Visionary development in Clarens: The Seriti Road Initiative

For the past three years, a few enthusiastic residents of Clarens have been planning a visionary development in this picturesque tourist village in the Eastern Free State.

After much collaboration, consultation and hard work, this project is now ready to be introduced to the general public and interested parties.

The original idea of Ollie Esplin, owner of Clarens Xtreme, an adventure company, was to expand the tourism segment of the town to include the township areas. Township residents then formed a committee. Louw van Biljon, a town planner, joined them in an advisory capacity, as well as Justice Scott from ChangeNetSA. The committee is in the process of taking the initiative through all the necessary administrative steps. The chairperson is Fusi Mosiea.

Seriti (meaning: the shadow of your influence) was chosen as the name for the road that divides the township into two sections. The plan is to populate Seriti Road with businesses and a cultural village that highlights the cultural flavour of the town.

Also in the pipeline are activities that will draw tourism to the township. These include a ski lift to access the mountainside for hang gliding and para gliding. An amphitheatre could be erected, and other outdoor facilities will be added, such as a five-a-side soccer field, an outdoor gym and other sports fields. The goal is to get the youth involved and active, in the light of all the well-known social challenges.

Through the tireless efforts of chairperson Fusi and his team, the project has found favour with dignitaries like the previous premier of the Free State and the former mayor of the Thabo Mofutsanyana District.

Occupational therapists from the University of the Free State want to be involved, erecting a mini campus like the one in Trompsburg for students. Other partners include Clarens Tourism, the Red Cross and Meals on Wheels. The Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) is also interested in being involved in the setting up of businesses.

This initiative will take time to come into fruition, therefore it was decided not to let the university wait, and that the Tshepong Centre facility could possibly be used in the meantime for their expansion. Tshepong is the centre where all churches work together as the Clarens Combined Churches in Action. They are well established and situated right inside the township. They have feeding schemes and help the elderly, amongst other activities. In addition, a dancing hall where ballet was taught, now standing empty, is available for the university to start their endeavours. The final permission from Tshepong is currently awaited. 

The Spatial Development Framework was also a major concern. Louw drew up a proposal, which had to be included in the Clarens SDF. After some deliberations it was approved by the Municipal Council and is now official.

The municipality is not able to supply funding for the project, the committee must therefore acquire their own funding. 

The ultimate goal is to extend aspects of the initiative to all the other towns in the Eastern Free State, if not for tourism, then for the benefit of the youth and residents of every town. Job creation, sports- and culture based activities, and much more can be achieved by setting up a “Seriti Road” in each town…

Media release prepared by Retha Pretorius, media liaison officer for the ChangeNetSA Group.  

In photo: Members of the Seriti Road Initiative committee, l-r: Justice Scott, Elias Mokoena, Fusi Mosiea (chairperson) and Louw van Biljon. Absent: Ollie Esplin, Verné Botha and Kobedi Mokoena.