Kouga Municipality Newsletter – Works . Werk . Sebenza – Issue 3 of 4, March 2024

by SFT | Apr 18, 2024 | St Francis

Communities invited to help review Integrated Development Plan (IDP)

by SFT | Apr 18, 2024 | St Francis

Walk-in Sessions

– Kouga Communities are invited to participate in the review of Kouga Municipality’s draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for the 2024/2025 financial year.
The IDP serves as a strategic blueprint for addressing the developmental requirements of a municipal jurisdiction over a span of five years. It serves as the foundation for the municipality’s budget and dictates the prioritisation and funding of various initiatives within a given period.
This participatory process is mandated by Section 16(1) of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act, No 32 of 2000.
Consequently, the municipality urges all residents, community entities, organisations, and interested parties to actively contribute by offering insights into the 2024/2025 IDP.
“Your inputs are invaluable,” said Kouga Executive Mayor, Hattingh Bornman.
“You possess intimate knowledge of your community and its necessities. We rely on your input to ensure that the IDP accurately reflects the requirements for your ward’s advancement.”
–
To enhance both the quality and quantity of public input, the approach will consist of walk-in sessions – a first for the municipality.
Locations will be accessible on the specified dates from 09:00 to 16:00.
During these periods, individuals from the public are welcome to walk in and offer their feedback.
Municipal employees will be on hand to provide assistance.
These sessions supplement other avenues such as drop-in boxes and written submissions, which can be sent to idp@kouga.gov.za.
The draft IDP for the 2024/2025 financial year is available at https://acrobat.adobe.com/…/urn:aaid:sc:eu:369c5158….

 15 April 2024 at the KwaNomzamo Hall in Humansdorp (walk-in), as well as the Kruisfontein Civic Centre and councillors’ offices (drop-in boxes) for wards 4, 5, 6, and 15.
 16 April 2024 at the Newton Hall in Jeffreys Bay (walk-in), as well as the Pellsrus Community Hall and councillors’ offices (drop-in boxes) for wards 2, 3, 8, 11, 12, and 14.
 17 April 2024 at the Vusumzi Landu Hall in Hankey (walk-in), as well as at the Weston Hall, Andrieskraal Community Hall, Patensie Community Hall, and councillors’ offices (drop-in boxes).
 18 April 2024 at the Thornhill Community Hall (walk-in), as well as at the Loerie Community Hall and councillors’ offices (drop-in boxes).
 22 April 2024 at the St Francis Bay Council Chambers (walk-in), as well as at the councillor’s office (drop-in box).

Indonesian sights sounds and slappings – Notes From The Editor

by SFT | Apr 18, 2024 | St Francis

Our journey so far in Indonesia has been a whirlwind of unique experiences, from the bustling streets of Uluwatu to the tranquil beaches of Sumbawa read on about Indonesian sights, sounds and slappings

Uluwatu

We started at Uluwatu, probably the most famous wave in Bali. It was awesome but crowded, with over 100 people in the water most days. It’s not too serious, usually, with plenty of room to move in the massive lineup.

Things went a bit pear, however, when a local Indonesian surfer, a surf coach about 35 years old, decided to vent his frustration from the crowds on my 15-year-old son by slapping him around the head and holding him underwater for some vague indiscretion in amongst a throng of surfers. When the bully was confronted on the beach afterwards by a furious father (me), he denied everything in front of a crowd of locals and ran away to hide.

I approached the people I know in Bali about how to approach this situation and was told that if I lay a charge against a local, nothing would happen; lay a finger on a local, and you would possibly go to jail.

Sumbawa

So, live and let live, we decided to leave Bali and head to Sumbawa.

Our plane was delayed for two hours, which is fine, except it meant that we would be landing in Bima, Sumbawa, in the dark, which is also fine, except the airport doesn’t operate at night (no landing lights.)

We landed in the dark. My nerves were shot.

Of the 28-odd surfboards booked onto the plane, mine never arrived, so we headed off for the two-hour taxi ride to our destination without my boards. I had to pay a special taxi fair to get them delivered the next day after it cost R3k to put the surfboards on the plane in the first place, which never happened.

Business Class Surfboard

Arriving at Huu Beach, Dompu Regency, we noticed that our regular homestay accommodation had a new and massive ‘wall of China’ surrounding it, blocking our access to the beach. Due to family jealousy, some family disputes had seen the landowners build a gigantic wall to prevent access to the beach. On top of this, I developed a cough that soon became a fever that might or might not have been COVID-19 – there were many sick people on the plane, spluttering and coughing, with the sounds of phlegm messing up our meal pleasure.

Long story short, the boards arrived, we moved to a less restrictive accommodation, the flu thing seems to have moved on, the waves are great, and the people are so friendly, having seen their village decimated during the Covid years – they had no food deliveries coming in and it was a kind of subsistence survival situation for over a year – they now welcome tourists with open arms as opposed to the wariness of years gone by.

The sun is out, the mood at the beach is pleasantly languid, the Indonesian coffee is next level, and some great surf is on the way.

Stay tuned for more.

editor

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see also: Jordy Smith and Matt McGillivray Make The Cut, Kelly Slater Bows Out at Western Australia Margaret River Pro  

Jordy Smith and Matt McGillivray Make The Cut, Kelly Slater Bows Out at Western Australia Margaret River Pro  

by SFT | Apr 18, 2024 | St Francis

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Tuesday, April 16, 2024). The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), saw an emotional day of competition. The men’s Elimination Round and Round of 32 in four-to-five foot surf at Main Break in Margaret River, as well as Jordy Smith and Matt McGillivray make the cut.

