“Life is tough, but do the right thing, and the outcome will be better than the beginning.” With these words, South Africa’s Auditor-General, Kimi Makwetu, encouraged the municipal officials who had the honour to listen to his address during a brief visit to Overstrand on Tuesday 19 January 2015.

According to Makwetu, “doing the right thing” boils down to exercising discipline as far as financial management is concerned, providing concrete evidence of projects/programmes implemented and complying with all laws and regulations.

Makwetu and his team are currently undertaking a countrywide tour of all local authorities to encourage those who are not in compliance with auditing standards to do so, and to learn from those who do.

Due to an Eskom 66kV transmission pole being blown over last night, an emergency shutdown is planned for today.

Duration of shutdown can be more or less 8 hours from shutdown.

Areas affected: Hermanus, Hemel-en-Aarde, Stanford, Gansbaai and Pearly Beach etc., parts of Onrus, Vermont, Fisherhaven and Hawston also possible.

Eskom are currently busy with preparations.

In terms of the Integrated Coastal Management Act, it is illegal to affix or erect any structure - including memorial plaques and crosses - along the coastline without the competent authority’s permission to do so.

Unfortunately, the trend nowadays seems to be to mount plaques, crosses and other structures in memory of loved ones who have passed along Overstrand’s coast at will without first consulting the authorities.

This practice not only detracts from the character of our natural environment and unspoilt landscape, but is also against the law.

Given that Overstrand’s natural coastal zone by and large falls within the boundaries of proclaimed state and/or public land, and is thus subject to the laws and regulations governing such properties, the public is advised to first approach their local administration before mounting or erecting a plaque/cross or any other structure in memory of a loved one.

Die Wes-Kaapse Regering se departement van omgewingsake en ontwikkelingsbeplanning (DEADP) het, met die ondersteuning van Royal HaskoningDHV, begin om die kusbestuurlyne wat in 2011/2012 ontwikkel is, te verfyn.

Grondeienaars en belanghebbende en geaffekteerde partye kan eersdaags skrywes te wagte wees en word aangeraai om die plaaslike koerante vir kennisgewings in hierdie verband dop te hou.

Intussen word ander belanghebbers genooi om op die databasis te registreer en/of verdere inligting te versoek deur met een van die volgende persone in verbinding te tree:

• Tasneem Steenkamp: 021 936 7694 (t), 021 936 7610 (f), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (e-pos)
• Caren George: 021 483 2724 (t), 021 483 8326 (f), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (e-pos)