2010 Buffalo Rally Comes to Mossel Bay

Read this release & see Images on line here (Pictures: Martin Hatchuel)

2010 Buffalo Rally Comes to Mossel Bay

Mossel Bay will once again welcome thousands of bikers when the Buffalo Rally comes to town on the Friday, the 19th of March.

“We’re very happy to be returning to Mossel Bay,” said Luderick Jacoby, chairman of the Cape Town-based Nomads Motorcycle Club, which has been organising the annual rally in various destinations around South Africa since 1969.

And, whilst the first event - which was held in Bathurst in the Eastern Cape - attracted just 250 people, the Club is expecting more than 5,500 bikes this year.

“The position of the rally site (at the Santos & De Bakke Resorts, on the beach in Mossel Bay) does a lot to attract people, who come from as far as Gauteng and Mussina - and this year we’re even expecting a group of about 15 bikes from Okahandja, near Windhoek (in Namibia),” said Mr. Jacoby.

He said that it would take the Namibians between two and three days to get to Mossel Bay.

“It’s six days of travelling for a three-day event, but they’ll spend their time sightseeing along the way, and they’ll probably also arrive early so that they’ll have time to see more of the Garden Route,” he said.

“Biking is very democratic and all inclusive, and the bikers’ average age will vary from the mid-thirties to the late fifties.”

Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm said that the town was looking forward to greeting the bikers. “We’re very aware that most of them are businesspeople and professionals, and we expect that many of them will probably return with their children for family holidays at a later stage.

“Events like the Buffalo Rally are therefore an important showcase for the town and the Garden Route region.

“This is significant for us right now - because we’re in the middle of a campaign to promote Mossel Bay as the South Africans’ destination during the long winter holidays that’ll coincide with this year’s FIFA World Cup,” she said.

Mr. Jacoby said that the Santos Caravan Park offered camp sites only - and that bikers who wanted B&B, self-catering, or hotel accommodation should search Mossel Bay Tourism’s site - www.visitmosselbay.co.za.

“But the inland people really love being at Santos, which is right there on the beach,” he said. “It’s probably one reason why we’ve had so many entries from places like Johannesburg, Pretoria, and the Northern Cape.”

By tradition, rally-goers will enjoy socialising informally, a concourse d’elegance, and a parade (on Saturday morning, the 20th of March) - which Mr. Jacoby, as chairman, will be privileged to lead.

“I’ll probably ride my BMW 1200 Adventure,” he said.

Competitions and prizes are also an important part of the Rally, and there’ll be awards for categories like ‘the longest distance to the Rally on a motorcycle,’ ‘the longest distance on dirt,’ ‘the longest distance to the Rally on the smallest bike, and ‘the oldest male and female bikers.’

Mr. Jacoby has called on everyone who’ll be attending the 2010 Buffalo Rally to carefully and strictly obey the rules of the road.

“We want the Buff to be a fun, and enjoyable event for us as well as for the residents of Mossel Bay - and, most importantly, we would like to return the following year. We can only achieve this with the cooperation of everyone there.

“Ride safely and we’ll see you at the Buff,” he said.

Added: 2010-03-15 14:03:55

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Competition Bowling Green at Eight Bells for 2010

Competition-standard Bowling Green opens at Mossel Bay’s Eight Bells Mountain Inn.

Mossel Bay’s Eight Bells Mountain Inn has always had a bowling green of sorts - but now it’s opened one that has already begun attracting bowlers from around the country.

The hotel - a popular, historic, 4-star, family destination situated on a 400 hectare estate in the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains - has been hosting guests for more than eighty years, and is well known for the wide variety of its outdoor activities.

“We realised that we had everything from a bell-shaped swimming pool to two all-weather tennis courts, a glass-backed squash court, and a volleyball court; that we could offer our guests attractions like horse riding, walking, birding, and mountain bike trails, and that we had fun things for children to enjoy - like our donkey cart rides (which take place every day after breakfast), a playground, and a games room with table tennis and a pool table,” said René Bongers, who owns the hotel in partnership with his brother, Charles.

