The four and a half year mine!

[Michael Alexander]

I heard a story yesterday,that the people in charge of the mine, reckon that by the year 2013, the mine will be closed... no more mining, finished, klaar, kaput...... we sit here and wonder what our future will hold..... what I do not get, is how the mine still will not let people buy the empty houses, the hostel rooms are half empty, but they still want private people to build houses, yet they know that there will be no economy here in four and a half years......they are pumping in money building and paving the "contractor" camp , nicknamed Baghdad..... it... just does not make sense. one of two things are gonna happen here... The town becomes one big holiday town, or we become one big squatter camp.... what do you guys think? How can people want to establish business's here , when the goose that lays the golden egg is about to die........ man, DeBeers, Like you did to Kleinzee...you are gonna screw us again..... and I have been bitching that this was gonna happen for ten years already...you guys mismanaged your town...your asset, your monument that you could have left behind...your legacy..... HArry and SIr Ernest must be turning in their graves,,,,, they still cared about their family.....

[Sheena]

Mike, this place is going to be one big squatter camp in 4 years time.
It is sad to see these changes - especially us lot who have been here since the early 70's.
Well, I suppose that is why Advance moving trucks are in town every single day.

[Michael Alexander]

Proclomation is due in October....,...  there was a discussion meeting whereby a vote was asked for on allowing informal settlement in Oranjemund, not the shack stuff, but those prefab organised structures..... the majority got their way and voted Yay!.... the thing is how are they gonna control it... I reckon unless the Arab story does not work out,,,, within a year we are gonna have mass unemployment, breakdown of services, bankrupt municipality, OTMCO currently cannpt break even without the big multimillion dollar hand outs they get from the mine..... Crime is gonna rocket.... and there will be no local economy... the only solution was the massive retirement town....which I discussed somewhere else in here...but the boys in currently in charge do not see this option....Africa HERE WE COME.....

[SandyB]

My heart bleeds  to read this ..

[Adriaan Van Rooyen]

So Mike,i have a sollution..... start stocking up at your nearest gunshop eh.... bling1

[Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee)]

That might be the solution Adriaan  -  only Mike will have to open a gun shop himself  -  the squattas are high on demand for a gadge each!

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

I to have a bleading heart     :emot78:

[Adriaan Van Rooyen]

Yeah,what a pity we will probably have to leave our nice and cosy town to a bunch of nitwits and Jacks.I try to stay positive though,no need to panic at the moment,we are still here.we diehards will fight to the end...... who is going to roll up the bridge? bling1  

[Malcolm Bertoni]

Hi
Why are we surprised?
Remember the phrase "Africa for the Africans" by Mbeki in 96?
Unfortunately that is taken to mean 'Black Africans' and not anything or anyone else.

I've been in Australia for 25 years now but worked in Kenya and Tanzania for 2 1/2 years in 1999-2001.  I also returned to SA and Namibia at the end of 2001.  So I have kept up well with whats been going on.

Kenya and Tanzania never had apartheid yet they are both disasters economically, politically and socially. The rest of Africa is similar.  What does this tell us?

I saw the writing on the wall 25 years ago and got out even though it broke my heart to do so.  I still miss Africa even with all its problems and issues and like a long lost lover it comes creeping back into your conscious and is always there, never really going away.  But I'm also a realist and know that it can never what it was.

Sometimes I think that the world is crazy, but thats the way it is.

Malcolm

[Patricia Lotte]

Proclomation is due in October....,...  there was a discussion meeting whereby a vote was asked for on allowing informal settlement in Oranjemund, not the shack stuff, but those prefab organised structures..... the majority got their way and voted Yay!.... the thing is how are they gonna control it... I reckon unless the Arab story does not work out,,,, within a year we are gonna have mass unemployment, breakdown of services, bankrupt municipality, OTMCO currently cannpt break even without the big multimillion dollar hand outs they get from the mine..... Crime is gonna rocket.... and there will be no local economy... the only solution was the massive retirement town....which I discussed somewhere else in here...but the boys in currently in charge do not see this option....Africa HERE WE COME.....

Mike, from what I read at least 20% of South Africans are planning on leaving SA ... so maybe you should consider saying bye-bye not only to Oranjemund (when the time comes ... and unfortunately, it will ...) but also to Africa  :emot78:.

[Carl Wrbka]

Never fear you loyal Oranjemunders. I've heard from sources here at work that once the diamonds run out, uncle Sam in Windhoek wants to begin tapping into the vast gas wells located offshore along the Sperrgebied coast. These wells were previously untouchable due to the area being restricted by the Openheimer cartel. The aim is to install gas turbines along the coast (locations still unknown) to generate electricity for Nam and SA.

Sasol also has an interest in these gas reserves. They financed the exploration and discovery of the gas wells offshore near Walvis Bay. With their GTL (gas to liquid) technology being in high demand at the moment, don't be surprised if you see a couple of refineries being built soon.

[Skinny]

 
I really wish some of you guys would get your facts right before you start talking the biggest load of rubbish. Remember Assume makes An ASS out of U And Me! The Sperregebiet has always been protected land not controlled by the Oppenheimer Cartel. Get your facts right and read the history books and don't always listen to rumours. You will be amazed at what is fiction and what is fact!

[Carl Wrbka]

 

[Bertie Horak]

Would also like to know where Skinny or Pat? comes from.  C'mon, give us some history and sensibility if you know so much.  Some people like me who were actually born there in the desert might just have a different view based on wonderful experiences and the effect that beautiful piece of the world has on you.  You go Carl!  I'm with you on this.

[SandyB]

WE  HAVE  TRIED TO  GET  SKINNY  TO  COME OUT  OF  THE  CLOSET  BEFORE   .  TO  NO  AVAIL ..  SKINNY  PREFERS ANONOMITY   AND  THE  ODD SIDESWIPE  . DONT  KNOW  WHY  .??  MAYBE  SOMETHING TO  HIDE ??
THERE  IS A GOOD  AND CORRECT WAY  TO   PUT  PEOPLE   NO  THE  RIGHT  TRACK IF  THEY  MISINFORMED  OR  MISQUOTE ..  SIMPLE HUMAN DECENCY  ..  AT  WORST  CONSTRUCTIVE  CRITISCISM ..