Latest news with #PlettenbergBay
The Herald
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Parties call for suspension of Bitou municipal manager amid corruption claims
Opposition parties in the Bitou municipality have opened a case of corruption and contempt of court against municipal manager Mbulelo Memani. The ANC, Plett Democratic Congress (PDC) and the PA laid the criminal complaint against him at the Plettenberg Bay police station on Wednesday. They accused Memani of 'defiance of a high court order and alleged misuse of public funds for personal and political gain'. In a joint statement, the parties claimed to have evidence that a municipal official had paid R800,000 to the municipality on Memani's behalf. ANC councillor Sandiso Gcabayi accused Memani of creating a high-profile post for Allen Paulse without following recruitment procedures. 'I n December 2024, Memani submitted a new organogram to the Bitou municipality for council approval. ' This new organogram included the new position for performance management, monitoring and evaluation. This position was [allegedly] specifically created for Allen Paulse,' Gcabayi said. It is alleged that Paulse paid R800,000 to the municipality, using the payment reference 'M Memani'. 'The bank records of the Bitou municipality will reflect this.' On the contempt of court allegations, the ANC, PDC and PA said that on October 18 2024 the Western Cape high court had ordered Memani and his legal team to repay without delay the R4.2m he had received for a 'mutual severance agreement'. Instead, the statement said, he had been reinstated as municipal manager on that day, despite the court ruling. 'By March 2025, the debt had been reduced to R1.9m, without explanation.' In April, ANC councillors demanded repayment. 'Instead of paying, he enjoyed generous financial benefits with a bonus, back pay and the purchase of a luxury BMW. 'This is a blatant violation of a court order and a slap in the face to justice and the public,' the parties said.. Memani failed to pay back the R1.9m he was ordered to pay. In May 2023, the Bitou council approved that the then ANC mayor enter into a 'mutual severance agreement' with Memani. However, the DA took the council to court to have the R4.5m severance agreement overturned. The Western Cape High Court also overturned Memani's termination as municipal manager and ordered his reinstatement. He was ordered to repay the full amount he received under the agreement. However, after tax deductions, only R1.9m was paid into Memani's bank account, which is the amount the ANC, PDC and PA are demanding he be investigated for. ANC regional secretary Phumela Nosana said the party wanted the immediate suspensions of Memani and all officials implicated in wrongdoing. It also wanted all financial records released, as well as recruitment documentation and internal communications. ' The people of Bitou deserve honest, transparent and accountable governance. 'The ANC remains committed to defending the rule of law and rooting out corruption wherever it exists. 'These developments have now exposed [alleged] widespread corruption, abuse of power and defiance of the judiciary under the current municipal leadership. 'The courts have overturned former municipal manager Mbulelo Memani's termination settlement agreement. 'But the controversial manager had already returned to work under the new DA administration,' Nosana said. When asked for comment, Paulse said: "Any person can make allegations of illegality and criminality and flaunt case numbers around. "Let the law enforcement agencies, such as the National Prosecution Authority, the Hawks and police investigate and make a determination." The Herald
The Herald
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald
Fraudster forfeits R13.4m in Cape guest house loan scam
A Dutch businessman who duped a bank into giving him a R6.8m loan using a four-star guest house as security has forfeited R13.4m to the state. The Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sentenced Martin Lennard Korver to 36 months under correctional supervision. Korver, 59, who lives in Plettenberg Bay and has permanent residency in South Africa, faced charges ranging from theft to fraud and money laundering. He admitted to duping Investec Bank Mauritius into giving him a loan using a four-star guest house in Somerset West as security. He instructed a law firm to register a mortgage bond over the guest house in 'favour of Investec Bank Mauritius to secure the said loan'. Korver was the director of a company, Cobow, that owns Albourne Guest House, until he resigned in 2016. His co-directors, Gustav Schaefer and Jan Eberhard Schliemann, were not aware of Korver's intentions and that the account was linked to his personal account. Korver was arrested in 2018 on 'two counts of fraud, alternatively, theft, totalling R6.8m, five counts each of forgery, uttering and theft amounting to R5.5m and one count of money laundering'. Eric Ntabazalila, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said Korver opened the bank accounts in November 2013. 'The bank accounts were linked to his personal bank account without the knowledge and/or consent of the complainants, as this was done before their involvement,' said Ntabazalila. 'During May and June 2015, he opened a call deposit account and a loan account on behalf of Korevest Investments Group (Pty) Ltd with the Investec Bank of Mauritius. He claims the complainants were aware of the call deposit account. He entered into a loan agreement on behalf of Korevest Investments Group (Pty) Ltd with the Investec Bank of Mauritius and secured €442,602, which equates to R6.8m, between the two companies and the bank. He used an immovable property [guest house in Somerset West] as collateral to secure the loan from Investec Bank of Mauritius.' Korver entered a plea and sentencing agreement with the state. He was convicted of a charge of fraud in the amount of R6.8m and theft in the amount of R4m. He was sentenced to 10 years' direct imprisonment for each count, both wholly suspended for five years on condition he is not convicted of fraud, theft or any offence of which dishonesty is an element, committed during the period of suspension. The court ordered he forfeit R13.4m to the state after an Asset Forfeiture Unit investigation into his assets.
