Memory serves mayor well

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.

See more photos by Michelle Pienaar at www.georgeherald.com. GRDM Mayor Memory Booysen: “They’ve watched us... and they love our thinking, our ideas.”