On Wednesday the Overstrand Municipal Council will vote to approve the De Mond and Yacht Club tenders in Hermanus. Most of the DA councillors who will be expected to vote on the tenders have not even seen a site plan for either of the sites. They will be voting purely on the instruction of their political party. To make matters worse there has been no public participation process, besides that conducted 14 years ago. Neither the Mayor, Mayco member Clinton Lerm or the Municipal Manager have given us any compelling reason why these ecologically sensitive sites should be commercialised or how the developments will benefit the local community.
Maladministration!!! Lerm and Rabie should be removed.
This sounds very underhand to me. Who is getting the kickbacks.
As part of the group who put in the only other tender for the Yacht Club site, our tender wasn’t even considered because one document in our 54 page tender, was a copy, not the original. We should have been given the opportunity to correct that, but weren’t. Add to that the fact that before the tender was advertised, an OSM official who was part of the Point Caravan group who won the tender, took a copy of our initial proposal & refused to return it. Makes one think. Doesn’t it?
They are busy with something dodgy.
This whole saga sinks of using privileged inside information of mayco members to enrich themselves. To make matters worse it appears as if the whole this is being endorsed from the most senior mayco members. Is there collusion here?
The reality is that caravan parks are a business, the more campers you cram in, the more money you make. This potentially means overcrowding, parties, noise in our peaceful suburb.
No secrecy can be allowed !
VOTE NO ! Full transparency must be demanded.
VOTE NO
Municipal Management are appointed to serve residents in Overstrand Municipality. Not to make autocractic unilateral decisions that may also personally benefit some councilers.
To not even show or discuss what tenderers are proposed on prime ecosensitive property, let alone any form of public participation…. is ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.
These matters should be brought in the open,once and for all.
Where and how can we, as the voters, find a voice to request urgent public participation, please.
A big NO we need more information
Before any decision is made..I feel we as residents affected should be given ample time.. eg 2months..to read an see what is actually going to happen to the yacht club …proof of what their intentions are should be made clear an binding…
Not to mess with the property given to hermanus for a life long campingsite.
Please keep that in mind.
As Hermanus residents and rate payers who will be adversely affected by a low income camping and caravan park we need to put forward strong representation for open consultation with residents and rate payers BEFORE any dodgy tender is awarded. I strongly advocate there is public consultation and transparency regarding tenders and plans are revealed to the public to support or reject. A major change to the character of Hermanus is not a unilateral mayoral decision or a corrupt bias decision to self enriching individuals.
Too quick on the draw, Hazy and obscure.Whats the rush..Let it be an open book for consideration, also the ecological impact.
Transparency is important.
Developing the sites will have a huge impact on the communities where it is situated. The plans must be tabled for the residents to have a say.
Somewhere I am smelling a rotten rat!
Nooo!
Absolutely not
The whole process of the Tenders for LMYBC and De Mond were riddled with incompetence, illegality, non transparency and bureaucratic arrogance. The original Tender Documents given out by Overstrand Municipality were not logically put together. The officials at Overstrand Municipality refused to acknowledge the obvious flaws and although clearly in the wrong, stated that the only recourse was for people with issues on the process, to take the matter to Court. What an arrogant lot! Knowing the costs involved, these officials thought they would get away with their schemes and incompetence. Hopefully, their day in Court will come soon and their actions will be brought out into the light and they will be held accountable!
The Lake Marina Yacht and Boat Club, have arguably an Historic Right to the land it occupied. That is in the Overstrand Municipality’s own Tender document. LMYBC has been an exemplary Tenant and Custodian of that land and the Environment. Unlike the Overstrand Municipality, who allowed the facilties, paid for over 50 years by members, to be vandalised and destroyed within two months of LMYBC being forced to vacate the property in an unfair manner.
We want our Yacht Club back and we will rebuild and take care of it as we have done!
