Tag: Western Cape
The State of the Construction Industry on the Table at Building Industry Congress
Economic transformation in the South African construction sector and the impact of ratings downgrades on the development and future of the industry, are topics that will be discussed at the annual Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) Congress, taking place on the 11th and 12th of September 2017 at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town.
The Congress, now in its 112th year, has become an important platform for addressing issues and opportunities within the South African building and construction industry with input from government, building industry leaders, economists and other relevant stakeholders. Under this year’s theme of Building South Africa Together, speakers from these and other sectors will be exploring matters currently impacting the industry.
Kicking off the Congress will be a representative from the Ministry of Economic Development, who will discuss the status of the National Infrastructure Plan along with its implications and opportunities for local contractors.
This will be followed by what is bound to be a lively panel discussion on The State of the Construction Industry in South Africa, with panellists including MBSA President, Bafikile Bonke Simelane; CEO of the Construction Sector Charter Council, Thabo Masombuka; the Competition Commissioner, Tembinkosi Bonakele and the General Secretary of the Black Business Council in the Built Environment, Gregory Mofokeng. The conversation will consider if the new Construction Sector Codes adequately address transformation gaps in the sector, as well as the effects of anti-competitive behaviour, amongst other issues.
The future of the industry will be unpacked throughout the course of the Congress by speakers such as Craig Lemboe, Senior Economist at the Bureau for Economic Research, who will be unveiling what’s in store for the industry and country going forward in his talk on South Africa’s Economic Outlook. The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Bulelani Magwanishe, will also be exploring avenues for future industry growth in his address on Regional Integration for African Cooperation and Development.
The Deputy Minister will be participating in a panel discussion on Industry Opportunities together with Chairman of WBHO Construction, Mike Wylie; CEO of the South African Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors, Webster Mfebe; MBSA Executive Director, Roy Mnisi; CEO of the Built Environment Professions Export Council, Con Korsten and President of the National African Federation for the Building Industry, Aubrey Tshalata. They will be exploring construction opportunities in the region and the roles of financing institutions and voluntary associations in the development of the construction industry and increasing SMME market access.
A key feature of every Congress are the technical breakaway sessions which enable teams of experts from various aspects of the industry to debate the issues of Construction Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S), Skills Developmentand Regulatory, Contractual and Legal Matters in the Construction Industry. This year’s participants will include Chief OH&S Inspector at the Department of Labour, Tibor Szana; Chief Director of Artisan Development at the Department of Higher Education, David Mabusela; and Programme Manager at the Construction Industry Development Board, Dr Rodney Milford.
Another regular highlight is the exhibition which coincides with the Congress and showcases the latest developments in and services available to the industry. This year, for the first time ever, entry will be free of charge to all contractors in and around the Western Cape.
MBSA Executive Director Roy Mnisi says: “I invite all members of the building and construction industry, suppliers and service providers to join us at this year’s Congress to learn about how we can all play a part in building South Africa together.”
To register, or for more information about the Congress, visit www.congress.masterbuilders.org. To keep up to date with the latest happenings, follow the Congress’ Facebook and Twitter pages.
Source: Master Builders South Africa
Eskom commissions 765 kV transmission line in Western Cape
State-owned Eskom earlier this week commissioned its 765 kV Kappa–Sterrekus transmission line, connecting the Western Cape to the network over and above the 400 kV network.
The 765 kV is one of the highest voltages used for electricity transfer in the world.
This line connects Sterrekus’s 765 kV substation through the 765 kV network to the north. The substation is equipped with the latest switchgear and protection schemes and will be the new hub for the transmission western grid, as it connects to Koeberg and other major substations in the Peninsula.
The 400 kV network to the Western Cape was established in 1974 with only two lines from the North to the Western Cape. Subsequent to that, a third and a fourth in-feed were established.
This is the first major change to the transmission networksince 1974, giving the Western Cape a much-needed secure supply from the major power stations in Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
The line between Kappa near Touwsrivier and Sterrekus posed severe challenges to the construction teams, as entry to some of the mountainous areas could only be achieved by helicopter. Construction took place mostly by hand.
“It was also difficult to obtain the servitude as the line had to cross the Ceres and Tulbagh valleys and required extensive public and stakeholder engagement,” the utility said in a statement.
Source: engineeringnews
South African Department of Trade and Industry to introduce dedicated agro-processing incentive
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in South Africa is working on introducing a dedicated agro-processing incentive aimed at attracting investment, DTI Minister Rob Davies says.
“This sector is critical because of its labour intensity across the value chain and its high economic multipliers, especially with respect to exports. The incentive will contain strong conditionalities, including with respect to labour practices and empowerment,” says Minister Davies.
The Minister addressed the Manufacturing Indaba in the Western Cape, South Africa. The indaba brings together the country’s industrial movers and shakers with the intent of focusing on and boosting the growth potential of key industry sectors including automotive, construction, forestry and paper and packaging, among others.
