Talk of the Town
‘Absolutely terrifying’
“There’s not a blade of grass left – just soot and dry ground – and it just doesn’t want to rain.” David Mauer is the owner of Pine Ridge north of Port Alfred, one of the first properties to be hit by a fire that by midday on Monday had torn through...
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Ndlambe schools celebrate results
Once again, Ndlambe is the top performing circuit among 10 in the Sarah Baartman District, with an average 93% pass rate in the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. It is closely followed by Makana 2 (92%). Ndlambe also boasts the top...
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Fire fighters battle Ndlambe blazes
Volunteer fire fighters in the Kenton/ Bushmans/Boknes/Klipfontein area had barely managed to snatch a few hours sleep as dawn broke on Wednesday when a massive, fast-moving fire they had been fighting since Tuesday afternoon flared up again for the...
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Play the key to happiness
Happy Hours Pre-Primary School and crèche principal, and owner, Tracy Lloyd, after 38 years’ service at one of Port Alfred’s famous landmarks, shows no signs of slowing down, despite her long shift as teacher and head of the school. Lloyd, whose first...
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Kiosk opens at Kelly’s Beach
Port Alfred’s beachfront offering received a boost on Friday December 12, with the official launch of the third Ocean Bliss Café kiosk at Kelly’s Beach, a project aimed at enhancing the visitor experience, safety and year-round use of the...
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Parra moves to interdict name changes process
With both the minister of arts and culture and his department staying firmly out of the fray, it’s up to the Eastern Cape Provincial Geographical Names Committee (ECPGNC) to respond to a court application seeking to stay the Port Alfred and Kowie River...
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Surfers hailed for East Beach rescue
The four surfers who worked together to save the lives of two individuals in near-drowning incidents at notorious East Beach last week, say their actions were purely instinctive and are unanimous in this: “We would do it again if we had to.” The Kowie...
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Connect for success tourism experts advise
Sunshine Coast Tourism (SCT) has appointed Guido’s Co as the operator of the newly established Kelly’s Beach kiosk. The appointment follows a request for proposals sent out to interested parties on November 11 after SCT and Ndlambe municipality agreed...
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Joy as woodworkers donate toys to Child Welfare
The Lower Albany Woodworkers Guild has spread the kindness once again after their annual toy donations outreach to Kenton Child Welfare. Role-players from a Kenton-on-Sea soup kitchen, a crèche and child welfare offices itself were on hand to receive...
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Proud moment for Kelly’s Beach
Port Alfred’s Kelly’s Beach took centre stage when it was awarded Blue Flag status for the 20th year at the Wildlife and Environment Society of SA (Wessa) national Blue Flag & Green Coast awards hosted by Ndlambe municipality at Royal St Andrews Hotel...
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Sparks fly at name change meetings
Three emotionally charged meetings last week about proposed name changes for Alexandria, Port Alfred and the Kowie River had contrasting outcomes. The Eastern Cape Provincial Geographical Names Committee (EPGNC) on Wednesday hosted the first public...
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OUTCASTS
Talk of the Town recently visited the buildings and land north of Port Alfred Hospital following concerns from members of the public who use the adjacent sport facilities. In last week’s edition, we reported on safety fears and facts, and what plans...
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Derelict buildings spark safety concerns
The derelict buildings between Port Alfred Hospital and the Kowie Bowling Club are dirty and falling apart and because they are deserted, displaced people, including drug addicts, have made the area their home. But while theft in the town in general...
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Township tour venture kicks off
Onele Veto, from Nemato, is proving that passion and community spirit can build something truly meaningful. The 26-year-old is the founder and tour guide of True Colours Township Experience, a new local tourism initiative that offers both tourists and...
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End in sight to Ward 3, 4 water supply problems
There is light at the end of the tunnel or rather, water at the end of a very long pipeline for residents of Kenton-on-Sea, Bushman’s River Mouth, Ekuphumleni, Riversbend, Marselle and Merryhill. Years of water shortages and extended outages have bred...
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Kenton residents gather support for water action
The Kenton-on-Sea Ratepayers Association has decided against a march planned for Monday September 29, instead opting to encourage residents to attend a meeting with Ndlambe Municipality in their numbers. The meeting, where Kosra hopes to receive a...
