Village
NEWS The
23 August 2016
Cape Whale Coast
FREE COPY COUNTRY KALEIDOSCOPE
Long-time Stanford resident and avid photographer Annalize Mouton took this beautiful spring photo on 19 August, which has been marked as World Photo Day since 2010 in order to celebrate the 177-year-old journey of photography. “But according to many doomand-gloom prophets, this was also ‘definitely the end of the world’ due to planetary happenings!” says Annalize. “Apparently the weather stations have not heard about all this, as they are all still predicting the weather for the next couple of weeks… and here in Stanford, they say we’re going to have more sunny days than rainy days. So to celebrate life, I took my camera and car and went for a play session in the village and surrounding countryside of the Overberg with its rolling wheat and canola fields. This picture was taken a few kilometres out on the Jongensklip Road looking back towards the Klein River Mountains.” PHOTO: ANNALIZE MOUTON
Mayor promises support for growth De Waal Steyn “My tenure as mayor of the Overstrand will not be five years of talk. First we will talk, then we will find solutions to problems and identify growth areas and then it’s on to action,” said Rudolph Smith, newly elected Mayor of the Overstrand, at the AGM of the Hermanus Business Chamber on 19 August. “I will not hesitate to use my powers as
executive mayor to ensure that business in the Overstrand survives and thrives.”
ployment of 23% in our region, we need to support local business and start working together,” he said.
In a speech that was described as “music to our ears” by some members of the chamber, Rudolph said the days of an administration frustrating the potential for economic growth is over for good.
According to Rudolph, an official meeting between the municipality and the business sector is planned for September. “This meeting will give us the opportunity to look each other in the eye and find ways to stimulate business growth, attract new business to town and make it easier for existing
“ If we want to bring down the current level of unem-
business to operate. “I have given the officials until September to find ways in which we can cut down on red tape. The word ‘bylaw’ has become a bit of a swearword in town. But the bylaws were created by the residents. If there are bylaws that stand in the way of business development then we rewrite it, then serve it before council and change it,” said an emphatic Rudolph.
He added that close on 65% of residents of the Overstrand have elected the council into power. “That means that we not only have to fulfil our mandate but also show the residents that we work for them. The residents are the bosses, the council and the administration are the workers in their service. They pay our salaries.” Rudolph urged residents to take an active part in their
ward committees. “During the next few weeks, councillors will meet with residents via the ward committees. From there they will get a clear mandate from the residents of specific wards as to what they as a community want. “This input will inform the Integrated Development Plan that will guide the Overstrand over the next five years.” Continued on P3