Davies says the manufacturing sector and diversification of the economy is a key driver to attaining South Africa’s economic growth objectives.
“We all know that the performance of our economy has been flat, but we were saved by the second-quarter gross domestic product manufacturing statistics. That was mainly through the implementation of a transparent localisation policy that we have developed and this result also demonstrates that manufacturing and diversification of our economy is highly critical if we are to achieve our economic strategic objectives,” says the Minister.
Minister Davies says the largest parts of international trade were mainly focused on intermediate products.
“By the early 2000s, domestic boatbuilding capabilities had hollowed out, with the exception of the luxury yachting sector. Government introduced a stronger industrial financing instrument and boats were designated for local procurement. The sector is now witnessing the crowding-in of private sector funding and capabilities to meet demand both locally and internationally.”
The success of Nautic Africa (a shipbuilder and maritime services provider) now part of the Paramount group and Damen are testament to what can be achieved, Minister Davies said, adding that effort has also gone into the clothing and textile clusters in the last decade in the Cape.
“National government has deployed significant incentives to support, among others, companies in this sector in the province. We have injected R2bn incentives over the last five years to support the industry and successfully raise productivity and competitiveness,” says the Minister.
The MEC responsible for Economic Development and Tourism in the Western Cape, Alan Winde, said the conference focused specifically on agro-processing and oil and gas as they had demonstrated themselves to be key drivers that promote manufacturing.
“We have given ourselves a target of enabling 60,000 jobs in oil and gas at Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone. We are also doing work on skills, energy and for the removing of administrative red tape that hampers the flow of business,” said MEC Winde.
He said the Western Cape had set itself a target of producing 32,500 apprentices in the next three-years to work in the energy space and pleaded with delegates to make use of the unit established in his office to remove red tape.
Source: agricouncil
R6.5m funding available for Cape innovators and startups
Startups looking for funding can now apply to the Design Innovation Seed Fund (DISF) for a share of R6.5m. The fund is looking for pre-revenue and innovative technologies in the agri-processing, health and bio-tech, and manufacturing sectors, says VentureBurn.
The fund is open to Western Cape-based early-stage companies and SMEs, businesses in incubation, entrepreneurs and researchers. Students at tertiary institutions in the Western Cape may also apply as long as the institution does not already have intellectual property claims to the product or service.
Preference will be given to businesses with at least a 25% black ownership and job creation potential.
The chosen applicants will be able to apply for up to R500,000 in funding. Entrepreneurs must also be able to match 20% of the funding in cash or in-kind contributions.
DISF is a product of the Cape Craft and Design Institute (CCDI). It receives investment and management funds from the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism.
The first round of the project, which launched in 2014, targeted 12 startups in the Western Cape out of 151 applicants. The applicants were able to move onto the next stages in their businesses and have collectively created 18 new jobs and a turnover of R2.4m in the past six months.
“The Seed Fund has given these innovators and entrepreneurs a little bit of breathing space and an opportunity to flex their muscles — which is all they really needed to take their next steps,” says executive director of the CCDI, Erica Elk, in a press release to Ventureburn.
“More importantly though, we didn’t just give them the money. We walked beside them every step of the way over the two years, providing support, advice and access to additional expertise when they needed it.”
According to Elk, the DISF has allowed the CCDI to create other investments, such as the Jobs Fund project, which is investing R14.5m into 45 companies over three years. These businesses have created over 464 new jobs as well as doubling in size and turnover.
Another creation is CCDI Capital, which is an SMME investment vehicle, which will manage the second round of DISF funding and another Jobs Fund programme.
According to the Western Cape provincial minister of economic opportunities, Alan Winde, the initiative is supported due to the global potential of businesses going through DISF.
“We have an ecosystem taking shape here at the southern tip of Africa because of programmes like this, because of the environment we are in, and because of the mindset of young people coming into the system. I encourage every person with an innovative idea in the focus areas to apply. This is an excellent platform to take your idea or business to a new level.”
Applications close on 4 November. Those wishing to enter can visit the CCDI Capital website.
Source: agricouncil
Building a Capable State – Hellen Zille, Premier of Western Cape
Building a Capable State – Hellen Zille, Premier of Western Cape
First of all, Cape Town as a metropolis has a character which is very different from any other city in Africa. How well positioned is South Africa’s “Mother City” for the rapidly changing global business environment?
I think very well, and we’re also the best prepared city in Africa for the global business environment. That is because we’ve put an enormous amount of investment into preparing for the knowledge economy of the 21st century. We’ve made absolutely sure to invest in broadband, high-speed universal broadband. We’ve created an ecosystem for the development of technologies, very specifically. We are looking at competitive areas. Not only looking at, but created an environment for them to flourish, especially tourism and agro-processing. We’ve got a very big agricultural sector and all of the institutions, especially the financial institutions and others that are necessary to form the basis of the venture into the interior. As it were, African company is doing business with the rapidly developing market of Africa.
