Gallery
GEORGE NEWS - Garden Route Mayor Memory Booysen said he was "preaching the vision" when he informed guests at his recent State of the District Address (Soda) that the district municipality will consider signing lease contracts of 50 years with investors interested in the upgrading of De Hoek and Calitzdorp Spa resorts.
"I am fully aware that it must still come to Council," said Booysen in reply to an outcry from the opposition on this matter, during a council meeting on Tuesday 28 May.
ANC Councillor Steven de Vries and Virgill Gericke of the PBI both shared their concerns. Gericke said he was baffled when Booysen made the announcement at a glittering event at the George Civic Centre on Friday 12 April.
Click here for a photo gallery.
A public outcry ensued on social media regarding the possibility of half-century lease agreements to outside investors. Gericke said it was never discussed in Council and it is not in the interest of the local communities to lease properties for such a long time to a single investor.
Booysen said administration is in a very advanced stage in negotiations with possible investors. He said the decision will be fully in the hands of Council, when the time is right.
Steven de Vries, ANC.
"We are not selling the resorts, we are not stripping our assets," he said. Booysen explained that it will not be possible for investors to take out loans if they can't give security to the banks. He said that by upgrading the facilities to five-star resorts the staff equivalent would be tripled.
"We are following the law by the letter," said Booysen.
Virgill Gericke, PBI.
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