The Herald
07-07-2025
- The Herald
Whale sculpture sends conservation message at Plett Ocean Festival
The unveiling of Malcolm Solomon's quarter-of-a-million-rand bronze Mother and Calf Humpback Whale sculpture took centre stage at the opening of Plettenberg Bay's fourth annual Ocean Festival on Saturday. This underlined the town's status as SA's first Whale Heritage Site and reinforced its commitment to marine conservation. Plettenberg Bay Tourism chief executive Patty Butterworth said the sculpture would serve as a reminder to the people of the town that they were custodians of Plett's unique selling points, which were the coastline, waterways and the marine life. 'This is the legacy we leave for the future tourism industry, as well as the future community members of our town,' she said. 'This striking sculpture has been unveiled in celebration of the Plett Ocean Festival, serving as a powerful tribute to Plettenberg Bay's rich marine heritage and deep connection to the sea. 'The sculpture captures the spirit of ocean conservation and the vibrant marine life which defines the region.' The statue at Market Off Main and overlooking the Lookout side of Plett is valued at R272,400. Butterworth said its location presented a perfect opportunity for tourists to admire and take a picture next to it while capturing the view. The Plett Ocean festival is aimed at educating people about the importance and fragility of the oceans while fostering a sense of shared environmental responsibility. Photographer Rob Smith described the festival as a catalyst of education and information sharing. Smith said as the festival grew and cut across the entire community, people were becoming more aware of what the bay held. 'This is a celebration of the ocean and the marine life and an appreciation of the Bay, but with all that comes awareness that we have to drive,' he said. 'The beauty of it is getting the youngsters interested through lunch box theatre. 'It plays a crucial role in planting a seed of conservation and awareness.' Bitou mayor Jessica Kamkam said the festival was important because it connected people to the ocean. 'You can't separate conservation from the people,' she said. 'For people to want to conserve, they need to have a connection with nature. 'This sculpture is a visual connection to whales and what is happening in the ocean. 'It spreads awareness and brings people closer to the ocean.' The festival began on Friday and ends on July 13. The Herald
News24
16-06-2025
- Climate
- News24
Tuesday's weather: Fine, cool start to the week, but cold snap looms for SA
A cold snap is looming over parts of South Africa this week, with temperatures set to drop sharply from Wednesday. Expect fine and cool conditions for Tuesday in most provinces, according to the South African Weather Service (SAWS). Impact-based warnings A yellow level 2 warning for damaging waves is expected between Saldanha Bay and Plettenberg Bay, resulting in difficulty in navigation at sea from Tuesday until Thursday evening. A yellow level 1 warning for damaging winds is expected between Cape Point and Plettenberg Bay, resulting in difficulty in navigation at sea from Tuesday evening into Wednesday afternoon. ⚠️Warning update for damaging winds and waves #saws #saweather — SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) June 16, 2025 In the SAWS' colour-coded weather warning system, yellow indicates a moderate risk of impact that requires caution and awareness, while orange indicates that a higher-risk impact is expected, requiring increased attention and preparation. The SAWS uses the numbers to indicate the likelihood of weather-based impacts occurring. Levels 2 and 6 are high, and Level 4 is low. Weather outlook for Tuesday & Wednesday, 17 - 18 June 2025. Partly cloudy conditions are expected over the southern areas with isolated rain & showers along the south coast. Otherwise, fine & cool, but it will be warm in places in the north. #saws #weatheroutlook — SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) June 15, 2025 Advisories Very cold conditions with daytime temperatures of 10 Degrees Celsius and below are expected in places over the interior of the Western Cape and Namakwa District (Northern Cape) from Wednesday through to Saturday. The weather in your province Gauteng: Fine and cool, but warm in the extreme north. Pretoria: 6°C - 20°C Johannesburg: 6°C - 20°C Vereeniging: 3°C - 19°C Mpumalanga: Fine and cold to