Why is it, do you think, that some provinces seem to be performing so much better than others? And of the nine, where would you currently rank the Western Cape?
The Western Cape is number one on every single indicator, including economic growth, and including employment. So we do rank number one, and it’s because we’ve put an enormous effort into building a capable state. Very few people appreciate just how important a capable state is in creating a conducive business environment, and we’ve put an enormous effort into doing just that.
So to what extent would you attribute the provincial success, then, as a consequence of your strong brand of governance?
Well, there is a very close link, because in all the analysis that is currently being done about what creates a context for success in a democracy, it’s the combination of a capable state, the rule of law, accountability and an open market system. And those are the factors that we’ve tried to bring together, and have succeeded in bringing together in the Western Cape.
Would you say that a strong presence of public confidence forms, really, the root of long-term stability in investment?
Absolutely. Long-term confidence is the heart of an economy. But long-term confidence only exists if people have confidence that the government is capable, that services work, that education functions, that hospitals function, that public transport works, that roads are accessible and available. All of these things are a function of good government. So public confidence is a direct outflow of competent government.
Do you believe that the Western Cape has a higher degree of business confidence from an international perspective?
There is a business index done of business confidence in the various provinces and cities of South Africa. And again, the Western Cape ranks number 1, at least 10 percentage points higher than the rest of the country.
And what are the specific reforms needed, do you think, for the province to meet your intended goals of obviously increasing export, and creating jobs, and attracting higher rates of investment?
We have to make it easier to invest, and that requires changes in national government policy. But we’re using every opportunity we can to make those changes locally, and we’ve created a much more conducive environment. For example, by cutting red tape to a minimum. We have an anti-red tape unit that has an 85% success rate. It has done an enormous amount of work with businesses to cut red tape. We are absolutely sure to create an infrastructure environment that works very well. We have incentives for investment in particular locations. And, perhaps, top of the list at the moment is that we offer energy security, which every single company needs in South Africa. Energy security. We have alternative energy sources developed here to ensure that we don’t go into stage 1 load shedding when the rest of the country does. And equally, we have very good institutions for skills development, that make it possible for many businesses to invest in the Western Cape, because we can create the power plan of skills they need to make that investment profitable.
“The Western Cape is number one on every single indicator, including economic growth, and including employment… and it’s because we’ve put an enormous effort into building a capable state.”
What’s the key framework of the Western Cape Government’s Provincial Strategic Plans? Can you just outline those for us quickly?
Yes. Well, we have an overall goal of becoming the best-run regional government in the world, and we are putting enormous effort into that using all the international metrics that we can, and I’m very confident that we’re on our way. We have various key provincial strategic goals. The first one covers the area of growth and jobs. The second covers the area of education and skills development. The third covers the area of health and safety. The fourth covers the area of the built environment, and the integration of our city, and the infrastructure. And the fifth is the underpinning of the administration that has to be superbly well-run. So all of those together create the Provincial Strategic Plan, and then we also have a number of game changers that we’ve lifted out of that.
One is, for example, energy security, and we’ve made major strides in that, and energy is now secure in this city and, by and large, in the province. Secondly, broadband and Internet access and e-learning, very particularly. A huge game changer, which is coming to fruition very well. Thirdly, a better living model for the integration and the densification of large, underdeveloped areas of our city. Fourthly, we have a very important game changer in the afterschool area, where we are ensuring that young people can stay in the afternoon and have creative and functional activities, so they don’t drop out and get into the clutches of gangs, don’t get into drugs, etc. And then very crucially we have a game changer on alcohol abuse, because in that particular context we find that substance abuse is one of the big drags on people’s potential and on our potential to grow. So those are the game changers and specific areas that we’ve pulled out, and that we are working on very hard to change the game, as it were, within the framework of the strategic plan that I’ve just spoken about.
And South Africa’s export-orientated industries, they’ve obviously tended to shift towards the port cities and the coastal industrial belts. In light of this, what is your vision for the role of, for example, the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone as the basis for the Western Cape heavy industry? How much more momentum is this going to add to that shift?
Well, the entire West Coast belt, from Cape Town through Atlantis up to Saldanha Bay, is the entire industrial hub that we’re going to be developing, and is, in fact, developing very quickly. So not long ago, Atlantis was effectively a ghost town. Now you can hardly get industrial land there anymore as people understand that this corridor, from Cape Town to Saldanha Bay, with this magnificent deep-water port and the special economic zone and all the incentives that are brought to bear on investment there, what potential that holds.
The deepest in the Western Hemisphere.
Yes, it’s an amazingly, natural deep-water port, which opens up that entire hinterland. And so, it’s a great natural opportunity for us, and we’ve put all the infrastructure in to ensure that it works really well.
