Accolades for Margate resort and manager

LA COTE D'AZUR IN MARGATE bagged two major awards from Resorts Condominiums International - Africa.
KRISSI BANZON REPORTS.
LA COTE D' AZUR, a timeshare holiday resort in MARGATE, is in the top 10 gold crown resorts of 2008, according to RCI - Africa.
Its general manager, Petra Meyer, was also named by RCI-Africa as resort manager of the year (2008).
"RCI rates the resort according to guests' feed¬back, as well as RCI representatives themselves, who stay in the resort,"-explains Mrs Meyer.
"We don't have any warning as to when these mystery guests will come to rate the resort, so it keeps us on our toes."
Mrs Meyer says that earning the award has been the fruit of many years of hard work for the resort's staff. She has been in the hospitality industry for the last 16 years, 11 of which she has worked at LA COTE D' AZUR.
"About 18 months after I took over, the resort achieved gold crown status, the highest rating a timeshare resort can earn from RCI. We have maintained that status for the last 10 years."
In the end, Mrs Meyer says that it is about giving guests what they need, entertaining them, and, above all, giving them their money's worth.
"These days, going on holiday is a luxury, so you have to give your guests value for money. You have to go back to basics, give your visitors a warm welcome and make them feel at home.
"It is the small things that make a difference. Treat guests like they are the most important people in the world. You've got to wow people. And of course, it helps if you love what you are doing. That is what hospitality is about, and sometimes people forget that."
Mrs Meyer admits that it is a huge chal¬lenge to be consistent, and staff are continu¬ously trained to make sure that they exceed people's expectations.
"We have plenty of work ahead of us this year. We have just completed our refurbishment and we are consistently upgrading everywhere we can. You've got to stay motivated and dedi¬cated in this industry, something I pass along to my STAFF."
LA COTE D' AZUR, which has been in business for more than two decades, has a four-star grading, according to the Tourism Grading Council. At any given time, almost 60 staff members are in Mrs Meyer and her manage¬ment team's capable hands. Throughout the year, occupancy at the resort is never less than 90 percent

Huispryse beleef 1 ste daling in 8 jaar

Elma Kloppers, Johannesburg BEELD 2 APRIL 2008
Suid-Afrika se mediaan¬huisprys het vir die eerste keer in agt jaar geval nadat hoër rentekoerse en die Na¬sionale Kredietwet die bekostigbaarheid van huisvesting merkbaar laat af¬neem het.
In Maart het die mediaanhuisprys met 5,2% op 'n jaargrondslag gedaal, nadat dit sedert Desember op 0% groei op 'n jaargrondslag gestagneer het, volgens Standard Bank se nuutste mediaan-huisprysindeks.
Dit beteken dat die mediaanhuisprys van R550 000 in Maart, 5,2% laer was as die R580 000 van Maart verlede jaar. Die mediaanhuisprys is die prys waar die helfte van die huise goedkoper is en die helfte duurder.
Mnr. Sizwe Nxedlana, eiendomsekonoom van Stan¬dard Bank, sê die mediaanhuisprysindeks is 'n maat¬staf wat neigings in huisprysgroei op 'n saamgesteldé vlak meet. Daar moet dus in gedagte géhou word dat nie alle huispryse daal nie. maar dat daar nog sterk punte in sekere gebiede kan wees waar huispryse steeds groei.
Hy skryf die afname in huisprysgroei grootliks toe aan die skerp daling in transaksie-volumes in die verbandmark, wat weerspieël dat die bekostigbaarheid van huise merkbaar afgeneem het sedert die tweede kwartaal verlede jaar.
Volgens Reserwebankdata het nuwe verbandlenings en tweede verbandlenings vir' residensiële eiendom van 'n hoogtepunt van net onder R40 miljard in Mei tot R20 miljard gehalveer in Desember.
Nxedlana sê die groei in nuwe verbande en tweede verbandlenings het van jaarlikse gemiddelde groei van 26,7% in 2006 afgeneem tot 'n skamele 6,3% in 2007.
Hy sê daar is 'n noue korrelasie tussen die groei in huispryse en die groei in be¬steebare inkomste. "Tussen 2004 en 2006 is die verhouding tussen die twee skeef¬getrek deurdat huispryse beduidend vinniger gegroei het as besteebare inkomste, wat daarop sinspeel dat huisprysgroei weggehardloop het van die huismark se onderliggende grondbeginsels.
Hy sê Standard Bank meen dat die skerp afwaartse neiging in die mediaan-huisprys 'n aanduiding is van 'n gesonde reg-stelling in die pryse van residensiële eiendom.
Absa maak later die week sy huisprysindeks bekend. Absa meet die gemiddelde huisprys in die middelsegment van die mark.

fab NEW place to visit

Forget about anchor tenants. Spiller's Wharf is about the finer things in life jewellery, art, antiques, gourmet cheeses, curries and really great fish dishes
SOUTH COAST HERALD 28 March 2008

Asian taste: Jin Qinglin from China tries an Indian curry at Spiller's Wharf.



Dairy delight: Laura Ie Roux displays one of the handcrafted products of the Underberg Cheesery, available at the farm's shop at Spiller's Wharf. There are many different styles and flavors to choose from as well as a variety of fruit yoghurts.



Art on show: Artists Everett Duarte and Frances Schandera are pictured with one of Frances's works, 'Driftwood' at the depictions Gallery on the first floor of Spiller's Wharf.

