Tag Archives: Knysna Municipality

The Scramble for Water in Eden & the Central Karoo (Part 2)

Mike Hampton Posted on by

If you missed Part 1, find it here. HOW IT HAPPENED The profile of the drought-affected area was in alignment with the Gouritz Water Management Area (WMA). This constitutes the largest WMA in the Western Cape Province, with a total surface area of 53,1392 km (RHP, 2007(ii)). It is also characterised by two main climatic regions – an arid Karoo zone drained by the Gouritz River, as well as a narrower coastal belt south of the Outeniqua Mountains, with annual rainfall ranging from below 200mm to more than 1,000mm. A … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

What Say Knysna Regards Bars Open at 7.30am?

Mike Hampton Posted on by

A lot of readers landed on the blog about alcohol trading allowed on Sundays in Knysna but few of you went to the more important article which is the actual trading hours. Lowlights would be that bars are allowed to open from 7.30am 7 days per week and that liquor stores are now permitted Sunday trading.  This is a radical step and seemingly unjustified by Mayor Georlene Wolmarans’ assertion that this will be good for our tourism industry. Reality is that tourists are seasonal and an absolute minority out of … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Knysna Allowed to Trade Alcohol on Sundays

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Socio-economic benefits are expected for the greater Knysna municipal area as a direct and indirect result of a new alcohol by-law that allows licensed premises to trade on Sundays and hours suitable to the hospitality industry. Knysna Mayor Georlene Wolmarans said the Knysna Municipality By-law on Liquor Trading Days and Hours was promulgated in mid-December according to the Western Cape Liquor Act, Act 10 of 2010, Section 59(1), which provides for municipalities to determine their own trading days and hours for businesses licensed to sell alcohol, within their area of … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Knysna Municipality Writes Off R30million in Debt

Mike Hampton Posted on by

The Knysna Municipal Council last week (13 December 2012) approved a radical debt recovery programme, which included the writing off of about R30-million of ‘old’ debt on services and interest incurred by ratepayers up to 30 June 2012. The write-off excludes arrears on rates and is tied to stringent provisions for ‘new’ debt incurred from 1 July 2012 onwards. The local authority will also introduce stricter credit control measures linked to pre-paid electricity penalties from 1 July 2013.

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The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Eck is Out – What Next for Knysna Tourism?

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Shaun van Eck has been booted from Knysna Tourism. I’ve been public in my protest so i’m sincerely hoping that it’s the last time i have to use the above picture and that a new chapter in Knysna is beginning. Where to now for the yet to be announced, incoming CEO, the Tourism Board and the Knysna Municipality? What is in store for the residents of Knysna whilst the recession storm persists? The position of Knysna Tourism CEO is undoubtedly a difficult one! Some courses of action will have no … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Knysna’s Summer Holiday Safety Plan

Mike Hampton Posted on by

The Knysna Municipality has taken several measures to ensure the safety of its residents and holiday makers during the upcoming summer holiday season. This will include stricter and increased law enforcement, particularly against alcohol abuse and associated unruly behaviour on beaches and public amenities. The municipality will also employ additional temporary point duty and law enforcement officials, as well as life guards and have additional fire fighters on standby. Knysna Municipal Manager, Lauren Waring, said the greater Knysna area was summer party headquarters for locals and visitors alike and the … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Get the Truth at Knysna Tourism’s 2012 AGM!

Mike Hampton Posted on by

For a year, Knysna Tourism, the Knysna Tourism Board and the Knysna Municipality have refused to show details of Knysna Tourism’s budget. Not only is it the right of every Tourism member to know exactly who is getting what but the taxpayers right as well since R4 million of municipal money was allocated to Tourism last year. I tried to get the truth because i believe truth matters. Tourism, instead of addressing the issues, tried to dismiss my queries by slandering my motivations. The lies i encountered led to the … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Surviving the Recession & Politicians in a Small Town #2

Mike Hampton Posted on by

If you missed it, Part 1 is here. Knysna is troubled. My sincere lust for her excitements are tempered by her darkness. As with the world, the Recession looms over her. However, the shadows here are deeper than most. Knysna is a tourist based economy. Once upon a time, she relied on the timber industry but the Credit Card Boom gave birth to holiday homes; beautiful like bees on the flowers of weeds. One result was rates from the Overextended…but absentee owners do not make community spirit or awareness. And … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!