Eight surfers were relegated from the 2024 CT and will go to the Challenger Series to try to earn their spot back on the elite Tour. Nine more surfers have secured their position for the back half of the 2024 season. Including Jordy Smith (RSA), Matthew McGillivray (RSA) and Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR).

11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) has alluded to slowing down his competitive career in recent weeks. Although he did not officially announce his retirement today, he shared his thoughts and future plans. This in an emotional post-heat interview after his loss to World No. 1 Griffin Colapinto (USA). This in the Round of 32 at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Stop No. 5 of 10 on the 2024 WSL CT. 

Matthew McGillivray Photo by Aaron Hughes/World Surf League)

The Goat

Celebrated as the greatest surfer of all time, Slater has 56 event wins over his incredible 32-year career on the Championship Tour. With 11 World Titles, he holds the record for the most World Championships of any surfer. He is both the youngest and oldest World Champion in men’s history. 

Although the surfing GOAT hinted that he doesn’t plan to hang up his jersey at the moment, he’s missed the Mid-season Cut. This means that he has not requalified for the remainder of the 2024 WSL CT nor the start of the 2025 WSL CT. 

The 52-year-old shared that he plans to compete in events as they come. The WSL Commissioner’s Office will release updates to the event wildcards for the back half of the season as those event windows draw closer.

After being chaired up at Margaret River, Slater shared an emotional message following his loss: 

“As far as emotions, it’s almost hitting me. It’s right there bubbling. I couldn’t quite pull a miracle off this week. I’ve pulled a few off over the years and I still had that hope out there. Even with a minute to go, I thought, ‘One might pop up.’ But to lose to the world number one. Griff is the number one guy and I’ve been close with him for a long time. It’s been fun to be over 50 and still mixing it up with the guys and still feeling like I’m there with them. Seeing this new crop of guys and to finish with Griffin, as a full-time competitor that’s cool. 

Wildcard for Fiji

“I’ve had a fight with this wave my whole career. It’s not necessarily the wave I want to end on. I have put in for a wildcard for Fiji so I’ll see how that goes. But I do feel like, if I get a wildcard into Fiji, I could end up against Griffin again so I’ll get to pay him back.

“But yeah, it is what it is, everything comes to an end and if you don’t adapt you don’t survive. My motivation just hasn’t been there to really put in that one-hundred percent that everyone else is now. 

“I’ve got a couple weeks here, Renato asked me if I want to surf on the Goldy [Challenger Series Event]. If Snapper looks good, we’ll see. Just for some fun.” 

Griffin Colapinto

Colapinto is one of the next generation’s promising hopes to be the World Champion. His current World No. 1 standing has put the surfing world on notice. His win over Slater signals a changing of the guard and continues to solidify his presence as one of the world’s best surfers. Colapinto will continue his charge through this event and the season to the WSL Finals. Also representing the United States in the upcoming Olympic Games at Teahupo’o, Tahiti. 

“It’s pretty mind-blowing – when I saw him getting chaired up the stairs I was like whoa, is that for real? That’s a sign in surfing that someone is retiring. The fact that he did that after a heat with me, I was pretty blown away. I just trying to take it all in,” Colapinto said. “It’s crazy, he’s given me and everyone on this tour so much. We owe him so much, we make a living because of how far he has taken surfing. It’s pretty incredible. I used to watch his video parts and imagine myself being like him.”

Mid-Season Cut Relegates Eight Surfers from the 2024 CT Season

Alongside Slater, eight surfers were unable to progress through the Round of 32 and were eliminated from the competition, falling below the Mid-season Cut line. Ian Gentil (HAW), Eli Hanneman (HAW), Frederico Morais (POR), Kate Matson (USA), Callum Robson (AUS), Deivid Silva (BRA), and Jacob Willcox (AUS). 

Margaret River local and 2024 CT Rookie Willcox was unable to back up his 8.50 and went down to good friend Liam O’Brien (AUS). Another CT Rookie who lost in the Round of 32 and was relegated to the Challenger Series was Hanneman. He narrowly lost his heat against Jake Marshall (USA). San Clemente’s Matson was the last rookie of the day to experience the heartbreak of missing the Cut. After his loss to Italo Ferreira (BRA). Matson, with this equal 17th-place finish, was unable to move above the Cut line. He will return to the Challenger Series for the remainder of 2024. 

Silva put everything he could into his matchup with Florence, posting his best heat total of the 2024 season. Unfortunately for Silva, it wasn’t enough to overcome Florence. He posted the highest two-wave total of the event so far. Silva will be sent to the Challenger Series to once again battle to regain his spot at the elite level. 

Morais fell victim to the Mid-season Cut for the second consecutive season after he lost his Round of 32 matchup with Jordy Smith (RSA). Robson suffered the same result with his loss to hometown favorite Jack Robinson(AUS) in the last heat of the day. 

See also: 2024 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal – Griffin Colapinto and Johanne Defay Take The Wins

Wine Of The Week, ‘Special Sauce’ and some Amazing Weekend Specials – What’s On At The SuperSpar

by SFT | Apr 18, 2024 | St Francis

Wine Of The Week: Dawn Patrol

Healthy Earth, healthy ocean, healthy hearts: Dawn Patrol

Massive Savings At SuperSpar

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Shop Red.

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See all the specials below