MARDI GRAS IS A LOT OF FUN FOR EVERYBODY

MARDI GRAS IS A LOT OF FUN FOR EVERYBODY
SOUTH COAST HERALD 28 MARCH 2008
The holiday street party has been a favourite for more than a decade.
EVERYONE loves a flea market and, when a street party is thrown in for good measure, it makes for a memorable evening.
Started by the Margate Business Association more than 10 years ago, the Mardi Gras street parties are held every holiday season.
On party nights, the main street of Margate is Closed to traffic from 6 to 10pm and it becomes the venue for this great street happening. Stalls sell a wide variety of crafts, flea market, fashions and tasty food. Local restau¬rants and pubs are packed on street party nights and many of the shops extend their trading hours to cater for the crowds.
Buskers, DJs and clowns provide street entertainment and foot-tapping music gets everyone dancing in the street.
Don't miss the Mardi Gras street party next Wednesday, April 2.

Development golfers tee off

PORT SHEPSTONE Golf Development recently held a successful tournament.
SOUTH COAST HERALD 28 March 2008
PORT SHEPSTONE Youth Golf Development held its first mini tournament of the year at the PORT SHEPSTONE Country Club last Monday.
Boys and girls ranging in age from eight to 14 years took part in the three hole tournament.
Nokwazi Khwela won the girls' section with 25 points. Second was Azraa Bux on 27 and third Ayanda Kotta on 31. The boys' section went to Sashmiran Govender on a score of2l, with Justin Pillay on 22 in second and Sarshen Govender third on 24.
The committee is grateful to the Port Shepstone Country Club for allowing the juniors to practice and play free of charge.
Development chairman Bobby Govender said the budding golfers enjoyed the afternoon out on the golf course.
"We thank Teddy Pillay and partners from G.N Cabling and Civils for sponsoring the meals, golf caps, medals and prizes for this tournament. All teachers and parents who helped to make this first tournament a great success are also warmly thanked," he said.



Winners: Winners of the Youth Development mini tournament (from left) Ayanda Kotta, Azraa Bux, Nokwazi Khwela, Sarshen Govender, Justin Pillay and Sashmiran Govender. Sponsor Teddy Pillay is in the middle.


The Property Circle focuses on Property for Sale on The SOUTH COAST / HIBISCUS COAST Kwazulu-Natal South Africa. The Areas we cover are Shelly Beach, Uvongo, Margate, Ramsgate, Southbroom, Marina Beach, Trafalgar, Palm Beach, Munster, Glenmore, Leisure Bay and Port Edward. Our main focus is on Vacant Land for Sale along the SOUTH COAST, although we do deal with all types of Real Estate on The SOUTH COAST. Please take your time and enjoy our web site.

Couta Classic reels ' em in

The annual
Hibberdene Couta Classic ski-boat competition hooked a record number of anglers last
weekend. Avid anglers from far and wMe converged on
the sleepy town, and enjoyed the biggest competition of its kind on the coast
SOUTH COAST HERALD 28 MARCH 2008

No rookie: 'Rookie' sets out in search of the elusive 'big one' at the recent Hibberdene Gouta Glassic.
PHOTO BY GORDON DATE



Rough ride: 'Muzungu'returns to shore through choppy waters at the
recent Hibberdene Gouta Glassic. PHOTO BY GORDON DATE



Long day: The ski-boat 'G Force', heads for the beach at last weekend's Hibberdene Gouta Glassic. PHOTO BY GORDON DATE



Riding the crest: Ski-boat 'Rookie'skims a wave after launching at last
weekend's Hibberdene Gouta Glassic. PHOTO BY GORDON DATE

BARE HAND CATCH

An ordinary fishing outing for a Pumula man ended in a duel to the death with a kingfish. HANNES VAN SCHALKWYK REPORTS. SOUTH COAST HERALD 28 March 2008
FOR Andreas Fourie, it was just a normal Wednesday's fishing. The sun was shining, the waters were calm and he had just cast his line, hoping to snatch a kingfish from the murky depths off Pumula beach. As he stood on the beach, rod in hand, at 7am, something grabbed his attention. In front of him, a small moonfish jumped out of the wa¬ter, flew past his face, and disappeared. Andre, mildly startled by the little fish's aerobatic manoeuvre, returned to his fishing, only to be distracted yet again. There was a commo¬tion in the water next to him, and another fish broke the surface. Only
This time, the fish miscalculated its jump and landed on the rocks. And it wasn't another little moonfish, either.
Flapping about in front of him was a king¬fish! Andreas wasted no time, pounced on the fish like a rugby player securing a ball during a Currie Cup final, and a struggle of epic propor¬tions took place.
For a brief moment the kingfish, living up to its name, had the upper… er ... fin and managed to throw Andreas off bal¬ance. A friend rushed to his assistance and picked up his rod. The mighty tail of the king¬fish delivered devastating blows to Andreas's body, but he managed to subdue the fish with a couple of WWF-like elbow drops and back¬breakers. Finally, the fish tapped out. Andreas, against all odds, proved to be the victor.
"It was an unbeliev¬able experience. I suppose I was just in the right place at the right time, really. When I grabbed his tail for the first time, I knew there was no way I was going to let this one go.
"It put up an awesome fight, though. I couldn't hold onto it with my hands and had to wrap my legs around it to get a good grip,” explained the victorious Andreas.