“But our bowling green wasn’t much to talk about - so we set about having it professionally re-built to competition standards,” he said.

“This upgrade was definitely a sound business decision because even with all the hype about football, rugby and cricket, bowls remains one of the most popular sports amongst the holiday-going public,” said Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm.

She pointed out that sports tourism was an important part of the town’s domestic marketing campaign.

“We’ve recently been reminding visitors and potential visitors that Mossel Bay will be an affordable, welcoming destination for South Africans when all the fans descend on the country for this year’s FIFA World Cup,” she said.

“And, now that Eight Bells has provided us with yet another attraction, another group of people has another reason to visit Mossel Bay - both during and after the World Cup.”

Ms. Holm said that it wasn’t unusual for Cape-based bowlers to travel to KwaZulu-Natal for their inter-club tournaments.

“But hopefully they won’t want to travel that far any more - especially since we now have a bowling green in the mountains that can equal any of theirs.”

“The Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn Bowling Clubs were the first to use the new green when they held an inter-club tournament at the end of last year,” said Mr. Bongers. “All the bowlers were very impressed with the condition of the green, and commented on the beautiful surroundings, the views over the paddocks, and the Outeniqua Mountain as a fitting backdrop.”

He said that the Eight Bells Mountain Inn had developed special packages - which included dinner, bed, and breakfast, green fees, teas, and a light lunch - for bowlers travelling in groups of six or more.

“And, as an added bonus, the members of the Mossel Bay Bowling Club have indicated that they’d be happy to put a team together if your club needs some competition while you’re here,” he said.

Added: 2010-03-12 09:50:13

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Women making it work for 2010

Women Make Tourism Work In Mossel Bay

Every single one of Mossel Bay’s major hotels - and also its tourism office and municipality - are managed by women.

“We’re not sure how it happened, but it’s happened,” said Mossel Bay Tourism’s chief operations officer, Marcia Holm.

“Carmen Bester manages the Point Village Hotel, Yolandi Lombard runs the Garden Route Casino Hotel and Spa, Liz Taylor runs The Point Hotel, Dawn Prinsloo runs the Riviera Hotel, Sonia Yeats runs the Garden Route Boutique Hotel, Karen Bus runs the Protea Hotel Mossel Bay, Francina Terblanche runs the Botlierskop Private Game Reserve, and Marina Vermeulen runs the Diaz Strand Hotel,” said Ms. Holm. “And the municipality is managed by the all-women team of our mayor, Alderlady Marie Ferreira, and our municipal manger, Dr. Michelle Gratz.

“Previously women where restricted to the kitchen and therefore didn’t have the opportunity to prove themselves as leaders in a male dominated industry.” said the Diaz Strand’s Marina Vermeulen.

“As we know, there were very few women in top business positions until quite recently - but I think we’re seeing a trend now, and women are at last beginning to get the jobs they deserve in the tourism industry.

“I think women are stronger than men in admin - although I know that’s a generalisation - and I think our femininity is an important asset in the hospitality industry.

“Also, in general, women pay more attention to the finer details,” she said.

“I think we women have a sensitivity that adds a different dimension to the tourism industry,” said Ms. Holm. “Logically speaking, half of all tourists are women, so having women in management positions makes sense.”

The Point Hotel’s Liz Taylor went even further.

“For many years, women weren’t allowed to have these positions,” she said. “But now that we have them, we’re proud of them, and I think this makes us generally work harder to prove that we're the right ‘wo-man’ for the job.

“We’ve got perseverance, staying power, and endurance; we take the initiative; and we’re good at detailed planning and delegating - which is an important aspect of management.

“I also think the motherly instinct is ingrained in our systems, and that this ability to nurture and mentor others makes us more compassionate and caring of our staff and our guests.

“We’re passionate beings, too, and passionate about what we do - and we generally and genuinely want to please.

“We’re more open to talk to, and less intimidating than men. And we’re generally more organised because we have to deal with so many things on so many levels in our lives - both in our private lives and in our professional capacities,” she said.