The Project Khulisa, which is the centrepiece of your economic strategy, is tasked with accelerating growth and jobs, and obviously tourism, agri-business, oil and gas exploration, and production of upstream services. Firstly, is it on schedule? And to what extent do you think this program will maintain and increase the overall economic momentum and competency of the Western Cape?
Good. Super. I’ll tell you a little bit about Khulisa. As long as I don’t have lipstick on my teeth, I’ll tell you about Khulisa. Khulisa is a word in isiXhosa and it means “cause to grow,” to create the context for growth. And we used that specific word because it means what it says. Now we have identified the key areas of great competitive advantage for the Western Cape. One is our incredible environment. We have what I think, and what many other people think, is the most beautiful city and the most beautiful province in the world. And many, many people want to come and see it. We’ve been ranked the number one tourist destination in the world by many, many rating agencies, and newspapers, and other outlets. And so, our tourism is way ahead of schedule. Tourism has been one of the key pillars of our economy, and it’s growing exponentially. But we’ve added other legs to that tourism strategy, particularly with our magnificent conference centre. It’s the world’s favourite long-haul conference centre and destination. It’s a wonderful venue and it’s fully booked up years in advance. So it’s a really extraordinary facility that we have here. So the tourism leg of Khulisa is not only well on schedule, it’s ahead of schedule, and it’s diversifying into all areas of tourism, not just holiday tourism.
Then the second area is agri-processing. Now we’ve got a terrible drought in South Africa at the moment, but fortunately the Western Cape has not been as badly hit as the rest of the country, which means that our key areas–particularly, for example, deciduous fruit, grapes, wine, various others such as lamb, Karoo lamb, other things like canola oil, the wheat fields on the Swartland and other things–they’ve been doing very well. And what we’re trying to do is beneficiate our agriproducts, and of course the export of beneficiated products is going extraordinarily well, including the beneficiation of waste of the agricultural products. So we’re getting to do a lot with the waste and create a new product base from that. Then more and more we’ve got the big logistics companies in the Western Cape, which means that even for the agriproduce that is produced in the rest of the country, most of it is transported through the Western Cape because of the sophistication of our logistics infrastructure. So, for example, we produce now bananas, but 85% of South Africa’s bananas are exported through the Western Cape. So that’s another very important part of the value add that we do.
Then the third crucial component is the specialized markets in Africa. One of the big under catered for markets is the halal market, and the Western Cape is known to be very halal friendly. So we have a big halal capacity, a big halal industry, and we’re working with the Malaysians currently to develop a big halal food processing plant around the airport that will service a lot of Africa. It’s an enormous market. Very little of the halal food sold in Africa is actually certified halal, but we have everything that’s needed to certify food being halal. And that is one of the big, for example, niche areas of beneficiation that we’re getting into.
To come back specifically to Saldanha, because it’s obviously kind of a core plank of the Khulisa aspect—do you think this project will gain international recognition for the Western Cape as a hyperdynamic investment destination destination?
I have absolutely no doubt that with good governance, and increasing investor confidence, and Africa being the one hinterland that still has a massive undeveloped, but developing, market, Saldanha is set to take off. It’s beautifully positioned, it has got extraordinary infrastructure, and there are lots of incentives attached to investment in Saldanha. It should have gone a bit quicker if we hadn’t had the plummet of the oil price. So we’ve got these huge gas reserves off the West Coast, but I’ve noticed through my six decades of life that prices of commodities are not statistic. They go up and down. And we’ll be perfectly positioned on the next upturn of, for example, liquefied natural gas and other gas sources, which are rapidly replacing fossil fuels or the traditional oil fossil fuels, that we’ll be extraordinarily well-situated and located to drive that throughout Africa. So I think it’s a little bit of a lull, but I have very little doubt that when that comes on-stream again we’ll be booming. The best investments are at a downturn in the cycle, because that’s when you prepare for the upturn. And when the upturn comes and everybody else is scrambling to get in line with the upturn, you’ve already got the platform for liftoff.
South Africa is known for being highly innovative when it comes to energy, technology, and so forth, to come on to another other couple of issues now. How much emphasis & importance does your administration place on the role of ICT, medical R&D, and other high-tech processes in further broadening the industrial core of the Western Cape, and what are some of the key catalysts for this?
We put a very strong emphasis on hi-tech, and indeed, that is precisely what our broadband rollout has been about. We want to enable ICTs, Information and Communication Technologies, as the bedrock of why services work so well in the Western Cape. Now we have a very advanced medical sector. You will remember that not only was the first heart transplant conducted in South Africa, buy many, many Nobel laureates from the Western Cape in medicine have really taken the world by storm with the CAT scan and various other things that were developed here. And equally, we have world-class hospitals for third world diseases, which is a unique position for us. So, for example, at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital, which is a world-leading paediatric hospital, we have state-of-the-art technology, but we’re also developing state-of-the-art mechanisms for conditions that you don’t see often in developed countries. So, for example, there was a whole new technique developed to replace a child’s oesophagus, because we have the phenomenon where the children still drink paraffin and the entire oesophagus gets burnt out. And we’ve been able to develop a mechanism to reconstruct the oesophagus, which is unique in the world, as well. And there are many, many other areas that we’re working on, including HIV/AIDS research, which we have a very advanced treatment regime. In fact, it’s the most advanced in the world. So we’ve got…
In the Western Cape.