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Events spark tourism boom
As Kenton-on-Sea consolidates its identity as an events hub, its business and tourism leadership remains concerned about moves to rename the neighbouring towns of Port Alfred and Alexandria. Marketing the destination and its ethos stood out as a...
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Name-change meeting takes political turn
Amoratorium on “politics” at the start of a stakeholder meeting on proposed name changes in Ndlambe on Wednesday September 10 fell on deaf ears as politicians and their proxies dominated the discussion. It was with a bolstered team that Eastern Cape...
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Affair gets Bathurst abuzz
“The Bathurst Country Affair was not only the biggest event in 12 years, but a shining example of what happens when passion, creativity, and community spirit come together.” Coordinator Tanya Schenk has described as a resounding success the 12th...
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Tourism warns of R157m cost of changing names
otal tourism income for the Ndlambe municipal area would drop by 6% should the names of Port Alfred, Bushmans River and Alexandria change, and everyone in the area would be collectively shouldering a massive R157m cost: that’s the prediction of...
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Nothing about us without us! Alexandria on name change
ny proposal about changing Alexandria ’ s name must be discussed in Alexandria, says the Alexandria Business and Tourism Organisation. Meanwhile, a deputy minister, and a historian, have weighed in on the proposed name changes for three places in...
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Coalition to fight name changes
Ndlambe civil society organisations are gathering forces to resist a bid they have slammed as being politically motivated to change three Sunshine Coast place names. A coalition of business, resident and tourism bodies is preparing to take on the...
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Ndlambe stars at the Eskom Expo
Every Ndlambe pupil who entered the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists won a medal, including one of the three top awards. Four pupils from Bathurst Primary, one from Kuyasa Combined and one from Port Alfred High School made the early morning journey to a...
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Residents set for cellphone tower battle
Agroup of Port Alfred residents has sounded the alarm after Ndlambe Municipality overrode their objections to having a cellphone tower erected in the heart of their beachfront neighbourhood. They are considering court action against a decision they...
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Spotlight on NSRI rescue heroes
The NSRI’s Port Alfred Station 11 has been hailed as one of the best managed rescue stations in the country at the 55th anniversary appreciation dinner hosted at Port Alfred River & Ski boat club on Wednesday July 9. Among the guests, were NSRI...
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Your vote counts… for Kowie
Port Alfred, the heart of the Sunshine Coast, is beaming with pride after being announced as a finalist in KykNET’s Kwêla Dorpie van die Jaar competition. Sunshine Coast Tourism board member in charge of marketing and membership, Lauren Meyer, shared...
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Double blow for family as burial policy rejected
AKenton-on-Sea family who buried their mother two weeks ago has been left distraught and out of pocket after a Port Alfred funeral company rejected their claim on her burial policy. The children of 78-year-old Mfengukazi Ndinise, who passed away in...
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A big thumbs-up for G2C spectacle
The annual Buco G2C Mountain Bike Race is fast becoming the premier MTB cycle race in the province and a sought-after competition, with an SA road cycling champion having participated in and won the 70km event for women. SA U23 road cycling champion,...
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Will Fish River Resort rise again?
Aconsortium of SA and international investors plans to upgrade the former Fish River Sun resort outside Port Alfred, with R600m ready for the first phase of the rebuild. Since January, executives from multinational hotel group The Lux Collective,...
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Sparks fly in council chamber
Renewable energy and sustainable technologies were a focus at the last full Ndlambe council meeting. Councilors interrogated a proposed trip to Germany next month by the municipal manager and infrastructure director to the launch of the European...
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Make this year’s G2C a weekend to remember with Amarider
Imagine a network of cycling trails that connect Port Alfred with Makhanda and Kenton-on-Sea — and imagine arriving on your bike at one of those destinations after an amazing day’s ride to find a meal, shower and your luggage waiting for you. That’s...
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New ward boundary plans ruffling political feathers
Anyone who wants to raise concerns about the new ward boundaries proposed for Ndlambe municipality has until just before midnight on June 30 to do so. While the municipal demarcation board is conducting inperson public information sessions across the...
