We need to find ways to rejuvenate Welkom’s inner-city buildings and convert them into university lecture blocks.
I had this weird idea of a comprehensive approach to revitalise this urban space and empty buildings that are seemingly well suited as vibrant lecture blocks for the promotion of academic excellence in Matjhabeng.
We have many underutilised, vacant, or historic buildings around the Matjhabeng CBD that could be repurposed.
It would take a visionary executive mayor to include this in their urban renewal strategies.
Welkom has a university but with limited academic faculties, namely the Central University of Technology (CUT).
It would be a good idea for our municipality to engage with the CUT management and owners of these vacant buildings to try sell them the idea, and offer rebates on rates and taxes in the event of increased Faculties at the CUT.
These buildings have the potential to create a unique learning environment. They have good structural integrity and can meet modern academic needs.
They are close to the Welkom Library, Goldfields Mall and transportation.
This could, in the long run, be beneficial to local businesses such as banks and restaurants. The university, I am told, is expanding its faculties and this could be an opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate and be proactive in trying to rejuvenate our inner-city buildings from total decay.