Yes. So we’ve got an extraordinary amount of expertise being brought to bear on the developing challenges, health challenges, of a country such as ours. And the rest of the world and first world countries can benefit from them because many of the challenges we face aren’t confined to Africa, and they’re going to become internationally globalized sooner than most people think.
And you’re on record as saying that it’s been downhill for the ANC since 2004.
Yes.
Do you believe the DA can go on to be a party of national government in 2019, and would the ANC even accept defeat at the national level?
I have no doubt that the DA can be a national government, that’s why I’ve been working on what I’ve been working on for so many years. Because if you can’t have a change of government with the ballot box, democracy can’t succeed, and accountability can’t work. And if you don’t have accountability, you don’t have a capable state. And if you don’t have a capable state, you don’t have a growing economy. So of course I believe the DA can become a national government, and we will become a national government. I can’t predict exactly when, but I do think that it’s been downhill for the ANC since 2004, and I think that will accelerate. And I wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised if we had the conditions necessary for a coalition government, at the very least, nationally by 2019.
Finally, it’s been said that in a country devoid of many present-day role models, your only real equals are Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. We’d just like to know what’s driven you as a leader?
Well, I would not try ever to make that kind of comparison. What’s driven me in my life is the belief that South Africa can be a really successful democracy, and that no other country has ever managed to make a transition to a successful democracy with a growing economy starting off the same base as we did, with the inequality, with the history of oppression, with the plurality of our society, with the cultural contestation in our society, with the complexity of our history. And it has to be possible, because a lot of people depend on us succeeding. Not only in South Africa, but on the continent of Africa as well. I was brought up in a home which valued concepts such as the open society, the rule of law, valued democracy very, very highly, and understood that partition was not an option for South Africa, and that we had to make a government in one country in which everybody could live a life they valued and use their freedoms. And I believe that is possible against all the odds, and that’s what drives me.
South Africa seems to consistently have bad press. We saw the recent skulduggery over the finance ministry. Do you think that Zuma really has crossed the Rubicon now that he can never really recover from?
I think Jacob Zuma crossed that Rubicon a long time ago, that he won’t be able to recover from. It takes a long time, though, for it to become apparent in the African National Congress because it is essentially an authoritarian organization. So long after a ruler has lost credibility in that organization, people are still paying homage and making obeisance because that’s the culture internally of the ANC. We’re an open-society party in the DA, and so when, as leader, I made a mistake, people wouldn’t hesitate to tell me and challenge me because that was the entire internal culture of the party. In the ANC, long after the leader has lost credibility and support, people are still doing their salaams and bowing and scraping.
He seems to posess an iron grip, and given his former role as the head of Inkanda knew where all the bodies were buried. But fundamentally, as outsiders looking at South Africa, we’ve been in your country for several months now, and it seems to us that it’s essentially a one-party state. The only thing really holding the government to account is the Judiciary, even the minutiae of government policy is scrutinized by the Judiciary.
Well, we have a constitution and a constitutional court. That was the real revolution in South Africa: constitutional court. And no government can pass any law or any regulation if it doesn’t pass constitutional muster. But to make the constitutional court function you need active citizenry. And I believe it’s quite wrong to say that the constitutional court is the only thing holding the government to account. In 1994, we were a 1.7% party. We now touch 25%, which is one out of four voters. We have pulled the ANC close to 50% in several provinces, and I have no doubt that we will pull them under 50% in metropolitan areas. For the very first time, the ANC is frightened of the voters, and that is what you need to make a democracy work. Do you think that if President Zuma wasn’t frightened of the voters in this coming election, he would even be considering paying back any of the money? No, he wouldn’t. It’s because for the first time they see defeat potentially looming in critical metropolitan areas such as Nelson Mandela Metro around Port Elizabeth and Tshwane Metro around Pretoria. That is why they are running scared; they’re going to start losing elections.
Do you think he will pay any actual attention to this grassroots “Zuma must fall”? Does that resonate with him?
Well, the only meaningful “Zuma must fall” movement is through the ballot box. So let’s see if that translates adequately into the ballot box. People must understand that protesting in the street and a hashtag on Twitter is no substitute for their vote. And so, we’ll see in the local government election whether people are serious about accountability.
Who is his most likely successor?