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Family launches royalty claim
“There are old people among us who still have a lot to tell us.” Those were the words of one of the speakers at a meeting in Bathurst last weekend, under the banner of the Kingdom of Chwama. The gathering on Saturday May 17 at the Sizamele Educare...
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Tempers flare over East Bank excavations
The municipality has appealed for calm and patience as tempers on Port Alfred’s East Bank reach boiling point over the second round of disruptive excavation in the area in less than a year. Unexpected engineering challenges have proved a curve ball...
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Shock mining application curveball for Bathurst
Scarcely a year after the Bathurst Commonage Management Committee (BCMC) was formed as a milestone of collaboration, they are met with their first major challenge: a move to establish a quarry about the size of 10 football fields in the unique 3,000ha...
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Mixed fortunes for IDP roadshow
“If you find a single page that is the same as a previous one, I will eat the IDP,” was the promise of Ndlambe Municipality’s new integrated development plan (IDP) manager as she responded to questions from Seafield/ Kleinemonde residents. This IDP...
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And that’s a wrap!
The surfing competition as an anchor event, is going from strength to strength after the second instalment of the Sunshine Coast Tourism Port Alfred Easter Festival. A decision by organisers to incorporate three surfing tournaments into the Easter...
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Stoked to have you here!
Port Alfred and its hinterland got the thumbs up once again for their hospitality, sporting and holiday attractions when the region rolled out the red carpet for yesterday’s start of the Royal St Andrews SA Open Surfing Championship at the popular East...
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Two beach heroes save teen surfer from waves
Two East Beach heroes got together yesterday to reflect on their quick-thinking actions that saved a teenage surfer from serious injury or drowning at the popular Port Alfred surfing spot on Thursday last week. Multi Security beach marshal, Lenard de...
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Water infrastructure plan sparks hope in Ndlambe
Discussions in the full council meeting on Friday centred on a comprehensive plan to address Ndlambe municipality’s ongoing water shortages. There was praise across the political spectrum for possibly the first clear roadmaps for water infrastructure...
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Station Hill residents unite
Saturdays in Station Hill will never be the same if its livewires have their way. Reigniting community pride, the hands-on strategy by a group of parents to improve the neighbourhood and engage young people got off to an impressive start on Friday...
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Fraud on the rise in Ndlambe
Proactive operations have seen a drop in residential burglaries in Port Alfred and Alexandria. Lack of capacity in the criminal justice system and correctional services is one of the factors that has seen this crime on the rise in the areas served by...
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THAT’S CASTLED
A Port Alfred Cricket Club batsman is clean bowled during his team’s Pineapple Cricket fixture against Seven Fountains at the Airschool Fields on Tuesday. PACC won the match by 97 runs. The semifinals of the B section have been decided, with defending...
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More money to spend on infrastructure
The double-subsidisation of two December 2024 music festivals, costing ratepayers R700,000 each, reared its head again in a special council meeting last Friday, when the municipality’s adjustment budget was tabled and passed. The adjustment budget is...
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Parents raise alarm over Afrikaans teaching upset
Parents of 18 grade 12 pupils at a Port Alfred school who take Afrikaans home language are alarmed at a suggestion for their children to attend schools in Makhanda and Alexandria. They’ve rejected the proposal, saying such a move would have a negative...
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Ratepayers and DA vow to act on water crisis
The Kenton-on-Sea Ratepayers Association (KOSRA) have threatened legal action following ongoing water shortages in wards 3 and 4. And at a political level, the DA has vowed to escalate the matter. Both have accused the municipality of failing to...
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First aid courses coming up in Kenton
Coastal Kindness continues to make the community of Kenton and the Sunshine Coast a safer place. For the next three weekends, they have organised first aid courses for two levels: basic, and level three. The training will be done by Gardmed and the...
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Wasted water costs Ndlambe R27.7m
Leaks, burst pipes and overflowing reservoirs have cost Ndlambe municipality close to R28m in water losses in the past financial year. Faulty switchgear, overhead lines, obsolete aluminium lines, underground cables and transformers cost have cost...
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New plant set to boost Port Alfred water supply
Asophisticated water treatment plant that will add 2.4 megalitres to Port Alfred ’ s stressed water supply will be fully operational by the end of February. Councillors and the media had a first-hand look at the town’s new water and waste water...
