Attended by : Overstrand Municipality: Municipal Manager (MM), Dr Dean O’Neill.HRA EXCO representative(s): Ken Briggs (KB) Download article KB thanked the MM for the opportunity to continue the monthly engagements. He noted that the HRA had preparatory discussions with both i.e. the Hermanus Business Chamber (HBC) and Hermanus Baboon Action Group (HBAG). The key points that […]

Attended by : 
Overstrand Municipality: Municipal Manager (MM), Dr Dean O’Neill.
HRA EXCO representative(s): Ken Briggs (KB)

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KB thanked the MM for the opportunity to continue the monthly engagements. He noted that the HRA had preparatory discussions with both i.e. the Hermanus Business Chamber (HBC) and Hermanus Baboon Action Group (HBAG). The key points that were discussed following on from the 22 August 2025 meeting are briefly introduced below.

1. Business Chamber: The HRA in concert with the HBC explored the opportunity to align their respective meetings with the MM. It was agreed that the HBC could integrate their monthly meeting with the HRA monthly meeting and attend when there were issues and discussion items relevant to the HBC.
   
2. Key post appointments: Drawing on the August meeting, KB enquired about the progress with the appointment of the key senior posts within the Municipality, including the CFO and to address the operational shortfalls in important areas, such as Environmental Management Services, Planning, Tourism and Local Economic Development.  The MM reiterated the following points:

• He shared these concerns and reiterated that the key challenges were around trying to secure suitable candidates within the constraints of the prescribed upper-limits for posts within a category 4 municipality. 
• He again expressed his frustration with the inability to attract and appoint appropriate candidates due to the outdated payment band restrictions. 
• He reiterated that the matter had been escalated through the provincial Minister resulting in an intergovernmental dispute being formally declared. 
• In addition, he indicated other avenues to facilitate the appointments were also being explored. 
  

3. Baboon management. KB raised the concern that the existing Baboon Management programme performance remained suboptimal and was not adequate for Hermanus. 

• The MM acknowledged that the function was still developing and that the current appointment of two experienced baboon monitors should help address the lack of experience and the operational performance.  
• The MM agreed to follow-up the status of the new appointments to mitigate any further delay. The HRA suggested contributing by facilitating better liaison with the Joint Task Team (JTT) in CPT and learning from the teams from South Peninsula. The MM welcomed any support the HRA could provide in this regard. 
• The challenges with the lack of consistent adherence to the waste collection protocols were raised by KB and noted by the MM. 
• KB confirmed that both the HRA and HBAG were monitoring the waste collection and in regular communication with waste collection management. 
• KB agreed that the HRA would continue to promote the residents’ obligations in terms of baboon management. 
  

4. IDP/Budget Planning. The MM confirmed that it was the intention for the joint OM and HRA planning team  to convene a first meeting during October 2025. 

• KB indicated that the HRA were finalising the proposed panel membership. Provisional panel membership from the OM and HRA side were briefly exchanged to help ensure a correct balance of expertise. 
• KB agreed that the HRA in preparation for the first meeting would draft a concept note confirming the purpose of the panel, its role and some initial aspects that will need to be considered.
  

5. Status of proposed new developments: KB requested an update on the current status of key new developments. In the ensuing discussions the following points were noted:

• The MM confirmed that the legal process pertaining to the De Mond tender is still ongoing and the contract has not been cancelled. 
• The MM reiterated that the proposed Life Style development of Erf 4833 (Voëlklip East) was still in the Basic Assessment Phase, with the consultants being in the process of making amendments to the Basic Assessment Report, to include additional specialist studies.
• The MM noted that the development for the OK site in Voëlklip is still to be reissued for tender.
• The MM noted that the legal objection to the Grotto Cape Town Fish Market (CTFM) Restaurant had been settled out of court, with a new land-use departure process initiated.
  

6. Spatial Development Framework: KB noted that the HRA understood that the Overstrand SDF is being revised in keeping with the revisions made to the Western Cape’s SDF. 

• KB enquired on its status and what public engagement it would entail. 
• The MM confirmed that the OM was initiating the update and alignment process and that there would be further advice regarding stakeholder participation. 
  

7. Parking: KB indicated that the HRA and the HBC had been discussing the parking issue and the possible ways forward. 

• The MM confirmed that the HBC and Bob Stanway had a meeting on the parking issue and agreed on a way forward. 
• Opportunities to address some of the parking issues through alignment or integration with the eminent updating of the CBD precinct plan was also discussed.
  

8. Sportsground road: KB enquired about the status in the context of it being priority one on the IDP. 

• The MM indicated that in terms of a total upgrade of the road, which would be capital expenditure, there is no budget item for it in the current financial year. (i.e. pavement layers, kerbs, and permanent surfacing)
• He explained that typically the long lease tenants would be responsible for the road and/or parking of this nature. However, he acknowledged that in this case there seemed to be a view that at the time of concluding the lease there was an expectation that the municipality would surface the road, although there is no written record of this agreement. 
• In this context after some debate the discussion concluded with a view that a co-funding approach would need to be explored, along with the incorporation of the proposed aqua-centre development of around R60million. 
• The MM confirmed that the OM understood the importance of the road in terms of servicing the community and supporting greater tourism and that the OM would be exploring options with the lessor/s and aqua centre developer.
  

9. Hermanus entrance and taxi-rank upgrade: KB indicated that, although it was understood that the rank upgrade was to be a priority, it had not been provided for  in the current budget.  

• The MM stated that there had been an advanced application process for the required funding and support from WCPG for the redevelopment of the rank.  
• The need to aesthetically upgrade the entrance to Hermanus was also discussed with reference to the recent proposal from the HBC. 
• The MM confirmed the need for an improved entrance to Hermanus and indicated that they were currently considering the proposal and would respond formally. 
  

10. Tourism: KB stressed the important role of tourism for the town and the need to improve the municipal capacity to respond to the tourism needs. 

• The MM indicated that a tourism specialist, Jane Rodgers (WITS University), had been appointed on a contract earlier in the year to research and quantify the tourism offer and potential of Hermanus. 
• It was agreed that the HRA be given an opportunity to exchange ideas with her and the MM undertook to forward KB contact details to her.
  

11. Dog off-leash walking: KB enquired about the progress with the re-implementation of the dog walking and off leash walking zone on Grotto beach.  

• KB noted the HRA frustration with the time, almost a year,  it has already taken to re-implement the dog walking zoning system on Grotto. 
• The MM confirmed that the municipality was in the process of ensuring that the zoning system and signage was to be erected prior to the holiday season.