In terms of his most likely successor, President Zuma would like his ex-wife to be. My husband always says to me, “Who would want their ex-wife to succeed them?” I don’t know, but he clearly would like his ex-wife to succeed him. I suppose keeping it in the family is always helpful. But many people prefer Cyril Ramaphosa, and of course I prefer Mmusi Maimane. So we’ll see.
Expose your company to in excess of 3000 B2B delegates
Here’s how to reach more than 20,000 subscribers that are interested in green economy content
The best way to gather hundreds of qualified leads
Source: marcopolis
Cape wine tourism is about so much more than just the wine
Cape Town – South Africa’s appeal as a tourist destination is unique in the world. There is no other country that offers the diversity of experiences that can be found here.
Traditionally, visitors have come for the wildlife, the natural beauty and the sunshine. More recently, sports tourism and business tourism have taken hold as well.
And, in the Western Cape, wine tourism is also quickly becoming a major attraction. The wine farms have always been there and people have always visited them to taste their produce, but more and more estates are appreciating that it need not end there.
The shift has really occurred as wine producers have accepted that wine doesn’t have to be elitist. You don’t need to be an expert to enjoy wine, and so you shouldn’t have to prove yourself an expert in order to visit a wine farm.
“I think the biggest mistake we as brand owners made over the years was to position wine as too snobbish,” says the CEO of La Motte wine estate, Hein Koegelenberg. “Ten years ago if you walked into a wine tasting facility and you knew nothing about wine they would tell you that you know nothing. But now we have the situation where people are more comfortable and relaxed. It’s about having a good time.”
This shift has led wine estates to reconsider their appeal. They have recognised that while wine should remain the central element of what they do, it need not be the only thing. Tourists are not only going to come because of the quality of the product, but the quality of the overall experience.
“Wine tourism is about brand extension,” says Monika Elias, the publisher of The Wine Tourism Handbook and founder of the Klink wine tourism awards. “Wine is a lifestyle product and there is so much that can go along with that.”
For many estates, the concept of wine tourism began with their tasting rooms and restaurants. Since wine and food are natural partners, this makes obvious sense.
However, it hasn’t stopped there. Estates across the Western Cape have extended their offerings to include everything from museums, to art galleries, to spas and hiking trails.
Visitors can now enjoy experiences such as the mountain bike trails at Oak Valley, or the Pierneef art collection at La Motte. They can visit Antonij Rupert for its car museum or Delaire Graff to view its diamond jewellery.
“The way to market yourself in the modern world is to focus on the experience and not just the product,” Koegelenberg says. “And the offering South Africa is putting on the table from a wine point of view is superior to anywhere in the world. We are way ahead in terms of the range of different experiences we offer and the quality of those experiences.”
Simply put, what is making wine tourism so successful in South Africa is that it has become about much more than just tasting wine.
“If you look at other wine regions in the world, they don’t have this same tourism pull,” says Katherine Harris, wine marketing and sales manager at Delaire Graff. “It’s not just a wine experience any more. It really is a whole package.”
Some wine tourism experiences to consider:
Wine and salt tasting at Fleur du Cap – a unique pairing of wines with foods enhanced with artisanal salt
Food and wine tasting at La Motte – an introduction to how to pair wines to the primary taste sensations
Tastings at the KWV Wine Emporium – including sparkling wine with nougat, sweet wine and liquer with cake, and chocolate with brandy
The Porcupine Trail Wine Walk at Waterford Estate – a two-hour guided walk through the estate’s fynbos, vineyards and wild protea fields
Wine bath at Mont Destin – soak with your partner in a sensual mixture of red wine and warm water
Franschhoek Wine Tram – a hop-on hop-off tour of the rolling Franschhoek valley
“Langtafel” at Mooiplaas – Dine with the estate owners, the Roos family, in the old Manor House
Underground cellar tour at Weltevrede – explore the estate’s historical underground tunnels and experience a candlelit wine tasting
Grand Provence Harvest Day – celebrate the harvest by picking and stomping your own grapes
Vergelegen Starlight Classics – light classical concerts on the lawns of one of South Africa’s oldest and grandest estates
24 Karat Gold Facial at Delaire Graff – A luxury experience at an exclusive spa
Source: moneyweb
Cape tourism numbers continue upward trend
The Cape tourism sector has remained buoyant despite numerous challenges facing the industry.
Cape Town had experienced steady growth in tourism numbers since 2012, resulting in an increase in the direct tourism spend from R14.4 billion in 2012 to R15.6 billion in 2014, according to research conducted by Grant Thornton, on behalf of the city, over a three-year period.
Of the 1,745,300 foreign arrivals to the Western Cape, just over 94 percent (1,645,469) chose Cape Town as their holiday destination, mayoral committee member for tourism, events, and economic development Garreth Bloor said.
The domestic tourism market also remained buoyant, with 863,351 visitors making their way to the city, representing an increase of just over 191,000 domestic visitors.
