Kouga – Kouga Municipality is extending an open invitation to interested and affected parties to join in the revitalisation of the St Francis Bay Central Business District (CBD) and the Hankey Central Business District (CBD).
Kouga Executive Mayor, Hattingh Bornman, said the municipality would over the next few months be compiling precincts plans. This as part of the Local Spatial Development Framework (LSDF). Thus to steer the growth and development of the St Francis Bay CBD and the Hankey CBD.
“The aim is to breathe new life into the region’s economy by making the areas more attractive to investors, businesses, residents and visitors,” he said.
“Similar plans are being compiled for the Jeffreys Bay CBD and Humansdorp CBD, creating a cohesive precinct plant as part of the municipality’s commitment to keep Kouga growing.”
Three key strategic projects have been identified for the St Francis Bay CBD.
The first project involves the comprehensive upgrade of St Francis Drive. This will will feature the creation of a boulevard with green verges, a non-motorised transport (NMT) route, and a continuous line of trees. Additionally, the upgrade will include appealing street lighting and furniture, various pedestrian crossings, and traffic calming measures.
The second initiative involves the development of a Village Green. This is an open space designed to host a range of sporting activities, recreational areas, and conservation zones. Well-planned pedestrian linkages will ensure seamless connectivity with nearby business areas. This will foster increased activity and engagement.
The final initiative involves creating pedestrian-friendly urban spaces by reducing oversized parking areas, establishing pedestrian movement zones, and incorporating sustainable urban drainage solutions.
For the Hankey CBD, four strategic projects have been identified.
The first project involves upgrading North Street, which includes extending non-motorised transport (NMT) sidewalks from the CBD to the Sarah Baartman Memorial site.
The second initiative focuses on creating gateways by enhancing landscaping around the Sarah Baartman Memorial site entrance and constructing a clip-on NMT bridge over the Gamtoos River.
The third project aims to develop and implement a landscape plan for Hankey Central Park.
The final project involves finalising and implementing a tourism walking route that links various attractions. This will include tree planting, signage, and sidewalk paving.
“Potential economic benefits include enhanced property values and an increase in business and employment opportunities,” said Bornman. “However, we cannot achieve this without partnering with the community, as well as public and private roleplayers.”
He emphasised that input from businesses and residents is crucial to the success of the revival. “We strongly encourage all interested and affected parties to register as stakeholders.”
Public participation meetings will be held as follows.
St Francis Bay CBD: 6 August 2024 at 10:00 to 12:00 at the St Francis Bay Bowling Club.
Hankey CBD:6 August 2024 at 14:00 to 16:00 at the Weston Community Hall.
The draft LSDF for the St Francis Bay CBD and the Hankey CBD is available for inspection on the Kouga Municipality website at www.kouga.gov.za.
Inquiries and comments/objections on the LSDF should be directed in writing to Jacobus Marais at jmarais@kouga.gov.za within a period of 60 days from the publication of the notice (25 July 2024). Along with the contact details of the person commenting/objecting.
See also: Kouga Municipality declares economic state of disaster
Arendsig – The home of Single Vineyard Wines
Arendsig (Eagle’s View) is a privately owned farm with its own vineyards and boutique cellar situated in the (southern part) foot hills of the Robertson Valley. It is in this beautiful valley that Lourens van der Westhuizen and his team hand-select grapes of the finest quality, from which he hand crafts his quality wines with its unique and distinct aroma, flavour and character.
Due to our location we receive morning fog during the winter season which is gently burned away by the late morning sun. During summer we have an everyday South-Easterly wind that blows from the ocean to cool down the vines. In the vineyard I am able to use irrigation for 2 hours every second day during crucial times. Because of this I can bring down the micro climate between 12pm and 2pm during hot summer days, before the South-Eastery starts to do its job. The night temperatures tend to cool down extremely well. All in all we have a great climate for growing a diversity of cultivars in this area.
The wine must be a true reflection of our terroir created from our own vineyards. Nurtured, produced and bottled with minimal interference. It’s the soil with all the microbes, cycle of elements and the help of living organisms that creates the heartbeat for my vines. The location towards the sun, wind and holistic climate conditions reflects the uniqueness of each vineyard. Spontaneous fermentation, no added yeast, is used with no enzymes. Maturation takes place in neutral vessels to bring through the unique vineyard characteristics which is specific to the site.
*Lourens Van Der Westhuizen*
Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Single Vineyard Blok A9
NOSE: Dark fruit, red berries, cassis & herbaceous spice.
PALATE: Medium to full-bodied, fruit forward with juicy, elegant tannin structure and long lingering mouthfeel.
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Don’t forget to check out the latest issue of SPAR Savour Magazine,
“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home” Edith Sitwell. This issue of Savour has all the best family activities, delicious recipes and places to visit to get the most out of cold Winter days.