I think that this whole thing is being driven by the Overberg DA caucus, the OSM Mayor and her councillors are being ordered HOW to act in these matters. They seem to forget that we will have another municipal election in 2026, the DA will certainly not get my vote this time around. And I urge all concerned ratepayers to carefully consider their vote. Several other parties on the landscape who looks a lot more promising.
Waited for the community consultation. It didn’t happen.
Where are the environmental impact studies? Have these been done and made public?
This bullshit processes with clear arrogance vested interest must be stopped once and for all.
A deffinate NO!
No on. Need transparency and more information
A big no from me The fact that a DA counselor is involved raises red flags
Publishing a request for tenders for the LMYBC and then not following the requirements clearly set out in the tender document cannot constitute “public participation ” . Surely the OSM cannot get away this? They have refused to disclose what Point caravans plans to do on the site So the public cannot even comment on will be happening. Do not sign the lease PLEASE
No!!
In view of all the above comments, one can only vote that the whole council be suspended. Those who have been misleading the community and who have cause so much unhappiness should be fired.
NO we need more transparency!
Absolute NO
Seems like underhand dealings
Transparency please 🙏🏽
And the Environment ??
Absoltely No.
Definitely NO to the ANC lite.
State-Capture had its origin with abuse of Tender-procedures. An absolute and definite NO to this!!
One only have to go back in history and consider how the Schulphoek issue was dealt with, to know that this is an underhand deal as well. I want to be the one to say confide and trust in your elected council but I just cannot. My conscience does not allow it and hence my voice of concern regarding this issue!
Career beaurocrats somehow think that they can act with impunity, that they are above scrutiny and immune from the wishes of the public for whom they work. WE the public need to be the decision makers, not these NWO stooges. Autocracy has no place in our town.
The De Mond site should be turned into an international Research post graduate university specialising in research of topical issues such as climate change, architecture for modern times , biodiversity etc etc.
It would become a world renowned site drawing academia and others from all over the world and would be a lasting legacy for ALL people in this area
Although I own a property in Hermanus, I am unfamiliar with this topic, as I am still trying to escape my beautiful home in Scottburgh KZN, where I started a rates withholding against the local anc thieves, 5 years ago.
I support and work very closely with the local DA councillors in Scottburgh, so I am appalled to read the above comments about what appears to be going wrong in Overstrand.
Circumvention of processes and/or underhand dealings cannot be tolerated, and especially not from the DA, in any manner whatsoever.
Why has the voting poles been taken down?
Absolutely not.These leases should not be granted.There is no transparency and accountability by the OSM. The Lake Marina Yacht Club have been excellent custodians of the site and the environment for 50 years. After 30 June when the members of the club were forced to leave the premises, the premises were not protected by the OSM and have now been totally vandalised.Who is being held accountable for this destruction of public assets in an environmentally sensitive site?We are looking for answers and transparency on the tender processes.
NO NO NO!!! When and how can we get rid of the current decision makers in Hermanus. They are only here for the money and not at all passionate about our town. Some of us have been here more than 50 years and can see the degradation
As I recall De Mond property was donated and to be used as a camping site which was a wonderful holiday spot for a lot of people and OM just decided to close it down making it a very unsafe area. Who will be taking responsibility for the destruction of this property.
In a previous lifetime being a councilor wasn’t a job. Councilors used to have real jobs and served because they felt passionate about the town they lived in. Now they suddenly think it’s a profession and gets paid. How ridiculous, foolish to think that they should earn money for serving a town that they are supposed to love.
We should get rid of the whole greedy lot for the preservation of our town – the sooner the better. Some of us have been here more than 60 years and we can see the degradation. I’m positive that there are a lot of people with roots here that can and will serve this town and the people.
I vote NO
I represented the only other tender submission and it was rejected without recourse because one of my signatures was not an original.
The tender was fully community inclusive with boat building classes, sailing instruction, local produce stalls, picnic places for the public etc.
In my humble opinion I think the “accepted” tender should be made public so the community can see what benefit they will be receiving apart from just some rental money in the coffers.