“For the first time, the research has identified the spend by domestic travellers on day trips to Cape Town, which amounted to R3.2 billion in 2013. This underscores the importance of not underestimating day trips to the city. We need to take cognisance of the bigger picture – although day visitors do not spend on overnight accommodation, they spend on the city’s attractions, restaurants, local transport, and shopping, among others. At R3.2 billion per year, this is a significant contribution to the economy of Cape Town,” he said.
“This spending power of all visitors to our city helps to stimulate local job creation. We have seen an encouraging upward trend over the last few years, with the number of jobs increasing steadily. Currently there are 38,838 permanent jobs and 15,489 temporary jobs created in the local tourism sector. I am pleased to see this positive trend, especially during the tough economic climate that we are facing currently. Sustainable job creation is a huge challenge so every job created is most welcomed.”
A phenomenal 28,000,000 domestic trips were taken in South Africa in 2014 and there were 10,247,614 foreign arrivals to the country for the same period.
Key findings presented with regard to domestic tourism in Cape Town and the Western Cape for 2013/14, included the total direct tourism spend by domestic travellers to Cape Town was R1.9 billion, and the number of domestic bed nights on trips to Cape Town increased by 4.2 percent to 5,467,956.
Domestic overnight spend in Cape Town had grown by 10.8 percent per annum between 2009 and 2014, compared with growth in total domestic spend of 3.7 percent. With an assumed inflation rate of around five percent, the growth in domestic overnight spend in Cape Town represented real growth of 5.8 percent per annum.
The main purpose of domestic trips taken to the Western Cape was generally to visit family or relatives (60 percent), followed by 23 percent travelling to take a holiday. There was a much higher incidence of trips to the Western Cape being taken for holiday purposes as compared with South Africa as a whole.
Key findings regarding foreign tourism in Cape Town and the Western Cape for 2013/14, included the total direct tourism spend by foreign visitors to Cape Town topped R13.6 billion, and foreign direct tourism spend in Cape Town had increased by 3.9 percent per annum between 2009 and 2014.
The number of bed nights occupied by foreign arrivals in Cape Town increased to 15,514,877 from 13,392,566 in 2013 – an increase of 2.1 million bed nights. The Western Cape share of foreign bed nights was 22,409,196 for this period.
“It is also interesting to note the shift in the visitor profile of foreign visitors to our shores. We have noticed a trend over the last few years whereby our travellers are much younger today. One of the reasons is that South Africa is known as an adventure destination, attracting younger and more active foreign tourists searching for diverse experiences and holidays that are not offered elsewhere,” Bloor said.
In keeping with the trend of the past few years, more than 60 percent of foreign visitors to South Africa were between 24 and 44 years old, with the majority (32.1 percent) being between 35 and 44. This was closely followed by 31.8 percent in the 25 to 34 age group. Only 10.5 percent of foreign visitors were 24 or younger.
Just over 30 percent of foreign travellers indicated that their primary purpose for travelling was to visit friends. This was followed by 19.1 percent of foreign travellers to South Africa for holiday purposes and 14.2 percent travelling for personal shopping purposes, Bloor said.
Source: citizen
V&A Waterfront’s Watershed receives double recognition for innovative redevelopment
The V&A Waterfront’s innovative architectural approach to the R50-million redevelopment of a former craft market and disused workshop, into a spacious, bustling hub for quality African art and design now known as the Watershed, was recognised at both this year’s Cape Institute for Architecture (CIfA) Awards and at the 19th Annual South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) Congress on Wednesday, 30 September.
The Watershed was one of only 12 developments in the Western Cape to receive a CIfA Award for Architecture this year, with the Institute commending the re-imagining of a closed, warehouse space into an open-ended ‘indoor street’ that is a lively hub for small businesses.
“There is something about the collective nature of [a] street that brings us firmly in relation to each other… The project beautifully demonstrates the possibility of a more integrated, diverse society,” said the Institute in conferring the award.
The Watershed was also named a co-winner in the ‘Redevelopment of Existing Space’ award category at the SACSC Congress’s Annual Retail Design & Development Awards (RDDA) that same evening. The prestigious awards recognise exceptional shopping centre design combined with economic success within the SA property industry. They have a particular interest in developments with excellent design solutions, and those that achieve a clear overall development goal. A development project’s positive response to its market and its surroundings, use of innovative design and construction solutions, and its embracing sustainable design and business techniques are also heavily weighted.
Formerly the Craft Market and Wellness Centre and commonly known as the Blue Shed, the historic warehouse structure of the Watershed was completely reimagined by the V&A Waterfront and Wolff Architects, and opened to the public for trade in early October 2014.
The now open-ended building has been transformed into double-volume height, with a 100m-long skylight ensuring an abundance of natural light. The southern façade sheeting has been replaced by glass overlooking the Robinson Dry Dock and Table Mountain.
