GEORGE NEWS - Group Editors is proud to announce that the George Herald scooped up the PMR Africa Diamond Award for the best local newspaper in the Southern Cape and Karoo region, with our sister newspaper, Mossel Bay Advertiser hot in pursuit in the second place.

The awards were handed over this morning at a special breakfast function at the Hyatt Regency Oubaai Hotel.

The George Municipality raked in a heap of awards. It was given a Diamond Award (first place overall) as the municipality doing the most for social upliftment, to attract foreign investment, to attract local investment, for job creation and to clean the environment. It got gold awards for doing the most to attract tourism and to fight crime.

George Mayor Charles Standers collected the Diamond Award as the most pro-active mayor in the Southern Cape and Karoo.

PMR Africa gives awards based on its surveys that measure companies' and institutions' competencies, contribution to the economic growth and development of the region as well as management expertise and corporate governance. Brand awareness, marketing efforts and levels of innovation come into play in the adjudication process.

Several George businesses were awarded. These include Fancourt hotel that took the Diamond Award (first overall) in the division for Conference and Convention Centres. The Hyatt Regency Oubaai landed the gold award (second overall) in this division, but beat Fancourt to take the first place overall in the sections for Executive Hotels, Golf Courses and Spas.


Journalist Lindie Schraader and sales representative Heidi Olivier received the Gold award on behalf of the Mossel Bay Advertiser.