February 2025 newsletter

Following the Annual General Meeting held on 27 December, the Bushman’s River Mouth Ratepayers’ Organisation (BRRAG) is pleased to welcome its newly appointed committee.

The committee is made up of Lötter Wepener (chair), Jacques de (Wit vice), Sue Muirhead, Gibbon Schickerling, Robert Schroeder, Ferenc Toth, Duard Scholtz, Dalien Pachonick, Rowene Johnston, Wanda Nezar, Sarel Marais (treasurer), Willie Enright and newcomer Elizabeth Nel. Elizabeth will take up our secretarial position which has not been filled for many years. Under the leadership of our chairman, Wepener, the team brings together a diverse mix of committed residents from both Bushman’s Old Village and Riversbend, all dedicated to the continued well-being and progress of our community.

This active committee is set to build on BRRAG’s strong foundation, with a firm focus on ensuring that our neighbourhood remains safe, well-maintained, and responsive to residents’ needs. A key strength of the committee lies in its ability to effectively liaise with the municipality, ensuring that service delivery and infrastructure maintenance remain top priorities.

One of the exciting developments for the year ahead is the increased use of our newly refurbished town hall. The committee is eager to see it become a vibrant hub for community activities, meetings, and social gatherings, strengthening the sense of connection among residents.

BRRAG encourages all residents to stay informed and get involved in upcoming initiatives. Regular updates and opportunities to participate will be shared through community channels. Here’s to a productive and successful year ahead!

Thank you to our 178 contributors to our excellent season security project. There were no serious criminal incidents in our towns and the slipway guard, despite suffering serious abuse at times, was a wonderful assistant to attempt to regulate matters at the slipway and carpark.

Although HiTec rendered a paid service, they kindly extended the service by placing a roving guard in the village for another week after the service ended. Thank you to Chris of HiTec.

REMINDER – SOS button is installed at the slipway beach kiosk and monitored by HiTec. In an emergency the HiTec operator will assess the situation and dispatch armed response, ambulance, police, lifeguards or any other assistance that may be required.

The board room is avilable for meetings. It also has a one hour free WiFi.

The new Boesmans Cave area can utlised for private functions. It is ideal for functions for up to 60 people and provides a bar area, braai area and some tables and chairs.

The notice board is at the town hall and may be used by all.

FEEDBACK ON MEETING WITH NDLAMBE REGARDING WATER (Please ignore the rumour mongers on some of the local groups. The correct facts are always available from us).

BRRAG, KOSRA, Estuary Care and Chamber of Business and Tourism met with the Municipal Manager and Directors of Ndlambe on 8 January 2025.

The Municipal Manager and Ndlambe Directors share a common understanding with the community organisations that urgent steps have to be taken to considerably and urgently improve the water supply to Wards 3 and 4.

Ndlambe advised that it is holding a meeting during the week ending 17 January regarding the take-over of the Reverse Osmosis plant from Amatola.

The following initial action points with dates have been agreed with Ndlambe:

• 20 January – Ndlambe to provide feedback from Ndlambe / Ministerial meeting to the group
• 31 January – Ndlambe to complete the appointment of a Specialist Underground Water Service Provider(UWSP) to assess the availability of underground water
• 28 February – Report from UWSP to augment supply
• 28 February – Ndlambe to appointment a Process Engineer to evaluate the current water production and reticulation infrastructure
• 28 February – Next meeting to discuss the UWSP report and other plans
• 31 March – Report from the Process Engineer.

There has been delays but some feedback was received from Ndlambe, although performance in terms of the target dates is behind schedule. The water supply problem is not going to disappear soon. We, however, use every avenue avaialble to us to assert pressure when and where we can. There is a school of thought that we should institute legal proceedings against Ndlambe – the question that arises is how it will alleviate the water scarcity? We will listen to advice and offer our assitance to the municipality as best we can. If litigation is the route, then we may go that way. But only if it will lead to a tangible benefit for our members.

Our annual subscriptions are now due – our financial year is from December to November. Please pay your subscription of R 500 to:

BRRAG Standard Bank Port Alfred
Account number: 281116393
Reference: Your name / Street address/ subs.

Without the wonderful and generous support of our members we will not be able to do the work / maintenance / upkeep of our towns. Please support us and ask your neighbour to do the same.

There are 1300 registered residential erven in Boesmans and Riversbend. These are all possible members of BRRAG, But, alas, we have 215 members in the Old Village and 35 in RB. Please encourage your neighbours to support us. Every R 500 will be well spent.

The group will be updated in February so that only paid-up members (and family) have access. We shall, sadly, see some of our participants leaving the group.

Thank you to Jacques de Wit who oversaw the work and ensured that the final bits were attended to. Thank you to our members who responded to the call for financial assistance to complete the work. After the demolition of the dune ablution facility, we were left with a derelict slipway ablution facility with one toilet for males and females each. Discussions by BRRAG were underway with Ndlambe to renovate the slipway ablution and to add more toilet facilities.

During this time a group of homeowners from Boesmansriviermond started to renovate the facilities. (Elwin Wait, Dr. Conrad von Hagen, Martin Cloete, Vorster Venter, Oskar de Witt, Paul Retief, Elandre, van Jaarsveld, Andrew Webber, Dickie Rautenbach, John Cambell, Johan Raubenheimer, Brent Tucker)

The total cost to renovate the facilities, which included adding a suction point for the conservancy tank amounted to more than R70 000. With contributions from BRRAG members, Ndlambe and the group of homeowners the project was completed successfully, and we now have ablution facilities to be proud of. Thank you for being patient during the renovations and to each organisation and person who supported this very worthwhile project.