cool, but warm in some Lowveld areas. Mbombela: 9°C - 28°C Ermelo: 4°C - 20°C Emalahleni: 6°C - 21°C Standerton: 4°C - 19°C Skukuza: 12°C - 30°C Limpopo: Fine and cold to cool, but warm on the Lowveld and Limpopo Valley. Polokwane: 5°C - 19°C Phalaborwa: 11°C - | 27°C Tzaneen: 10°C - 23°C Musina: 11°C - 26°C Lephalale: 6°C - 23°C Mokopane: 8°C - 20°C North West: Fine and cool. Klerksdorp: 4°C - 20°C Potchefstroom: 4°C - 19°C Mahikeng: 4°C - 20°C Rustenburg: 5°C - 21°C Vryburg: 2°C - 22°C Free State: Fine and cool. Bloemfontein: 2°C - 20°C Welkom: 4°C - 20°C Bethlehem: -1°C - 18°C Northern Cape: Cloudy in the morning, becoming fine, windy and cool to warm. It will remain cold in the west. Upington: 8°C - 24°C Kimberley: 4°C - 21°C De Aar: 5°C - 18°C Alexander Bay: 11°C - 19°C Springbok: 12°C - 15°C Calvinia: 9°C - 14°C Sutherland: -1°C - 13°C Western Cape: Partly cloudy and cool to cold, but fine in the north-east. Cloudy skies with possible rain can be expected in the south and south-west. Cape Town: 11°C - 14°C Vredendal: 10°C - 19°C Riversdale: 11°C - 17°C George: 12°C - 15°C Worcester: 10°C - 15°C Beaufort West: 10°C - 16°C Oudtshoorn: 8°C - 15°C Western half of the Eastern Cape: Fine in the north, partly cloudy and cool elsewhere. Isolated showers are expected along the coast with cloudy conditions south of the escarpment in the morning. Eastern half of the Eastern Cape: Fine and cool, but cold north of the escarpment. Partly cloudy conditions are expected in the far west. Gqeberha: 15°C - 17°C Makhanda: 10°C - 17°C Cradock: 5°C - 21°C Graaff-Reinet: 6°C - 19°C East London: 15°C - 19°C Port St Johns: 13°C - 21°C Mthatha: 7°C - 21°C Komani: 5°C - 19°C Qonce: 10°C - 18°C KwaZulu-Natal: Morning fog patches in the north-east, otherwise fine and cool to warm. Durban: 14°C - 24°C Richards Bay: 12°C - 25°C Pietermaritzburg: 7°C - 23°C Ladysmith: 0°C - 21°C
Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Telegraph
‘We ditched our countryside cottage to save £45k house-sitting across the world'
Jessica Holmes is enjoying her morning coffee relaxing on the terrace of a villa in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. The crashing waves of the south Atlantic are lapping the nearby white sand beach. It's far from the one-bed cottage in Gloucestershire she owns with husband Tom. This is just the latest in a long line of luxury foreign properties the pair have been living in without spending anything. The only stipulation is that they look after a mild-mannered cat called Kitty. They're part of a growing number of people saving money while travelling the world with international house-sitting – living in beautiful homes for free, while working remotely, in return for looking after the owners' pets while they are on holiday. 'We always loved to travel,' says Holmes. 'But since we bought our home in 2019, it became difficult to find the spare money or time to see the world.' The pair, both 30, had already tried house-sitting as a way to enjoy free weekends away in the UK, but when Tom secured a role working remotely, they seized the opportunity. The couple realised if they rented out their Cotswolds home, the freedom of living without a mortgage or bills meant saving £1,500 a month – a move that meant Holmes could afford to leave her job as a police officer and follow her dreams of becoming a writer. They've now spent more than two years living in properties across seven different countries in Europe and South Africa, from cottages in the Alps to French gîtes – and looking after more than 63 different pets. After they were priced out of the London rental market, Robyn Greaves, 40, and Jeremy Healsmith 39, also decided to house-sit abroad. Greaves and Healsmith moved back to the UK after living in Sydney for 10 years, with the hope they'd be able to travel across Europe in their time off. But after months of struggling to find a suitable London property to rent, their thoughts turned to a one-off house-sit they had done in Italy while travelling. 'We realised there was absolutely nothing stopping us from working from whichever corner of the world we fancied,' says Greaves. 'We've saved around £54,000 in just over two years, just by offloading rental costs. That financial freedom meant we were able to launch our own business, helping charities utilise AI for fundraising.' While both couples can fit their worldly possessions into rucksacks, the lifestyle they're living is far from backpacking. 