Neels Zietsman, chairman of the board of Mossel Bay Tourism, said, “We’re proud that such an important part of our tourism industry is managed by women - partly because gender equality is an ideal set forth in our country’s constitution, and partly because it’s just right that those women who have the skills and the experience should advance to the top.

“But in the end, it’s not only about gender: it’s also about ability and a genuine love for what you do - and Mossel Bay’s women in tourism have shown again and again that they have those things in abundance.”

Added: 2010-03-12 09:47:20

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Easter 2010 Surfski competition

Added: 2010-03-11 08:44:16

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Plattenberg Bay inititative to start in 2010

BITOU FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY TOURISM

Bitou Tourism is turning their attention to fostering community tourism initiatives in preparation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa with the launch of the “Imagine and Dream” campaign.  Tourism officials have been in consultation with various community groups since September last year and a series of workshops and planning meetings have been conducted.

According to Bitou Tourism CEO Dianna Martin, the participation of local communities will form a cornerstone of activities hosted in Plettenberg Bay and surrounds.  “This campaign is focused on involving our communities in these amazing events through interactive workshops where they can become involved in our tourism future.    Visitors from across the globe will be descending on our region and spectacular community tourism projects are the only way of ensuring that the resulting economic spin-off reaches our broader communities.  This has always formed an essential part of our mandate and we are delighted by the progress that has been made by our community tourism partners.  We would like to call on all the various role players to step up to the plate and embrace this wonderful opportunity and to live their dreams,” explains Martin.

The Kranshoek community has jumped at the opportunity and has already identified some unique tourism angles.  Due to the strong Griqua heritage of this community, their tourism initiatives will include a tribute to the rich cultural history of the Griquas, the Nama language with monument tours, traditional food and entertainment by traditional choirs and reel dancers as well tours on horseback.  The information centre is nearing completion, while route maps, brochures and website marketing are currently being finalised.  Community members have also started a small industry manufacturing fragrance pouches from the indigenous “kooigoed” or Helichrysum plant that can be used to scent cupboards and drawers.

The Kwanokuthula community also came on board in February and planning is currently underway to finalise routes for authentic township tours.  During community meetings at the Simunye Centre, groups were tasked with organizing traditional menus, entertainment, authentic crafts and traditional clothing, shebeens, bedstays as well as community tour guiding and transport arrangements.

Further workshops are planned during April and will be targeting the communities of New Horizon, Wittedrift / Green valley, Crags and Qolweni.  “We would like to encourage active participation in these workshops from all members of these communities.  This is a fantastic chance for them to become part of the offerings of Plettenberg Bay and surrounds.  We want to offer our visitors spectacular and authentic experiences and we can only succeed in this if our local communities form a part of this effort,” mentions Martin.

For more information, contact Bitou Tourism on (044) 533 4065.

Added: 2010-03-11 08:41:45

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Leopard Group Includes Mossel Bay Property in its Studies

Leopard Group Includes Mossel Bay Property in its Studies

The Cape Leopard Trust has installed a camera trap on Mossel Bay’s Bonniedale Holiday Farm as part of its work to track and study the Province’s most important predator species.

“We’ve been running surveys in the Gamkaberg and the Swartberg since October 2007, and in the Cedarberg since 2004,” said the Trust’s founder, Quinton Martins.

“Throughout the mountain areas, the surveyed population is quite low, so the fact that there is only so much sustainable habitat is obviously of concern.”

Mr. Martins, who spent ten years in the safari industry before beginning his studies, is currently preparing his PhD thesis which aims “to provide a broad understanding of leopard populations in the Cape mountains, their home ranges, and their diet.
 
“The leopard is the apex species in the Western Cape,” he said. “Without it, the effects could be dire, and you can imagine the knock-on effects it would have on the ecosystem if they were wiped out.

“The need to preserve leopard and their habitat has an effect on managing human-wildlife interactions, and therefore, of course, on the tourism industry.

