Save Our Dunes Relay Returns To St Francis Bay – with The Kromme Enviro-Trust in partnership with St Francis Sport Events

by SFT | Mar 23, 2026 | St Francis

The Save Our Dunes Pentathlon Relay settles back into St Francis Bay for its second run, and it already feels like one of those events that belongs here. The 2025 debut set the tone. This year builds on it with more teams, more movement, and the same strong link to the coastline that shapes this town.

Set at Dune Ridge Country House, the event unfolds across a landscape that refuses to sit still. Dirt roads lead into jeep tracks. Sandy stretches slow things down. Coastal forest sections pull everything back into rhythm. Every leg asks a slightly different question.

Five Legs. One Team.

Teams of five take on five disciplines across the day. Cycling, walking, and running bring the physical load. The quiz adds a thinking layer. The bob leg keeps things loose and unpredictable. It is part endurance, part strategy, and part laughter when things do not go to plan.

There is always a moment in these relays where momentum shifts. A strong leg pulls a team forward. A missed answer holds things back. That is where the event finds its edge.

A Good Crowd and a Strong Vibe

Around the course, the atmosphere carries. Food trucks roll in early. Music drifts through the trees. Kids line up for their own races and activities. Families settle in for the day. It feels busy in a good way.

For those with a bit of extra appetite, the optional Beer Run adds another layer to the day.

Dunes at the Centre

The event supports the protection of the dune system that holds this coastline together. That link stays clear throughout. It gives the relay weight beyond the finish line.

Entries Open

Entries are live on Quicket. The first five teams through receive event t-shirts, and every participant earns a medal at the finish.

Entires through QUICKET

Gamechanger: Short-Term Rental Code Opens for Public Input

by SFT | Mar 23, 2026 | St Francis

The short-term rental space has grown quickly across South Africa. From coastal towns to city suburbs, more properties are entering the market each season. With that growth comes a need for clarity, and the Department of Tourism has now taken a step in that direction.

A draft Code of Good Practice for Short-Term Rentals is open for public comment. It is an early framework, shaped to guide how the sector operates as it continues to expand.

A Growing Space Finds Structure

Short-term rentals have shifted from a side income idea into a serious part of the tourism economy. In places like St Francis Bay, the impact is visible. Holiday homes turn over more often. Visitors arrive more frequently. The rhythm of neighbourhoods starts to change.

This draft code looks to bring some structure into that movement. It sets out guidelines that aim to balance tourism growth with community stability.

Input From the Ground

The process now moves to public input. Property owners, operators, community groups, and residents all have a window to engage. It is a chance to shape how this space evolves before anything is locked in.

These moments matter. The final version will carry the tone set here.

Deadline Approaches

Written submissions remain open until 12 May 2026. After that, the Department of Tourism will review feedback and refine the code ahead of formal publication.

For a sector that touches both local economies and daily life, this is a meaningful step. The conversation is open, and the direction is still being set.

Tourism stakeholders, business owners, community groups, and members of the public are invited to review the draft document and submit written feedback.

Once the public comment period closes, the Department will review all submissions and refine the code ahead of final publication.

Submissions can be sent directly to the Department of Tourism.