'We stayed in a gorgeous apartment in the centre of Bangkok over New Year. I really had to pinch myself,' adds Greaves. 'There were panoramic views of the city, and we saw in the New Year watching fireworks from the comfort of the sofa. All we had to do in return was look after a little Jack Russell called Lola. 'We managed a road trip across the US, too, peppered with beautiful house-sits, which was fabulous.' Holmes agrees that one of the main draws of international house-sitting is the ability to travel in luxury. 'You find that the people who are able to go on holiday for extended periods of time tend to be wealthier,' she says. 'They can go away for weeks or even months at a time. We tend to try to stick to sits of a month or longer, to save moving around too much.' As Holmes works for a UK firm, the couple try to restrict their travelling to Europe and South Africa, where they are on a similar time zone. But it certainly isn't the usual nine-to-five. 'Last summer, we stayed in a beautiful Spanish villa for two months,' says Holmes. 'We'd walk the little sausage dog, Rasmus, on the beach in the morning before it got too hot, then log on to work. We could hike in the mountains or take a dip in the pool at lunchtime, and when 5pm rolled around, we'd enjoy gorgeous sunsets on the terrace with a drink. It felt like a more grown up way to travel.' Both couples agree it's not all plain sailing. 'It is more complicated than sitting in the UK,' warns Holmes, who has also written a book, The Housesitter's Guide to the Galaxy. 'You have to check each country's visa requirements carefully, and be prepared for questions from border control.' It's a pitfall that most members websites warn of – with horror stories of some even being deported if a border official decides that house-sitting constitutes 'work'. Trusted Housesitters, which connects more than 200,000 members in 140 countries, said: 'When considering an international sit experience, it's also important to follow the official visa and immigration requirements of the country you intend to visit.' Its website suggests travellers take a printed letter explaining the nature of house-sitting, as well as proof of funds and a return ticket before trying to travel abroad. It's also important to check the country's visa rules if you are planning to work remotely. And while neither couple has ever had difficulty gaining entry to a country, there are plenty of other challenges. 'Language barriers can be a problem too. Often sits aren't in big cities or tourist areas, so not everyone will speak English,' says Holmes. 'We did struggle with one sit in a rural area of Spain. Luckily, the locals were all very friendly and could see we were really trying, so they were very patient with us. 'We've also had some tricky pets to look after. One elderly parrot we cared for took an instant dislike to Tom and snapped at him constantly. He also had perfected recreating the sound of an old landline telephone ringing, and we spent days searching for a handset before we realised it was the bird. You have to really love being around animals.' There is a lot of logistics to a life of house-sitting, such as planning travel and wardrobes – all while working remotely. 'We have a storage unit in London, so we'll usually try and come back to the UK for a day or two while we repack,' says Greaves. 'We can't carry enough clothes to accommodate going from 40 degrees in Thailand to three feet of snow in Boston in the same week.' But when you're able to see the world, forego rent and save thousands in the process, is there anything that might make them reconsider their nomadic lifestyle? 'It's an addictive way of living,' adds Greaves. 'Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a permanent base, but because we are from opposite sides of the world, maybe nowhere would ever really feel like home for us as a couple anyway.' And for the Holmeses, the aim is to keep travelling until they've paid off their mortgage. 'We don't plan to live like this forever, but it definitely has its advantages,' Holmes says. 'We've probably saved more than £45,000 over the two and a half years we've been house-sitting. 'We have a vague idea that it would be nice to keep going until our mortgage has been paid off. But we've always said that if one of us isn't 'feeling it', we'd both agree to stop. 'There's a lot of world to explore, though, so I can't see that happening for a long time.'