“The leopard is a charismatic species that has the ability to attract people’s attention. It only occurs in certain wilderness areas, and even though you barely ever see them, the mere fact that they exist - and that you might experience through seeing their spoor - adds to the attraction of an area.”

He said that the Cape Leopard Trust provided scholarships to a number of students, and that Rhodes University PhD candidate Gareth Mann was studying leopard movement and activity in the Gamkaberg and Swartberg areas.

“I’m trying to identify their core areas, and how they move between areas - and hopefully this information will eventually inform decisions regarding the establishment of movement corridors and priority areas for conservation,” said Mr. Mann.

Conservation Student Aneri Vlok said that the cameras had helped to positively identify seventeen individuals in the Gouritz area - a broad corridor of land surrounding the Gouritz River, which runs from the Swartberg Mountains and into the Indian Ocean just west of Mossel Bay.

“We have 15 stations in this region, with some on private land - like the one at Bonniedale - and some on state land that’s managed by CapeNature - like the ones on the adjacent Gamkaberg Nature Reserve and in the Gamkaskloof (Die Hel - which forms part of the Swartberg Nature Reserve),” she said.

The cameras are triggered when animals move across their infra-red beams, so, she said, “suddenly we have data on all kinds of species in this area.

“The discovery of bushpig was a surprise in one area, and in Matjiesvlei a farmer was surprised to learn that he had kudu on his land,” she said - although many other seldom seen animals - like aardvark, aardwolf, and honey badgers - have also been pictured by the cameras.

She said that the camera that had been installed on Bonniedale had been up for about 3 weeks, and that it would be serviced for the first time in another two to three weeks’ time.

Cape Nature’s Tom Barry is based at the Gamkaberg Nature Reserve - which lies just north of Bonniedale - and was instrumental in choosing the farm as the site for a camera.

“Nico Hesterman (Bonniedale’s owner) had mentioned that he’d seen brown hyena in the area, and we thought it might be a good idea to set up a camera there in combination with our study to try and see if we could get pictures of them and the leopard,” he said.

Brown hyena are generally thought to have last been seen in the area between a hundred and a hundred and fifty years ago, and, said Mr. Barry, “if we can pick up a breeding population in the area, it would be interesting to know about it.”

Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm said that the Trust’s work was exciting for the town’s tourism industry because it highlighted the broad spectrum of attractions in the Mossel Bay, Garden Route, and Klein Karoo areas.

“Many people still associate Mossel Bay with beach holidays, and while our beaches rate amongst our most popular attractions, there is so much more to do in the Mossel Bay region - like exploring the mountains that are the home of the Cape leopard,” she said.

“Mossel Bay is presently running a campaign to attract South Africans during this year’s World Cup, and our experience is that local visitors are often much more adventurous when it comes to getting out onto the back roads and visiting places like Bonniedale.

“The Trust’s work therefore serves to highlight the rewards that you could enjoy in the wilderness areas surrounding Mossel Bay,” she said - while Mr. Martins stressed that leopards were definitely not a threat to people.

“As predators go, leopards are relatively small,” he said.

Added: 2010-03-05 07:30:45

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Rising Surf Star in FIFA 2010 year

Proud Mossel Bay Proud of Young Surfing Star Shaun Joubert
 

Eighteen year old Shaun Joubert - a Mossel Bay resident and rising star on the international Pro Junior Surfing Tour - is in Hawaii right now, riding epic waves with a bunch of other youngsters from around the world under the direction of Billabong Australia’s international marketing manager (and the company’s international junior team manger), Sasha Stocker.
 
“He’s working towards getting into the WQS (World Qualifying Series) and, eventually, into the WCT (Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour),” said his mother, Minette.
 
“He’s been in Australia since the middle of January, but Billabong have now taken them over to Hawaii for a training camp while the big WCT Snapper Rocks contest is under way.
 
“He told us they’re having the best swell, and the surf’s been pumping.”
 
