29/10/2026
𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
𝑨 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝑲𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒂
As we reach the end of the five-year municipal term from November 2021 to October 2026, I reflect with pride on the progress made by Kouga Local Municipality, the challenges we have faced together, and the opportunities that lie ahead for our communities.
I was elected Executive Mayor on 30 June 2023, and it has been a privilege to serve the people of Kouga in this capacity. I have always believed that local government must be measured by its ability to improve people's lives, create opportunities, maintain essential services and build a municipality where residents and businesses can thrive.
Our journey has not been without challenges. Drought, devastating fires, flooding, infrastructure pressures and the growing demand for services have tested our resilience. Yet, through the commitment of our municipal employees, constructive partnerships and the determination of our communities, we have continued working towards a stronger, safer and more sustainable Kouga.
𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲
Good governance is the foundation of effective service delivery. Kouga Local Municipality achieved two consecutive clean audits for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 financial years, reflecting our commitment to sound financial management, accountability and responsible administration.
These achievements belong to the many employees who work diligently behind the scenes to ensure that public funds are managed responsibly and that municipal resources are directed towards the needs of our communities.
A clean audit is not an end in itself. It must translate into better planning, effective project implementation, reliable services and tangible benefits for residents.
𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬
Over the past five years, we have continued investing in infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing municipality.
Our road rehabilitation programme has prioritised the repair and upgrading of roads across Kouga, improving accessibility, road safety and the condition of essential transport routes. Projects across our towns and communities are helping to address long-standing infrastructure needs while supporting local economic activity.
We have also invested in water and sanitation infrastructure, including wastewater treatment works, water supply improvements, groundwater development and the upgrading of critical networks. Our groundwater initiatives have strengthened drought resilience, with groundwater able to contribute approximately 42% of municipal water demand during drought conditions.
These investments are particularly important in a municipality where population growth and development place increasing pressure on existing infrastructure.
Our responsibility is to ensure that infrastructure is not only built, but maintained and expanded to support the needs of present and future generations.
𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲
Reliable electricity is essential for households, businesses and economic growth. We have therefore continued to invest in strengthening Kouga's electricity infrastructure, upgrading substations, improving network capacity and reinforcing electricity supply networks.
The completion of the R24 million, 2 MW/5 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in St Francis Bay represents an important step towards improving local energy resilience and managing electricity demand.
We have also invested in electricity network upgrades and extended infrastructure to communities, including 259 households in Kruisfontein, Humansdorp; 169 in Jeffreys Bay; 200 in Ebumnyameni, Oceanview; 250 in Sea Vista, St Francis Bay; 250 in London Phase 1, Ocean View; 107 in London Phase 2, Ocean View; and 150 in Tjoks informal settlement, Thornhill.
Looking ahead, our ambition is to reduce Kouga's reliance on Eskom wherever technically and financially feasible. Through battery storage, renewable energy, improved energy management and further investment in local infrastructure, we aim to build a more resilient electricity system that can better support households, businesses and future development.
Energy security is not simply about keeping the lights on. It is about protecting jobs, encouraging investment and creating the conditions for economic growth.
𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬
Safety remains a priority. Our communities deserve to feel safe in their homes, on their streets and in public spaces.
The installation of high-mast floodlights across Kouga is helping to improve nighttime visibility and access to well-lit public areas. With Phase 1 completed and further installations planned, this programme is an important investment in community safety.
Our Drone-as-First-Responder programme has also strengthened our ability to respond to incidents and support public safety operations. Its extension creates opportunities to further improve response capabilities and explore additional applications that benefit residents.
We have also experienced some of the most difficult emergencies in Kouga's recent history, including devastating fires and severe flooding. These events highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness, coordinated response and strong partnerships between the municipality, emergency services, volunteers, businesses and residents.
The resilience shown by our communities during these emergencies has been remarkable. We will continue strengthening disaster preparedness and working towards a safer Kouga for all.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞
Kouga's natural environment is one of our greatest assets. Our coastline, beaches, rivers, estuaries and biodiversity support tourism, recreation, livelihoods and economic development.
The retention of Blue Flag status at Dolphin Beach in Jeffreys Bay for a fifth consecutive year, alongside Cape St Francis Beach, reflects our ongoing commitment to high standards of coastal management. Our Green Coast sites at JBay Supertubes and Paradise Beach further demonstrate the importance of protecting our natural environment.