If you are wanting to be out and about rather, it might be time to wine and dine. We’ve identified some of the best spots around the country where you can enjoy excellent food and wine pairings. Perfect to relax and fight off the chilly winter nights!
For those of you who have children on school holidays, don’t miss our fun and interesting food and cooking activities that the whole family can participate in together. We have also identified the best ways to boost your family’s immunity this winter with a few simple healthy habits, to get you through the chilly season without even a sniffle.
For a look at street food from around the world, celebrating grandparents day and so much more, we hope you enjoy this edition of Savour.
Stay warm – until next time.”
Helen Barrett
Image by Inna Rabotyagin
See also: Photos of the day
During an Ordinary Council Meeting on 30 July 2024, Kouga Executive Mayor, Hattingh Bornman, tabled a motion of exigency addressing the devastating Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in the region.
Council unanimously accepted the recommendations to consider the current conditions as a local economic state of disaster and to request the relevant provincial and/or national department to declare the same to obtain additional support.
Bornman emphasised the severity of the situation, “I hereby table a Motion of Exigency under rule 30 of the Standing Rules and Orders for Meetings of Council and all its Committees on the devastating FMD outbreak and recommend that Council seek guidance to declare the viral outbreak and its economic impact as a local state of disaster.”
The outbreak was first reported on 30 April 2024, at The Glen 1 and The Glen 2, just outside of Humansdorp.
The municipality swiftly responded by restricting the movement of all cloven-hoofed animals in the Kouga and Koukamma regions. They collaborated closely with the Agri Tsitsikamma East Farmers Association (ATO). This is to implement sanitation points at all entrances to the affected areas.
On 16 May, another suspected case was reported on a small beef farm near Palmietvlei. This was later confirmed positive for FMD. A neighbouring dairy farm followed. Despite collective efforts to contain the virus, it has spread from the Palmietvlei area towards Oyster Bay and the Tsitsikamma region.
Currently, 48 farms are affected, ranging from small to large herds.
“The economic impact is devastating to our local farming community. This has the potential to be detrimental to the local economy should the virus continue to spread,” said Bornman.
The outbreak has led to:
The ATO estimates a total loss for the first 45 days of infection to be between R120 to R150 million, with potential losses reaching R600 million by the end of the year.
“The only method of controlling the viral infection is through vaccination,” said Bornman.
ATO, in collaboration with the State Veterinary, gave advice. There are approximately 90 000 producing cows in the affected area. With a moderate culling rate of 15% in a normal year. This amounts to a total of 13 500 cows needing to be culled. At an estimated R9 000 per cow, there is a potential further loss of R122 million if an abattoir for these animals does not become available soon.
“Dairy farms in our area create around 3 000 direct job opportunities and thousands more down the value chain,” Bornman noted.
“I believe that this outbreak has the potential to cause the biggest economic crisis in Kouga since Covid-19. Therefore, It is critical that we as a municipality do everything in our power to mitigate this situation and support the local agricultural sector.”
Council’s swift acceptance of these recommendations underscores their commitment to addressing the crisis. So, this will mitigate the impact on the local farming community and economy.
We all want to see our children succeed, but how or how much we help them can be a challenge. Striking the right balance between support and independence is crucial, as very few valuable life lessons are learned without some form of struggle. Ensuring that our children have the opportunity to grow through their experiences is essential for their development into resilient and capable adults.
One of the best investments we can make in our children’s future is their education. Providing a good education is like giving them gold—it equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of life and the job market. However, financial assistance without terms and conditions can backfire, leading to dependency or a lack of appreciation for the value of money. It’s important to be kind but firm, setting clear expectations and boundaries around financial support.
Accepting that what is important to us may not be as important to our children is another vital aspect. Each generation has its own priorities and values, and understanding this can prevent conflicts and miscommunications. Sharing experiences, such as travel, can be a wonderful way to teach values and expose children to the bigger world out there. These experiences can impart lessons on different cultures, economies, and the importance of empathy and adaptability.
When loaning funds, consider formal loan agreements. This not only protects the financial interests of both parties but also provides clarity and structure to the arrangement. In the unfortunate event of a child’s relationship or marriage not working out, such agreements can safeguard the loaned amount from becoming entangled in legal disputes.
Lastly, it’s crucial to remember that your hard-earned money should look after you first. Ensuring your own financial security and well-being allows you to help your children from a position of strength rather than sacrifice. It’s not selfish to prioritize your needs; in fact, it’s a responsible approach that ultimately benefits everyone involved.
In the end, helping our children financially is a delicate balancing act. By providing education, setting clear terms for assistance, sharing enriching experiences, and safeguarding our own financial security, we can support our children’s success while fostering their independence and resilience.
Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner.
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