Memory serves mayor well

GEORGE NEWS - International investors are yet again eyeing the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) for development opportunities. At this stage the details are fuzzy, but Mayor Memory Booysen wasted no time in preparing Council for the possibilities - as well as mentioning a planned trip to the Union Buildings for a meeting with the president.

Booysen is bound to include this in his State of the District Address (Soda) in April, and would want to avoid another Calitzdorp Spa investor fiasco at all costs. Last year he survived an investigation by the Provincial Department of Local Government following an outcry from the opposition in Council.

Booysen's bona fides was questioned when he went on a fully paid overseas trip, sponsored by a company interested in investing in the Calitzdorp Spa.

The fact that Booysen made mention of the investors and his planned visit at the previous Soda last year before the matter was discussed in Council, caused the whole project to turn sour.

This time round, Booysen used the microphone to make sure Council is kept in the loop.

"This company said they've watched us... they love our ideas, our thinking and everything we stand for and strive to achieve. They would like to invest in this area. They've also been to the Premier's office in Cape Town to inform the Provincial Government that they like what we are doing," said Booysen.

However, a number of hiccups have been identified that could hamper the investments and the company asked Booysen to accompany them to see President Cyril Ramaphosa and a string of ministers.

Booysen asked Council's blessing. "I am keen to go," he said. "There is no 'yes' yet, there is no 'no' yet, but I am saying this, because when I am going to say this at Soda, I want to stand there and say that we've been approached, and Council said 'no', so I didn't go. Or, I'll stand there and say we've been approached and Council said 'yes'."

His speech was well received and his charismatic personality even drew smiles from the opposition benches in the house. Booysen said he is "chuffed" to be the mayor of GRDM. "I don't care who says what. Spiritually, all the signs are there."

PBI Virgill Gericke: "I am the champion of radical economic transformation for this district."

Municipal Manager Monde Stratu said the State of the District Address will be a formal meeting and opposition councillors will have the opportunity to reply, as requested.

Highlights à la Booysen

• Booysen's office has been approached by a special adviser of Dr Blade Nzimande, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology. "They're planning to build a new technical college in the Garden Route. They've approached us at the district and they want us to engage with them to see how our ideas can be incorporated."

• GRDM is the only district in the Western Cape that has been approved to serve as a "district model" for a pilot project on national and provincial level. "Ladies and gentlemen, we need to give ourselves applause for that, because it says a lot. I'm going to need your back-up."

• Council needs to engage with the community on the regional waste landfill site, which was launched recently. Questions have been raised in the community regarding the approval of the project, the advertising, and who will be working at the site. "We need to engage these people who are asking these questions."

• A total of 17 chefs sponsored by GRDM graduated at the François Ferreira Academy. Booysen is pleased with the result of the municipality's social investment. "Without food, you'll never be a happy man."

ANC Councillor Mputumi Mapitiza: "It excites me that the international world are looking at us. However, this is the last 18 months of our term, but we lack a tangible programme for radical economical transformation."