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Port Alfred’s new aviation school all set for take off
Port Alfred High School is spreading its wings to become a key aero-maritime facility for young aspirant pupils and students following the R70m launch of an aviation school programme at 43 Air School last Friday. The programme’s first phase, a...
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Take a bow, Ndlambe!
Kuyasa Combined School continues to be the pride of Ndlambe, with a return to a 100% pass rate for its 2024 matric cohort. Kuyasa and Bathurst’s Velile Secondary School boasted top achievers in the province’s top achiever awards. All eight state...
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Tavern rocked by teargas attack
An apparent teargas attack at a popular Kenton-onSea drinking spot on New Year’s Eve caused a stampede that left two patrons in hospital. Talk of the Town is not aware of any serious injuries sustained as a result of the incident and the tavern’s...
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Looking back on 2024: the highs and lows
In this first edition of Talk of the Town for 2025, please join us as we take you through the highs and lows of the year gone by. ‘Looking back on 2024’ highlights some of the events...and issues we’ve covered during the past 12 months. As a...
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Stay safe on the Sunshine Coast this festive season
Ndlambe Municipality has provided Talk of the Town with its comprehensive safety plan for the festive season. Below, you will find important safety and general information on: Beaches Estuary and river control; Fire and emergency services; Traffic...
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‘Right place, right time… again,’— citizen rescuer
You don’t think, you just do,” Port Alfred bodyboarder Ed Gutsche said of his second surf rescue, at West Beach last weekend. Last weekend’s rescue was an all-local effort, with the Multi Security sponsored pink rescue buoy key to the rescue effort,...
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Capacity questions raised in meeting
If spaza shop owners are being warned, charged or shut down on the basis of the legality of their buildings, Ndlambe’s officials had better be confident that other structures within the municipality, including private homes, fully comply with its...
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Vet brings animal mass sterilisation drive to PA
Well-known retired veterinarian, Dr Annelize Roos, is on a mission to ensure that cat and dog populations are kept in check through a mass sterilisation project underway in Port Alfred. With more than 35 years’ experience under her belt in private...
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New padel court in PA for summer
Brace yourselves – excitement is building as Port Alfred prepares itself for the launch of two new padel courts which developers say will be a sure-fire hit in the town. The courts, currently under construction at the Royal Port Alfred Golf Club, are...
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Councillors set to put Ndlambe on solid ground
In a move that could fundamentally improve the fortunes of Ndlambe, councillors last week agreed to be cautious about taking on hot new projects, in favour of prioritising the maintenance of existing infrastructure. And instead of “wishlist” based...
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Plans in place to improve PA Hospital
Port Alfred Hospital has made significant progress in addressing its equipment shortages, department of health spokesperson Mkhululi Ndamase has said. He responded to questions from Talk of the Town after DA shadow health MEC Jane Cowley flagged...
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SIU probe into Makana welcomed
Makana says it is preparing information and documentation required by the special investigating unit (SIU), for a probe into the procurement and payment processes related to the awarding of certain tenders and contracts. This comes after a...
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Safety alert full moon spring tide
The NSRI, Police and the emergency services have appealed to bathers, boaters, paddlers, sailors, shoreline anglers and coastal hikers to be cautious around the coastline during the full moon Spring tide. At this time, the daily two high tides are...
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‘This is your time! ’
The Eastern Cape department of education launched its ‘Last Push’ matric support programme at Titi Jonas community hall on October 4. Speakers encouraged the grade 12 candidates to stay focused, and promised them the support they needed to focus on the...
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Power struggle surges on
The registration of solar power systems in Ndlambe is on hold until the municipality has engaged further with its residents, both on its controversial new tariffs, and its small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) dispensation. Meanwhile the Port Alfred...
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Tourism efforts paying off
Collaborative efforts between business and tourism bosses in Port Alfred are paying off, as the town becomes something of a mecca for hosting national and local events. This year has already seen the staging of the inaugural Port Alfred Easter...
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Chicory crash looms
“A huge loss” and “a travesty” is how insiders have described the demise of Alexandria’s single biggest employer, chicory farming and processing. Brought to its knees by cheap imports and financial difficulties, the 130-year-old local industry could...
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