BRRAG staff (Mariette) cleaned and serviced the facilities during peak season.

Boesmansriviermond village was a hive of activity over the Festive Season.

With 100’s of residents and holiday makers vying for their spot in the sun on our pristine beaches and river, enjoying the fun filled sunny days, we welcomed our Life Guards.

This year our Life Guards on duty from 6th December to 6th January from 8am till 6pm daily were Sicelo from Pretoria Yvonne from East London and Sandile from Pretoria.

The team patrolled our river with beady eyes from the bridge (R72), down the sometime chaotic slipway to the mouth. Sicelo, our team leader was a true professional, who actively engaged positively with the public, always with a smile while greeting you.

Sicelo not only had his focused eyes on the water activities, but assisted many folk with blue bottle stings, or just a plaster.

Yes there were incidents, which were swiftly attended to. The season ended on a high note with no incidents.

We as the Boesmansriviermond community thank Ndlambe Municipality, NSRI and all involved for deploying our life guards to our beaches, as well as giving up their families and festivities to ensure our safety. We look forward to welcoming you back.

Please read the latest article published by Estuary Care. Click on the below link.

Letter sent to Talk of the Town in reply to Robert Roses’ letter of last week – Bushmans Kariega Estuary Care

The buoys in the river have become an important feature for some people and a nuisance to others. It is the only river in Ndlambe where buoys are permitted. The management of buoys is becoming increasingly challenging for Ndlambe for various reasons which include:

• Siltation of the estuary
• Unlicensed buoys and moving of buoys
• Long term mooring of barges restricting water flow
• Uncontrolled dumping of concrete blocks by private companies and individuals
• People refuse to accept guidance
• Aggressive behaviour of public towards Ndlambe officials
• Encroachment on limited swimming areas
• Safety issues inclusive of near drownings

Estuary Care initially undertook to make proposals to Ndlambe and to take charge of the control of the buoys. However, EC has decided not be the custodian of the buoys due to the scale and complexity of the matter and we are awaiting the Ndlambe decision on the way forward. Ndlambe is in process of identifying possibilities to manage the buoys. Members who wish to make representations regarding the buoys are encouraged to contact Fanie Fouche – ffouche@ndlambe.gov.za.

The winners of the December 100 Club draw were:

1st prize – Mike Johnson R1100
Second prize – Peter Campbell R 725
Sarel Marais R 525

Please join the 100-club. Send us an email to obtain details. Or see our website.

Please read about our Community Camera Fund. Payments can be made into our usual account with ref Name/ Camera. Click here.

Thank you from our staff members for the Christmas presents left in the hat at the AGM and the donations received via our bank account.

After a long absence of SANParks Honorary Rangers in the Woody Cape section, the Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) management and SANParks Honorary Rangers, Addo Region (SHR’s) completed a process where 22 people from the local areas have been appointed to train as SHRs. This process was initiated between Nick De Goede, Park Manager and actively supported by, Anban Padayachee, Conservation Manager and newly appointment Section Ranger for WC, Phindile Mbele.

A key element in this process is that SHR’s, after training into Woody Cape, will assist the full time Rangers with specific tasks to fulfil a key supportive role in aiding the activities and duties of the full-time staff.

The WC section stretches from the Bushman’s River Mouth in the East to near the Sundays River Mouth in the West with pockets of, yet, unconsolidated, mainly farmland in between.

A very successful information campaign in October last year resulted in the appointment of the 22 people from Kenton, Bushman’s, Boknes and Cannon Rocks as well as the surrounding areas to be trained as SHR’s. Some of the members will be trained for Woody Cape only, others for both Woody Cape and the main game areas of Addo Elephant National Park. Classroom training commences at the end of February, followed by orientation in March.

The tasks likely to be undertaken in Woody Cape include:

• Assistance at reception and the immediate picnic area
• A review of signage requirements, both on the trails and the directional signage
• Assisting with the marine rangers’ activities such as beach patrols, litter removal and fishing permit checks
• Trail and visitor area maintenance (e.g. Dias Cross)
• Snare removal
• Alien vegetation eradication

Among the appointed trainees are two BRRAG members:

• Sue Muirhead
• Jacques de Wit

We wish them all success in their important role for the Woody Cape area and commend AENP management for their commitment to the improvement of this pristine tourist and heritage part of the Sunshine Coast.

If you are interested to join this region of the SANParks SHRs, please follow the prompts on the SANParks SHR website, or contact Doug Swanson via email

Boesmans residents welcomed 1000’s of holidaymakers from all over the country as well as a huge increased number of international visitors to our shores on the Barefoot Capital of the Sunshine Coast over the festive season.

With a fun-filled packed daily events on the agenda, we on the Bushman’s River welcomed the 1st official ” Anything that Floats” event. This is really a must for all to participate, young and old.

Enjoy a lazy slow float down the river, from the Sandbar Floating Restaurant to the Benhamedies Kiosk on the beach at the Bushman’s slipway.

Soak up the sun, while taking in our pristine river, birdlife, and water activities. See you in December.

Kenton Wine Festival in BOESMANS – 22nd March – contact Sue Muirhead 084 297 6190
Easter Market 19th April