Today, the curated space of the Watershed offers a platform to talented, emerging designers and showcases more than 150 tenants, jointly representing over 365 fresh and innovative brands ranging from ceramics and furniture to textiles, fashion and jewellery.
The Watershed also includes 1000m² of dedicated exhibition and eventing space, a wellness centre and Workshop17, the innovation technology hub.
Source: mybroadband
South Africa: Dept Improves W Cape Municipalities’ Water Quality
Pretoria — The Department of Water and Sanitation has to date supported 17 municipalities in the Western Cape to enhance water security and improve water quality through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant programme.
This was highlighted during a meeting on Tuesday, where Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, attended the Minister and Mayors (MinMay) meeting of the Western Cape Province, in Worcester.
The meeting follows an invitation by Western Cape MEC of Local Government, Environment and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, with an aim to share with both provincial and local government the national government’s plans on water and sanitation as they relate to the province.
The meeting also aimed to identify solutions to the challenges facing the province.
The Western Cape is one of the provinces most affected by rapid urbanisation. Population growth figures in the province have had a direct impact on the ability of government to deliver water and sanitation services.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Mokonyane informed the MEC and mayors that the department has recently completed a study on the bulk water and sanitation infrastructure needs for the province for the next 15 to 20 years.
In this regard, Minister Mokonyane said 1 641 bulk water and sewerage infrastructure projects have been identified and require the pooling of resources, both capacity and financial resources between all three spheres of government to ensure delivery.
“As the department we have identified three key priorities, namely, water resource management, solutions to service delivery challenges and the finalisation of a long-term master plan for South Africa on water and sanitation.
“Our engagements must direct us towards servicing un-serviced communities and maintaining our infrastructure adequately in serviced areas,” said Minister Mokonyane.
In order to ensure that we deliver to our people, the Minister added, we must pay close attention to the institutional capacity of municipalities to maintain the infrastructure we are developing to ensure security and quality of supply.
“Without that, we will not win in delivering quality and sustainable basic services to the people.”
The meeting also appreciated the importance of water and sanitation for economic growth and the need to increase cooperation in order to ensure impact through delivery to communities.
Source: allafrica
Book your seat to attend the Water Resource Seminar at Sustainability Week in June
Follow Alive2Green on Social Media
Eco-Centre to Boost Conservation, Tourism in Betty’s Bay
Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom says the new Stony Point Eco-Centre in Betty’s Bay, in the Western Cape, is an important asset to tourism which will contribute towards efforts to conserve endangered species.
The eco-centre, situated alongside the On The Edge Restaurant, will also go a long way in benefiting local communities through job creation.
The Minister said the project was a perfect example of how social, economic and environmental responsibility can come together to create a workable and sustainable solution.
“This is a community project and the leadership of the community is central to the success of the project.
“When we launch a project, it is something that deserves a celebration. There are years of hard work that go behind a project that may seem small but are significant to our country. We have got good things to tell the world and we must tell it,” he said.
The launch of Stony Point is part of government’s National Imbizo Focus Week which is a platform for political principals to articulate messages around the priorities of government as outlined in the State of the Nation Address.
Minister Hanekom said it was important for government to invest in projects like Stony Point as it will, in the long run, contribute to domestic and international tourism.
Stony Point was in the past used as a whaling station, which Minister Hanekom said was an unsustainable practice.
Johan West, the chairperson of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve Company, said the area held huge potential for eco-tourism.
He said of the 11000 marine species that are known around the world, 3500 were endemic to the area. The area also has 1400 plant species per square kilometre, making the area one of the most bio diverse place in the world.
Stony Point Peninsula is adjacent to the Betty’s Bay Marine Protected Area and forms part of the Overstrand Hope Spot. The Overstrand coast is home to an important seabird colony which includes five endangered species.
“I am glad that government invested in this area and this project will benefit people from this area,” said West.
The project was funded by the national Department of Tourism through the Expanded Public Works Programme, which is one of government’s programmes aimed at providing poverty and income relief through temporary work for the unemployed.
It was developed in partnership with the Mooiuitsig Community Trust. The Trust holds the commercial rights to manage the eco-centre and the restaurant.
The On The Edge restaurant is staffed by members of the nearby Mooiuitsig community, who underwent training prior to the opening.
As part of the project, a parking area, paving and walkways, as well as ablution facilities were built. This is expected to enhance the experience of tourists.
About 70 members of the community were provided with jobs and skills training during the eco-centre and restaurant construction phase. Upon completion, the workers were all able to find work.
Solly Fourie, head of Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, said any successes of tourism in the province were celebrated as they contributed to the region’s economy.
He said the project was a clear job creator and will be a vehicle for small and medium enterprises to participate in the local economy.
“Tourism has been elevated as one of the 3rd growth drivers in the Western Cape.
“Any development within the tourism space carries the full support of the Western Cape government.”
Source: All Africa
Follow Alive2Green on Social Media
