By all rights, with the proper planning, marketing and potential future developments, there is no reason why, for the first time since the late 70's , Oranjemund may experience true growth.
Let's talk a little about hypothetical names and numbers, taking the worst case scenario. If the mine established a subsidiary company called Oranjemund Retirements (just an example), then allocat 1000 housing units to this subsidiary for the project. As the mine downscales their workforce, then the number of available housing units shall increase.
If you have 1000 units, which are the standard three bedroom house, a fair price for rental would be in the region of N$3000.00 per month. This equates to N$ 3 million per month into Oranjemund Retirements Account. Keep in mind, that this would be the initial start up phase of the project. You would aim to fill 2000 units after the first 18 months.
Anyhow, lets not get ahead of ourselves, back to the initial income of N$3 million a month. According to what I have heard, it costs the mine just under N$6 million a month to service the town. This self sustaining target can be reached and surpassed after the first stage has been reached, ie. 18-20 months. At this stage , the mine will no longer be carrying the financial burden of the town.
As I said earlier in this document, I am not a financial person. But if you have the funds to maintain the standard operations of the town, your income generated by non accommodation units, ie. Private enterprise rentals, Club rentals and other sundry levies should also start to increase.
Now for the big surprise, how jobs are created in a town full of pensioners. If you have 1000 households in Oranjemund, you are virtually assured that at least 200 people will employ a domestic or a gardener. The following clubs and institutions will benefit directly from the influx of pensioners. This is in no particular order and I have added comments:
1) The Oranjemund Hospital. The mine will be able to outsource this institution and it will become a large and integral part of the community. A proper, privately owned pharmacy will also be established. (70 jobs)
2) The bowling Club. A pensioners paradise, a well maintained bowling club, ideally situated in the centre of town, within easy walking distance. (7 jobs)
3) The Town Pool. I swim in this pool on a daily basis and in most cases the pool is empty. But the nice thing that about this well kept pool, is that it is heated all year round.
( 4 Jobs)
4) The Oranjemund Golf Club. One of the best courses in the country, sandwiched between the mighty Orange River and the rolling sands of the Namib Desert. Close your eyes, picture it, herds of Gemsboks meandering the course whilst you have 100 players a day are playing golf. ( 30 Jobs)
5) The Tennis Club. Still in a good condition, but lacking the players.
6) The Squash Club. A very active club in Oranjemund.
7) The West Coast Gym. Also conveniently situated in the centre of the town.
8) The Library. A well maintained institution.
9) The Jukskei Club.
10) The Angling Club. Plenty of Freshwater and Sea Angling to be had.
11) The Riding Club. For those old timers who enjoy the wild side of life.
12) The MOTHS. The Namib Moth Hall. Due to there being no pensioners in Oranjemund, this institution has suffered a severe membership drop.
13) The Cricket Club. What an awesome cricket Club and Field. Plenty of lawn for the old timers to whack the ball about.
14) Snooker and Darts Club. One a very busy club, with a well established league. Also suffering due to the lack of people.
15) The Namib Gun. Once a proud institution, suffering from the same problem as all the other clubs in the town. Lack of members.
16) The Yacht Club. This club has suffered the most. Although the Clubhouse still stands proudly above the pan, the water is no longer flowing into the pan. The people drifted away and this is the one club I would give my left arm to restore back to it's former glory. Many a Saturday and Sunday afternoon was spent down here. The desert sun, sparkling like diamonds apon the surface of the water as water craft of all types harnessed the wind.
17) At least 5 different churches.
Every single business in Oranjemund, from the Banks to the restaurants will benefit. The ladies hairdresser would have to expand their premises and employ more people. We all know how the old ladies enjoy their outings to the hairdressers.
The restaurants would be full on a regular basis, with many more restaurants opening due to the increased demand. More jobs being created. More rental money for the Oranjemund Retirement company.
How many of these old timers will get involved in their gardens? How many people will be doing DIY at home. Here's a gap for The Flower Pot and the Hardware stores to make a killing...... more jobs created. "
..... MORE TO FOLLOW!
hi
sometimes the best thing to do is to ask the kids...
Have a competition and ask the kids what they would do to improve their town. If they help to build something then they are more likely to stay. Make it more apealing for the people that live there.
I remember the day trips to the beach and the yaught club. Or the tree planting day. In-stead of giving each other christmas presents then plant things.
Remember the bus stops - the youth club painted them.
Open day at the different clubs - give the kids free membership and hopefully theire parents will join in.
ORANJEMUND RETIRMENT VILLAGE..........needs nurses, eye specialist, dentists. Someone to do meals on wheels and catering.
I remember when my granny came to visit O-mund she loved it.
Taking shape .. interesting .. the resurrection of the clubs and some of the infrastructure ?? especially Yacht might be problematic but not impossible ..it was sad to see the pan so empty .. the seepage dam that kept it topped up a mere puddle with no more pumphouse ..
Great thinking Mike, I know my folks would have liked to have stayed, only bought in CT because they knew they had to.
Bet there are still a number of older De Beers / CDM / Namdeb pensioners that would move back if they could.
A lot of jobs caring for the aged could be created /needed.
Dont forget the contribution made by family visiting the retirees. Also some people have retired early and so may want to get involved with things like yachting and enviromental issues.