South Africa’s 2009 surfing champion, Llewellyn Whittaker - who grew up in Mossel Bay, went on to surf both the WQS and the British Tour (in which he took the Triple Crown Championship in 2007), and now owns the Waves School of Surfing and manages its Schools Club development programme - said that Shaun was an example of how sport, mixed with determination and dedication, can help young people to create significant opportunities for themselves.
 
“In Shaun’s own way he came from humble beginnings, because he was born and bred inland, and he only came to live in Mossel Bay and started surfing when he was nine - which is late by many children’s standards,” said Mr. Whittaker.  
 
“But we have such fantastic waves in this area, and just as it opened up opportunities for me, Mossel Bay has opened up opportunities for Shaun - and he’s taken them and turned them into a promising career as a professional sportsman.”
 
Ms. Joubert (a neurosurgeon) said that she and her husband, Anton (a medical scientist), are adamant that Shaun should have a complete education, and that he had matriculated from Point High School last year.
 
“It’s hard earning a living as a sportsman, especially because you rely on your body for your success, so it’s worthwhile investing in a good education.
 
“The school was very supportive, and always helped him along, even though he was often away on tour for months on end.
 
“But they also made him feel very special: he represented South Africa four times in a row as a junior, and when all the children had to wear their school blazers on Tuesdays, the school asked him - and one or two others who also had national colours - to wear their Springbok blazers instead.
 
“I promise you, he wore that blazer with a huge smile! He said that making the SA Junior team was one of the best things he’s ever done.”
 
Shaun - who took a bronze medal in the Under-16 division at the world championships in Brazil two years ago, and came third in the Oakley Global Challenge in 2008 - is now sponsored by major international surf brands Billabong, Oakley, Dakine, Reef Brazil, Nixon Watches and Future Finns. He is also an accomplished photographer (a passion he shares with his father), and a more than competent journalist and blogger (see his interview with Seth Hulley, the manager of the Oakley Australia team, at http://shaunjoubert.wordpress.com).
 
“We’re very excited about Shaun’s success because he’s a real role model for the kids who are taking part in the Schools Club programme, which is one of the development projects we’ve sponsored,” said Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm.
 
She explained that Mossel Bay Tourism’s support for sport was based on the conviction that it can be both a positive influence in young people’s lives, and an important driver of tourism for the town.
 
“Mossel Bay is an important beach holiday destination, and the beach means surfing to many people, so just by succeeding the way he has, Shaun has brought attention to the town. And for that, we’re both proud and grateful,” she said.
 
“For now,” said Ms. Joubert, “he’s doing something he really loves in many beautiful places all around the world.
 
“These are memories he’ll treasure forever.”

Added: 2010-02-26 16:34:18

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Business Backing Tourism here in Mossel Bay

Mossel Bay Tourism Launches Campaign to Attract Membership From Business Community

Mossel Bay Tourism has launched a campaign to attract membership from the town’s business community.

“The 2010 FIFA World Cup perfectly demonstrates how tourism affects every sector of the economy, because while the driver of the event is football, its engine is tourism - or the movement and hosting of people into and around the country,” said Mossel Bay Tourism’s Chief Operations Officer, Marcia Holm.

“It’s therefore as a direct result of tourism that the Government has built and upgraded so many stadiums and so much infrastructure over the past six years: a programme that’s provided jobs and business opportunities for everyone from labourers to professionals - many of whom are probably not even aware how tourism has benefited them, nor how they’ve contributed to the tourism economy.

“Clearly there would have been no incentive or reason to do all of this work if the tourists - whom we’ve become used to calling ‘the fans’ - weren’t prepared to travel to South Africa or to visit our host cities.

“It’s the same in our regional and city-based economies: tourism touches everyone who lives in Mossel Bay, and every business is directly or indirectly affected by the performance of the tourism industry,” she said.

She pointed out that tourism was particularly important in the Western Cape, which has the highest proportion of graded hotels of any province in South Africa.