The planting of 11 502 trees between April 2023 and October 2026 is another contribution towards greener communities and a healthier environment.
Our recognition as the 2024 Provincial Greenest Municipality Competition winner, followed by second place in the 2025 Sarah Baartman District competition, reinforces the importance of environmental responsibility, waste management and sustainable development.
We must continue to protect the natural resources that make Kouga special while ensuring that development is planned responsibly and benefits future generations.
𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬
Economic development must remain at the heart of our plans for Kouga. Our municipality has enormous potential in agriculture, tourism, renewable energy, fishing, manufacturing and related industries.
We have continued investing in infrastructure that supports economic activity, while working to create an environment in which businesses can establish themselves, expand and employ more people.
Our tourism sector remains a major economic asset, attracting visitors to Jeffreys Bay, St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis, the Gamtoos Valley, Hankey, Patensie and our other towns and rural destinations. By supporting tourism, protecting our natural environment and promoting local attractions, we can help businesses grow and create employment opportunities.
However, we cannot rely on tourism and existing industries alone. We must actively pursue new investment, diversify the local economy and make it easier for businesses to operate and grow.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐩 𝐄𝐜𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐮𝐛
One of the exciting opportunities ahead is the proposed Eco Industrial Hub in Humansdorp. This development has the potential to become an important driver of economic growth, investment and employment creation in Kouga.
The concept is to establish a hub that can accommodate industries linked to agriculture, renewable energy, fishing and associated value chains. By creating space for complementary industries to operate, process products, provide services and develop new markets, we can strengthen local supply chains and retain more economic value within our region.
The environmental impact assessment process has commenced, and development plans are in place. The project must now progress through the necessary environmental, planning, infrastructure and investment processes before development can proceed.
Our vision is to create a thriving economic hub that attracts investors, supports existing local businesses and opens doors for entrepreneurs, suppliers, contractors and emerging enterprises.
The long-term potential includes thousands of employment opportunities as the hub and its associated industries develop. These opportunities will depend on investment, project implementation and the industries ultimately established, but our objective is clear: to create an economy that offers more people the opportunity to work, build businesses and secure a better future for their families.
We want our young people to see a future in Kouga. We want local businesses to grow alongside new investors. And we want economic development to reach communities across our municipality.
𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝐀 𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
As we look beyond October 2026, our work is far from finished. Population growth, infrastructure backlogs, financial pressures, climate-related risks and the need for more employment opportunities will continue to demand focused leadership and responsible planning.
Our priorities must include strengthening water security, improving roads and sanitation, expanding reliable electricity infrastructure, enhancing community safety, protecting our environment and creating the conditions for sustainable economic development.
We must also continue building partnerships with provincial and national government, the private sector, community organisations and residents. No municipality can achieve lasting progress in isolation.
The opportunities before us, particularly in renewable energy, agriculture, tourism and the proposed Humansdorp Eco Industrial Hub, provide a platform for a more diversified and resilient local economy.
Our vision is a Kouga where businesses can prosper, young people can find meaningful opportunities, families have access to reliable services, communities feel safe and our natural environment remains protected.
𝐀 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬
I would like to thank our municipal employees for their dedication and hard work, often under difficult circumstances. Their contribution to keeping services running and projects moving forward is essential to the municipality's progress.
I also thank my fellow councillors, municipal management, our government partners, community organisations, businesses, volunteers and residents who have contributed to the development of Kouga during this term.
Most importantly, I thank the people of Kouga for their continued engagement, patience and commitment to their communities. Constructive participation and active citizenship remain essential to building a municipality that works for everyone.
As we conclude this five-year term, we can recognise the progress achieved while remaining honest about the work that still lies ahead. Our responsibility is to build on the foundations already laid, learn from our challenges and continue pursuing practical solutions that improve the lives of our residents.
The future of Kouga must be built on good governance, reliable services, economic opportunity, safer communities and responsible development.
Together, we must continue working towards a stronger, more resilient and prosperous Kouga – a municipality where service excellence through good governance is reflected not only in our vision, but in the everyday experiences of the people we serve.
𝐀𝐥𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐧
𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐫
𝐊𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