There are those that are just sick of all the crime, violence & security issues around that if promoted well enough as a safe haven /retirement village (lock up and go) you could end up attraction people other than just Ex employees.
yes a large safe secure and fully self sufficient retirement village with all amenities close at hand would be the way to go. A regular bus service fetching old fogies for shopping and visits to the clinic etc. Idea seems to have a lot of potential.
Leon
Now this is what I am talking about..... As the houses empty out, the gardens start to die....... My meat supplier was in town today, he would love to rent a house in Oranjemund, wants to know where he signs up.....
He is in town every two weeks, and always squats at other peoples homes....
ANyhow he rents a part of the abattoir at the moment where he employs 4 local people.... So he is heading off right know to have a look at my in laws ex house, with it's well maintained garden, and is almost sure to ask if he can rent.....
He also reckons that he knows a few retired couples back in Keetmanshoop that would love to rent a home down here.....
Lets see if OTMCO , in all it's wisdom will allow him to rent...... if they do not...... then we know...... that their heart left town long ago......
Interesting video doe's not solve your problem there, but its worth a look
http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=-6186684678299366197&ei=6-qOSZeEC5OIwgPlgqGTDA&q=oppenheimer&hl=en-GB
Wow.....
Gordon Brown is also interviewed on that more then 1 hr video
Hope some of you can watch that video with your expensive and slow system in Nam and SA
This is still bothering me...... the houses are emptying out at a rapid rate, yet I have spoken to Namdeb employees who are of C2 grading, that would like to move house to a larger house and pay the company an extra N$500-N$1000 per month for that larger premises......
Yet, for some strange reason..... they are not allowed to........ This does not make any sense to a person like myself.....
My friend the farmer from Keetmanshoop was prepared to pay N$4000.00 per month for a house in 6th avenue, he would have employed a full time gardener to look after the garden and was going to get other farmers in the south interested in hiring homes in Oranjemund, it is quicker for them to come to the coast at Omund that head all the way up to Henties..... But once again, OTMCO were not interested...... My friend wanted a particular house in 6th avenue, a house he knows very well as it is my in laws old house, with an immaculate garden...... But he was told he cannot have that house.... so he is no longer interested.......
I am getting frustrated......
Hey Mike, you know what the rest of Africa does.
Start burning tyres in the street and march to the seat of "power"
JA well no fine, thats pie in the sky, but your right, I don't think anyone is seriously able to make the necessary decisions, however hard they may have to be to actually get the ball rolling.
Hi GUYS,i think the time has come to fully back Mike on this retirement thing and rest assure he has been talking about this a long time ago BUT NOBODY UP THERE LISTENS,shikes we don't want to see this town go down.In any case if something does happen we should call it Mike's Spa. swink
The retirement plan is been in talks since 2-3 years ago.....i think even the AZ spoke about that and about the open town some years ago......
Hey George,wanna place a bet on this town really opening? 23_146_26
Not at the moment, would´nt bet on that right now
Its in the talk for to long, no decision......... idontknow
Bloody hot here now, i suppose Mike is floating in his pool right now.My rain meter measured 7 mm for this afternoon"shower,not bad eh?Seems like the whole of Oranjemund were braaing,i only hope Mike did not braai his pofadder,otherwise he is in for a spell of gout tomorrow image14
probably find out that the big guys are not able to or are not prepared to take any decisions of this magnitude.
The other important challenge is the proximity of OMD to the Spergebiet.
If this can be overcome than OMD can only be saved by business people who are prepared to invest in whatever industries they feel would be viable.
OMD's second major challenge is that the market for any non tourist type industry (apart from retired folks in the 'OMD Retirement Village' ) in OMD is too distant from OMD.
I'd like to know what the annual 'town maintenance' figure is that Namdeb spends each year.
N$ 4.6 million per month.... 1.3 million towards sewage and waste..... So I have been informed by Harold from OTMCO about two months back.....
What would the new GM have to say if he knew the OTMCO was letting opportunites slip to garner more cash for the town ?/ never mind that in the interim letting some invery good condition properties go to seed while they twiddle their thumbs or are waiting for the right kickback for the homes people want ?? Somebody must be close enough to him to whisper in his ear ???
Sandy you named it......it will be kick backs, bet you !!!!
Bet on .. a good botle of red ?? cat3
Spot On Sandy, Exactly..... here are dead assets that could generate revenue to decrease that 4.6 million to keep the town (Not the mine) running on a monthly basis..... yet, the plebs in OTMCO.... are still trying to run the ship on the old rules.......
"Although I must confess this morning, I heard of two old Oranjemunders being allowed to rent nice houses on a monthly basis from OTMCO- seems somebody might be waking up in that dept....."
Or got the right under counter ' package " is OTMCO an outsource or paid by Namdeb ??
Funny that you mention..."under the counter package".... but I am afraid I may not comment in public.....
Mike 1.3 million is a shithouse (excuse the pun) full of cash for sewerage and waste. Then there's electricity costs, water supply, and the list goes on.
Two years on.... and as per mining communities.... Boggerall has changed.... the houses that were offloaded to private folk are being taken back, the folk being reinbursed..... suree you can hire here... but you cannot buy... I think the mine should just keep the whole town for themselves till the diamonds are finished and then bulldoze the entire place...(Yes, it sounds very unlike me. ... but rather this, than leave the window open for widescale corruption..) ...... after all we were only meant to be here for 36 years......
Whispers doing the rounds that the mine is no longer gonna outsource the hospital.... seems like somebody up in the higher echelons of power realized that a mine this size still needs to have a hospital.... wonder what they think about the school.....
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