“It’s an indication of the impact of tourism on the Provincial economy that the Western Cape boasts 30% of all hotels on the National Star Grading Council’s list, while Gauteng, which is generally considered our richest region, has 25%, and KwaZulu Natal, which has the biggest tourism marketing budget of any of the provinces, has only 11%.

“Consider the wide variety of businesses that serve Mossel Bay’s hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, self-catering establishments and tourist attractions.

“From petrol stations to banks, from accounting, law and medical practices to engineering works and plumbing companies, there isn’t a company in Mossel Bay that can say that it doesn’t benefit from the tourism industry.

“Even the Municipality benefits, because it receives a significant proportion of its rates and taxes from tourism,” she said.

“Therefore, we’re appealing to all businesses in Mossel Bay to join Mossel Bay Tourism, and to get involved in its activities - and in that way to contribute to the sustainable economic success of the town,” she said.

Ms. Holm said that Mossel Bay Tourism’s Chairman, Neels Zietsman, was an example of a businessperson who understood that tourism and the wider business community were inextricably linked.

“As a consultant with Pam Golding Properties - which is a business that you might consider outside of the mainstream of tourism - my own fortunes are definitely influenced by the state of tourism,” said Mr. Zietsman.

“When Mossel Bay is busy with tourists, we’re busy - and vice versa.

“That’s why it’s in the best interests of every businessperson in Mossel Bay to work for increased tourism to the town,” he said.

Ms. Holm said that membership of Mossel Bay Tourism was inexpensive, and that the collection of money was not the motivation behind the drive.

“The largest proportion of our income comes from our Municipal grant, and membership fees make up only a small percentage of our operational and marketing budgets,” she said.

“This campaign is really about including the wider business community in the activities of the one sector of the economy that affects all of us the most.”

For moiré information, please contact membership@visitmosselbay.co.za, or call 044 691 2202.

Added: 2010-02-26 08:09:06

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FIFA 2010 Great Prices in Mossel Bay

Mossel Bay Keeps Rates Low During World Cup

Mossel Bay’s accommodation providers and tourism product owners are planning to attract both South Africans and foreign visitors this winter by charging their normal low season rates during the course of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“As a result of the media focus on accommodation and transport prices and possible price gouging during the World Cup, we asked our members to mail us their World Cup period rates - and none of those who responded will be charging anything more than they would during the rest of our low season, which stretches from just after Easter until well into September,” said Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm.

“Once again, Mossel Bay has proved itself to be one of South Africa’s most affordable holiday destinations, especially when you consider that we have an incredibly broad spectrum of accommodation - from ocean-front camping sites and 4-star hotels to mountainside resorts and self-catering units.”

She said that the biggest attractions for Mossel Bay in winter were the same as its biggest attractions in summer - it’s warm, stable weather and its natural environment.

“With more than 300 days of sunshine in every 365, our visitors can enjoy our beaches, the warm Indian Ocean, our fynbos, our game reserves, and the Outeniqua Mountains every day of the year, and our accommodation providers have taken full advantage of both the weather and the environment in the establishment of their businesses to best suit their guests.

“This is also reflected in the cross-section of members who replied to our survey.

“So, for instance, during the period of the World Cup - and for the rest of our winter season - you can hire a caravan stand for R100 per night, or a 4 bedroom, self-catering beach house from R1,200.00 per night at the ATKV Hartenbos Resort; you can stay in the 4-star Eight Bells Mountain Inn on a bed and breakfast basis from R500.00 per person per night; you can rent a 2 bedroom self-catering apartment at Anchor House on the Mossel Bay Golf Estate for R650 per night (a price which includes registration as a guest of the golf course, so that you can play at members’ rates); or you can enjoy dinner, bed and breakfast with two game drives at the Garden Route Game Lodge (an Official accommodation provider to the 2010 FIFA World Cup) from R965 per person per night,” she said.

Ms. Holm said that it was important to note that these were rack rates - and not special offers.

“I really want to emphasise that everyone can find value for money in Mossel Bay, which is first and foremost a child-friendly, family-oriented holiday resort town,” she said.

