Welcome to Kouga Municipality this festive season.

As we approach the end of the year 2023, it is with immense joy that I extend a warm welcome to everyone on behalf of Council to Kouga Municipality – a place that is fast becoming the events Capital of South Africa.

We are truly blessed to call this idyllic family holiday destination both our home and workplace, and we look forward to sharing all Kouga has to offer with our visitors this season.

In addition to the myriad of tourist attractions and activities, various events are set to keep individuals of all ages engaged and entertained. These include markets, sports events, sandcastle competitions, vintage car parades, dance-offs, live entertainment, and spectacular fireworks displays.

The upcoming year, furthermore, holds a wealth of significant and thrilling events in its promise.

Furthermore, we are excited to announce the return of the prestigious DP World Tour Championship to St Francis Bay in March 2024. Additionally, in May 2024, Kouga will be the stage for the inaugural family-oriented triathlon, akin to the iconic IronMan Triathlon.

It is imperative for the municipality to position itself as the events capital of South Africa, with surfing at its heart, to not only ride the wave of tourism and cultural diversity but also to make a lasting impact on the local economy and community.

Great achievements

It has been a year of great achievements – creating better lives for our communities.

As part of our commitment to ensuring water security for all residents, we have taken the initiative to drill multiple boreholes and integrate them into the existing water system. In addition to the construction of four water purification plants, this move has reduced our dependency on water sourced solely from our supply dams.

We started issuing 1,172 title deeds to beneficiaries across the region, installing several cameras to help fight crime and upgrading one of our substations with state-of-the-art technology. We also tarred several gravel roads and carried out resealing on others.

The municipality has embarked on a groundbreaking journey towards a greener future. We are currently in the procurement process for our first SSEG installation, a small-scale embedded generation project under 1MW. This project is a pilot designed to showcase its potential within Kouga and, if successful, will be rolled out to more areas within Kouga.

We extend our heartfelt wishes for a joyful and safe festive season to all our residents and visitors. May this be a time of relaxation, introspection, and a focus on life’s most significant aspects.

Warmest holiday greetings and blessings for a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.

Executive Mayor Hattingh Bornman