Added: 2010-02-26 08:04:36

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We are pround to support this initiative in 2010

Media Release. 18 February 2010. Mossel Bay Tourism

Bob Skinstad - here in ‘jail’ to raise funds for his bobsforgood foundation - will be in Mossel Bay on the 24^th of February to donate more than 500 pairs of shoes to scholars at two local schools, and to address the Sakemanne Gholf Dag at the Mossel Bay Golf Course. Photograph: Shari Lee Thompson

Mossel Bay Schools to Benefit from Bob Skinstad’s Walk This Way Tour of the Western Cape

Former Springbok captain, flanker and eighth man, Bob Skinstad (who wore his country’s jersey 42 times), will visit Mossel Bay next week to deliver more than 500 pairs of shoes to children at two of the town’s neediest primary schools - KwaNonqaba’s Isalathisu and Imekhayha.

Mr. Skinstad’s visit will be facilitated by the Meet The People Cares trust - an organisation set up by a local tour operator to manage donations received from domestic and international travellers - and has been organised as part of his ‘bobsforgood’ Walk This Way campaign, which was launched at the V&A Waterfront on February the 15^th (for the launch, Mr. Skinstad spent five nights in a mock jail cell to raise funds for the bobsforgood foundation).

Mr. Skinstad created bobsforgood in order to help tackle the detrimental social consequences arising from the fact that some seven million children in South Africa have no shoes.

bobsforgood is a business that sells shoes - but it’s a business with a difference, because all its profits are directed into the purchase of shoes for the underprivileged. So, for every pair of shoes sold on the open market, bobsforgood donates a brand new pair to one of South Africa’s neediest children.

The bobsforgood business runs in conjunction with the bobsforgood foundation, which receives funds from the public and other sources for the donation of school shoes.

The ‘Walk This Way’ campaign was created in conjunction with a forward-thinking, business orientated, Cape Town-based NGO called ‘Heart’ (www.heartglobal.org), which aims to transform the quality of peoples’ lives by establishing and incubating social enterprises which address a wide range of social and environmental challenges.

As part of the campaign, and after his ‘release from jail’ on the 20^th of February, Mr. Skinstad will undertake a week-long tour of the Western Cape - visiting Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Worcester, Paarl and Bellville. He plans to meet community groups, business leaders, politicians, other NGOs, and the general public at each of his stops.

In Mossel Bay he will meet the Mayor, Alderlady Marie Ferreira, visit various small businesses on a Meet The People Tour, and address local business people at the annual Sakemanne Gholf Dag (Business People’s Golf Day) at the Mossel Bay Golf Club.

bobsforgood will use the funds raised during Mr. Skinstad’s tour to donate shoes to the neediest children in the Western Cape.

“Meet The People Cares - which was created by Jauckie Viljoen of Back Road Safaris - is a not-for-profit trust that demonstrates the good that tourism can bring to a community, and we’re very proud that Bob Skinstad has chosen it as the vehicle through which he will make this generous donation to these two local schools,” said Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm.

A spokesperson for Mr. Skinstad, Claire Alexander, said, “Bob is extremely grateful to Meet The People Cares, and to Jauckie, who has been liaising with the campaign in assisting and helping with the arrangements for this visit to Mossel Bay.

“Bob aims to raise as much money as possible on this tour as then he can help more children. With the help of the MEC for Education, we have identified 4,000 of the neediest children, and we can only reach them all with the public's help.

“The most important part of the entire campaign is public participation, which will enable bobsforgood to donate to as many schools in the Western Cape as possible.”

Businesspeople wishing to attend Mr. Skinstad’s presentation at the Sakemanne Gholf Dag should contact Pierre Venter on 082 492 2623, or Jauckie Viljoen on 083 262 2307.

To make a contribution and for more about the bobsforgood foundation, visit www.bobsforgoodfoundation.org; for more about Meet The People Cares, visit www.meet-the-people.co.za; and for more about Mossel Bay, go to www.visitmosselbay.co.za.

Added: 2010-02-18 09:11:39

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